Calm after Chaos

Conducted by John Hobbs with soprano Elinor Chapman, alto Sue Lancaster, tenor Les Baker and bass David Fouracre the Choir will be singing Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Tsunami Requiem by Chris Williams and Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium.

In addition, the Choir will be running a workshop this autumn to learn Tsunami Requiem conducted by Graham Wili and accompanied by the composer, Chris Williams, himself.  Further details of the workshop are available here.

The Choir has chosen the theme CALM AFTER CHAOS to reflect the end of a time of tumult as we mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.  Rather than reflect directly on that event the Choir has chosen to sing three works which were written to mark a chaotic and disruptive time and finally return from chaos and confusion to calmness and peace.

Nelson Mass  – Missa in Angustiis (Mass for Troubled Times) was Haydn’s own title for this work, though it is generally known today as the Nelson Mass. Written in 1798 near the end of his life, and when his reputation was at its peak the world was in turmoil, with Napoleon conquering his way through Europe and threatening Vienna itself. Fortunately, in the interval between its composition and its premiere that year, Napoleon was heavily defeated in the Battle of the Nile by British forces led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. Because of this coincidence, the Mass gradually acquired the nickname Lord Nelson Mass, which became indelible when Lord Nelson himself visited the Palais Esterházy in 1800, and may have heard it performed.

Tsunami Requiem by Chris Williams is a modern work which we think is best described by the composer himself in this short video.

Finally, we shall be singing a piece by Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium. Lauridsen is a modern American composer and this piece will bring calm and peace to the end of our concert.

We do hope you will join us on Saturday 1 December 2018 at Central Church, Tor Hill Road, Torquay. The concert begins at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from:

• Choir members
• By telephone 01803 846058
  Late bookings after 12 noon on Saturday 1 December 2018 – 07398 561 996
• Torbay Travel, 36 Palace Avenue, Paignton TQ3 3HB
• or online through secure online booking company TicketSource – click Book Now below