Carols by Candlelight, York Minster
We celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Chapter House Choir in the magnificent candlelit Nave of York Minster with this much-loved seasonal tradition. Directed by Ben Morris, the choir performed a rich selection of carols both old and new, joined by the Chapter House Youth Choir, under the direction of Charlie Gower-Smith, alongside festive favourites from the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir.
This year’s concert included the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by French composer Héloïse Werner, specially written to mark this significant milestone. We also sang Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, written for the choir by our founder Andrew Carter in 2022, which made a welcome return to the programme.
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Conductors: Benjamin Morris and Charlie Gower-Smith
Pianist: Alison Gill
Programme
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, Jan Sandström
Chapter House Choir
This is the truth (processional), traditional arr. Vaughan Williams
Coventry Carol, Emily Hazrati
Gebet in der Christnacht, Fanny Hensel arr. Olivia Sparkhall
Chapter House Youth Choir
In the Stillness, Sally Beamish
The Holly and the Ivy, Stuart Thompson
Combined Choirs
Adam lay ybounden, Matthew Coleridge
Chapter House Choir
Out of your sleep, Imogen Holst
Away in a Manger, Reginald Jacques
O Oriens (world première) Héloise Warner
Silent Night, Libby Croad
Handbell Ringers
In dulci jubilo, traditional arr. Sylvia Hartley
Unto us a boy is born, Piae Cantiones arr. Andrew Carter
Chapter House Choir
I sing of a maiden, Alison Willis
Jesus Christ the apple tree, Andrew Carter
Saint Ita's Lullaby, Nicola LeFanu
There is no rose, Lucy Walker
Combined Choirs
O Holy Night, Adolphe Adams arr. L Williams
(encore) Ding Dong Diggety, Janet Wheeler
A Celebration of 60 Years in Song, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, York
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Chapter House Choir celebrated 60 years of music-making with a unique programme dedicated to remembrance, featuring their Youth Choir – founded for their fiftieth season – and the professional vocal ensemble Jervaulx Singers.
The programme featured Everyone Sang by acclaimed baritone and composer Roderick Williams, which Chapter House Choir commissioned for their fiftieth anniversary. A beautifully lyrical work for three choirs, each group’s music works both independently of the other choirs and together, setting texts by Siegfried Sassoon (Everyone Sang), Laurence Binyon (For the Fallen) and the traditional Agnus Dei.
The programme also included Footsteps by award-winning composer and conductor Owain Park. In the composer’s own words, ‘Footsteps is the result of many months of researching texts to structure a narrative that cycles the seasons through the view of the lonely traveller who is constantly being moved on before being allowed to settle, finding comfort in the sky and stars above.’
This was a special concert that brought together echoes of joy and remembrance from sixty years of song.
Programme
Mother of God, Here I Stand John Tavener
Everyone Sang Roderick Williams
They are at rest Edward Elgar
Footsteps Owain Park
Into Thy Hands Jonathan Dove
Requiem Herbert Howells
