11 December 2015: The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford
Celebrating Advent, the time the church looks forward to the joy and excitement of Christmas, the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford take the Blessed Virgin Mary as a focal point in the opening of their programme. Two settings of the plainchant hymn, Ave Maris Stella are set side by side — a hymn numerous Renaissance composers set to more elaborate polyphony. The motet Wachet auf by JCF Bach, the ninth son of the more famous JS Bach, fuses the well-known Lutheran chorale of the same name to inventive contrapuntal effect; for this evening’s concert, each of the three movements is separated by a short Christmas chorale setting on the organ. And finally we move into more familiar territory with well-known Christmas carols by Rutter and Darke amongst others, finishing with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ magical Fantasia on Christmas Carols.
Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Frescobaldi: Ave Maria Stella
Victoria: Missa Ave Maris Stella
JCF Bach: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Selection of carols: including Ding Dong Merrily on High and In the Bleak Midwinter
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols
DIRECTOR: Daniel Hyde
ORGAN: Alexander Berry & Anna Lapwood
PIANO: Ceri Owen
CELLO: John Myerscough