Recent Concert Programmes

Nineteen Eighteen

Saturday 13th October 2018, 7:30pm

The Chapter House, York Minster

Director: Benjamin Morris
Chapter House Youth Choir Director: Charlie Gower-Smith

The final concert from our series on the theme of exile, reconciliation and peace marks three significant 100-year anniversaries: Hubert Parry’s death, the granting of women’s suffrage and later the right for women to be elected to parliament, and the forthcoming 100th anniversary on 11/11/18 of the armistice in the First World War.

The Chapter House Choir

Never weather-beaten sail – Hubert PARRY

Psalm 23 – Ivor GURNEY

The Chapter House Youth Choir

Call to remembrance – Richard FARRANT

They are at rest – Edward ELGAR

The Chapter House Choir

A Short Requiem – Henry WALFORD DAVIES

There is an old belief – Hubert PARRY

At the round earth’s imagined corners – Hubert PARRY

The Chapter House Youth Choir

Ubi Caritas – Ola GJEILO

Crossing the bar – Hubert PARRY

Mother of God, here I stand – John TAVENER

Combined Choirs

The Pankhurst Anthem – Lucy PANKHURST

The Chapter House Choir

Magnificat – Charles Villiers STANFORD

In Exile

Saturday 16th June 2018, 7:30pm

St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, York

Director: Benjamin Morris

Continuing our series of concerts of exile, reconciliation and peace, this programme explored music in and about exile, including Tippett’s wonderful spirituals from A Child of our Time.

Super flumina Babylonis – Philippe de MONTE

Semi-chorus: Cathy Cooper, Fran Guilding, Lorna Hamilton, Tina Sanderson, Rachel Hicks, Helen Korndorffer, Andrew Acaster, Adrian Fuller, Christopher Davies, Mark Simmonds

Quomodo cantabimus – William BYRD

Spritual from Child of Our Time: Steal Away – Michael TIPPETT

Soloists: Ruth Bellinger, David Penn

Ave verum corpus – William BYRD

Spritual from Child of Our Time: Nobody knows – Michael TIPPETT

Soloists: Ruth Bellinger, Dan Hunt

Spritual from Child of Our Time: Go down, Moses – Michael TIPPETT

Soloists: Lorna Hamilton, Richard Long

Cunctis diebus – William BYRD

Spritual from Child of Our Time: By and by – Michael TIPPETT

Soloist: Vikki Pendry

Ne irascaris – Civitas sancti tui – William BYRD

Spritual from Child of Our Time: Deep river – Michael TIPPETT

Semi-chorus: Vikki Pendry, Natasha Brice, David Tomlinson, Mark Simmonds

The Lamentations of Jeremiah – Alberto GINASTERA

Voices from the East

Saturday 10th March 2018, 7:30pm

Chapter House, York Minster

Director: Benjamin Morris

Eastern Europe produced some of the most distinctive choral music of the 20th Century. This concert celebrated the unveiling of the Great East Window of York Minster with music from Russia, Poland and the Baltic states.

Tebe poem – Sergei RACHMANINOV

Soloist: Anna Hughes

Magnificat – Arvo PÄRT

Ave Maria – Igor STRAVINSKY

Song to the Virgin Mary – Andrzej PANUFNIK

Nunc Dimittis – Pavel CHESNOKOV

Three Sacred Hymns – Alfred SCHNITTKE

Bogoroditse Devo – Sergei RACHMANINOV

…Which was the son of… – Arvo PÄRT

Angelis suis Deus – Vytautas MIŠKINIS

Ubi caritas et amor – Ēriks EŠENVALDS

Stetit angelus – Rihards DUBRA

Bogoroditse Devo – Arvo PÄRT

Amen – Henryk Mikolaj GÓRECKI

Only in sleep – Ēriks EŠENVALDS

Soloist: Lydia Eyre

Carols by Candlelight

Wednesday 20th December 2017, 7:30pm

Chapter House, York Minster

Guest conductor: Andrew Carter
With the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir

The Chapter House Choir returned to its original home to perform its trademark Carols by Candlelight with special guest conductor Andrew Carter, founder Director of the choir, and organist John Scott Whiteley.

Read the press review here

The Choir

Processional: Personent hodie – arr. Andrew CARTER

Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – Michael PRAETORIUS

Lute-book lullaby – arr. Geoffrey SHAW

Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL

Solo Organ

Fantasia on Wir Christenleut, BWV 1090 – Johann Sebastian BACH

Prelude on In dulci jubilo – Friedrich Wilhelm ZACHOW

Fughetta on Vom Himmel hoch, BWV 701 – Johann Sebastian BACH

The Choir

The holly and the ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES

Still, still, still – arr. Philip LEDGER

A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT

The Handbell Ringers

O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE

Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE

The Choir

Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON

Soloist: Ruth Bellinger

Sing Lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS

The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD

Solo Organ

Sarabande from Georgian Suite – Francis JACKSON

Carols from Recuerdos (Remembrances) – Alan SPEDDING

The Choir

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS

Soloist: Emily Chattle

I sing of a maiden – Patrick HADLEY

Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD

The Handbell Ringers

Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING

Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER

The Choir

A spotless rose – Herbert HOWELLS

Soloist: Mark Latham

Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON

Soloist: John Gill

Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER

Encore: Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER

Soloist: Helen Blythe

Christmas Carol Concert

Friday 22nd December 2017, 7:30pm

St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, York

Guest conductor: Timothy Burke
With the Chapter House Youth Choir
and the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir

A festive celebration with carols old and new to herald in this most joyful season.

The Chapter House Choir

A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT

Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – Michael PRAETORIUS

Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON

Soloist: John Gill

The Chapter House Youth Choir

The truth from above – arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams

In dulci jubilo – arr. Robert Lucas PEARSALL

Reading: A New Nativity – Alan TITCHMARSH

The Chapter House Choir

Sing lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS

Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL

The Handbell Ringers

O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE

Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE

Combined Choirs

Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON

The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD

The Chapter House Choir

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS

Soloist: Emily Chattle

Lute-book lullaby – arr. Geoffrey SHAW

The Holly and the Ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES

The Handbell Ringers

Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING

Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER

The Chapter House Youth Choir

Benedicamus Domino – Peter WARLOCK

The Lamb – John TAVENER

The twelve days of Christmas – arr. Andrew CARTER

Reading: Christmas Thank-Yous – Mick GOWAR

The Chapter House Choir

Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER

Soloist: Helen Blythe

Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER

Combined Choirs

Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD

A Christmas Feast

Saturday 23rd December 2017, 7:30pm

The Milton Rooms, Malton

Director: Benjamin Morris

A return to the Milton Rooms in the market town of Malton for a festive celebration of Christmas with carols, handbells, readings – and canapés!

The Choir

Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD

Sing lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS

The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD

Reading: A New Nativity – Alan TITCHMARSH

The Choir

Totus Tuus – Henryk Mikolaj GÓRECKI

The Handbell Ringers

O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE

Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE

The Choir

A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT

A spotless rose – Herbert HOWELLS

Soloist: Mark Latham

Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON

Soloist: John Gill

The Choir

Gloucestershire Wassail – Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The Holly and the Ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES

Reading: Christmas Dinner – Michael ROSEN

The Choir

The little drummer boy – arr. John MCCARTHY

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS

Soloist: Emily Chattle

Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER

The Handbell Ringers

Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING

Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER

The Choir

Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL

Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER

Encore: Jingle Bells – arr. Keith WRIGHT

Music for a Summer’s Evening

Saturday 24th June 2017, 7pm

St Peter’s Church, Osmotherley

Director: Stephen Williams

The Chapter House Choir travelled north to the lovely village of Osmotherley on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors to sing beautiful music ideal for a balmy (or even not-so-balmy) summer’s evening, making the most of the long evenings in God’s Own County. This concert raised £1400 for essential repairs to St Peter’s Church.

Magnificat from the Short Service – Orlando Gibbons

Agnus Dei II from Missa Brevis – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

When David Heard – Thomas Tomkins

Civitas sancti tui – William Byrd

Nigra Sum Sed Formosa – Tomás Luis de Victoria

Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf – Johann Sebastian Bach

Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence – Edward Bairstow

Soloists: Dan Hunt, Christopher Davies

Ave Maris Stella – Edvard Grieg

Hymn to the Virgin – Benjamin Britten

Semichorus: Lydia Eyre, Denise Redding, Daniel Hicks, David Went

My Spirit sang all day – Gerald Finzi

My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land – Edward Elgar

Faire is the Heaven – William H. Harris

Immortal Bach – Knut Nystedt

Effortlessly Love Flows – Aaron Jay Kernis

Marjal aega magada “It’s Time for the Little Berry to Sleep” – Veljo Tormis

Sleep – Eric Whitacre

The Battle of Jericho – arr. Moses Hogan

Abide with me – arr. Moses Hogan

Witness – arr. Jack Halloran

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord – arr. Moses Hogan

Effortlessly Love Flows

Saturday 3rd June 2017, 7:30pm

Chapter House, York Minster

Director: Stephen Williams

A gorgeous programme of music of love and hope.

Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf – Johann Sebastian BACH

Ubi Caritas – Ola Gjeilo

Witness – arr. Jack Halloran

Effortlessly Love Flows – Aaron Jay Kernis

Fest- und Gedenkensprüche – Johannes Brahms

I. Unsere Väter hofften auf Dich

II. Wenn ein starker Gewappnetter

III. Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk

No man is an island – Andrew Carter

Abide with me – arr. Moses HOGAN

The Battle of Jericho – arr. Moses HOGAN

In exile – Herbert Sumsion

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord – arr. Moses HOGAN

Elijah rock – arr. Moses HOGAN

Singet dem Herrn ein Neues Lied – Johann Sebastian BACH

A Grand Tour of the Renaissance

Saturday 25th February 2017, 7:30pm

Chapter House, York Minster

Director: Stephen Williams

An exhilarating musical journey around Europe through 17th century choral works in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Chapter House.

Bel aubépin verdissant – Clément Janequin

La déploration sure la mort de Johannes Ockeghem – Josquin des Prez

Il bianco e dolce cigno – Jacob Arcadelt

Heroum soboles – Orlande de Lassus

Sing we and chant it – Thomas Morley

Ch’io non t’ami, cor mio – Claudio Monteverdi

Draw on, sweet night – John Wilbye

The silver swan – Orlando Gibbons

Woefully arrayed – William Cornysh

If ye love me – Thomas Tallis

Stabat Mater – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Vidi speciosam – Tomás Luis de Victoria

Lamentationes Hieremiae prophetae – Orlande de Lassus

O clap your hands – Orlando Gibbons

Jauchzet dem Herren alle Welt – Heinrich Schütz

Carols by Candlelight

Friday & Saturday, 16 & 17 December 2016, 7:30pm

St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, York

Director: Stephen Williams

These ever-popular atmospheric candlelit concerts capture the true essence of Christmas. For many people Christmas just isn’t Christmas until they have been to a Chapter House Choir Carols by Candlelight.

The Choir

O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. Andrew CARTER

Videntes stellam – Francis POULENC

Jesu, Thou the Virgin born – Gustav HOLST

Soloists: Charlotte Phillips, David Penn

The Handbell Ringers

Of the Father’s heart begotten – arr. John HASTIE

Away in a manger – arr. John HASTIE

The Choir

All my heart this night rejoices – Johann Georg EBELING

O magnum mysterium – Morten Lauridsen

Joseph – Phil REDDING

The shepherd’s carol – Bob CHILCOTT

The Handbell Ringers

Unto us a boy is born – arr. Andrew CARTER

Jingle bells – arr. Andrew CARTER

The Choir

Today the Virgin – John TAVENER

Bethlehem Down – Peter WARLOCK

A tender shoot – Otto Goldschmidt

Hymne à la Vierge – Pierre Villette

Xicochi xicochi conetzintle – Gaspar Fernandes

The truth from above – arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ding dong! merrily on high – arr. Stephen Williams

Have yourself a merry little Christmas – arr. Peter GRITTON

Family Christmas Concert

Saturday, 3 December 2016, 7:30pm

Nave, York Minster

Chapter House Choir, Director: Stephen Williams
Chapter House Youth Choir, Director: Charlie Gower-Smith
York Railway Institute Brass Band, Director: David Lancaster

An early Christmas treat to get the whole family in the mood for the festive season. Featuring carols, brass and handbells.

The Chapter House Choir

O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. Andrew CARTER

Videntes stellam – Francis POULENC

All my heart this night rejoices – Johann Georg EBELING

Alleluya, a new work is come on hand – Peter WISHART

York Railway Institute Brass Band

Festive March – The wonder of Christmas – Peter GRAHAM

In the bleak mid-winter – arr. Alan FERNIE

Tenor Horn Soloist: James West

The Handbell Ringers

Of the Father’s heart begotten – arr. John HASTIE

Away in a manger – arr. John HASTIE

Chapter House Youth Choir

Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON

Up! Good Christen folk, and listen – harm. G.R. WOODWARD

Away in a Manger – arr. Reginald JACQUES

York Railway Institute Brass Band

Christmas Eve (Sarajevo – 12/24) – arr. Roger THORNE

Sans Day Carol – arr. David LANCASTER

Chapter House Youth Choir

I saw a fair maiden – Peter WARLOCK

A New Year carol – Benjamin BRITTEN

The Handbell Ringers

Unto us a boy is born – arr. Andrew CARTER

Jingle bells – arr. Andrew CARTER

The Chapter House Choir

Ding dong! merrily on high – arr. Stuart NICHOLSON

Bethlehem Down – Peter WARLOCK

Have yourself a merry little Christmas – arr. Peter GRITTON

All

A Christmas Fantasy – arr. Gordon LANGFORD

An Evening with The King’s Singers

Saturday, 5 November 2016, 7:30pm

Nave, York Minster

Chapter House Choir, Director: Stephen Williams
Chapter House Youth Choir, Director: Charlie Gower-Smith

Double Grammy award-winning supergroup The King’s Singers joined the Chapter House Choir and our new Chapter House Youth Choir for a concert showcasing their supreme virtuosity and immaculate vocal blend in the breathtaking setting of York Minster. Featuring a new commission by Roderick Williams interweaving bespoke vocal lines for all three choirs.

Read the press coverage here

The King’s Singers

Domine dominus noster – Orlandus LASSUS

Musica dei donum – Orlandus LASSUS

Chi chilichi – Orlandus LASSUS

Dessus le marché d’Arras – Orlandus LASSUS

The Chapter House Choir

My soul, there is a country – C. Hubert. H. PARRY

Faire is the heaven – William H. HARRIS

Stars – Ēriks Ešenvalds

The King’s Singers

Quatre petites prières de Saint François d’Assise – Francis POULENC

Le papillon et la fleur – arr. Goff RICHARDS

Quand tu dors près de moi – arr. Gordon LANGFORD

This marriage – Eric Whitacre

Thou, my love, art fair – Bob Chilcott

Chapter House Youth Choir

The ash grove – arr. J. DOYLE

My spirit sang all day – arr. Gerald FINZI

Who can sail without the wind? – Ēriks Ešenvalds

The road home – Stephen PAULUS

The King’s Singers

Down by the riverside – arr. Robert RICE

Egoli – Stanley GLASSER

Le baylère – arr. Goff RICHARDS

Little David play on your harp – arr. Keith ROBERTS

The King’s Singers and Chapter House Youth Choir

The gift to be simple – arr. Bob Chilcott

The Chapter House Choir

The Teddy bears’ picnic – arr. Andrew Carter

Amazing Grace – arr. Alice PARKER and Robert SHAW

Two for the price of one – arr. Andrew Carter

All the things you are – arr. Ward Swingle

The King’s Singers

Penny Lane – arr. Bob Chilcott

That lonesome road – arr. Simon Carrington

Chanson d’amour – arr. Paul Hart

Alice in Wonderland – arr. Gordon Langford

Rhythm of life – arr. Peter Knight

The King’s Singers, The Chapter House Choir and Chapter House Youth Choir

Everyone sang – Roderick WILLIAMS

 World première