Cantamus Chamber Choir

Conductor: Mike Daniels Organ: Steven Hollas Programme: Domenico Scarlatti Stabat Mater James MacMillan Ave Maris Stella Jonathan Dove Into thy Hands Judith Weir Two Human Hymns Carl Rutti Ave Maria Bach O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht Brahms Gestlicheslied
Faure Cantique de Jean Racine
Purcell Remember not, Lord our offences Gibbons Drop Slow tears

Domenico Scarlatti's stunning Stabat Mater (Sorrows of Mary) provides the setting for Cantamus Chamber Choir’s annual concert at St Nicholas Church in Winsley on 10 May 2014. This sublime Baroque masterpiece is set for ten parts and features Steven Hollas on Organ.

‘Star Of The Sea’ is the ancient name given to the virgin Mary, and many pieces in the programme including Stabat Mater, Rutti’s Ave Maria and MacMillan’s Ave Maris Stella are prayers to Her. Also in the programme are ethereal pieces by Jonathan Dove plus some gorgeous choral gems by Bach, Brahms and Liszt. Faure's sublime Cantique de Jean Racine is sure to be a highlight. The organ will also feature in another piece, Judith Weir's Two Human Hymns. Written in 1994 these are delightful, transparent contemporary choral pieces, and the line ‘like to a falling star’ relates back to the programme’s theme of Mary, ‘Star Of The Sea’.

The choir, who have built a reputation for producing exciting programmes performed with artistic flair, will undertake their first overseas tour to Brittany just two weeks after the concert.

Under the enthusiastic direction of Mike Daniels, the drama, pathos and intensity of Cantamus’s performances resonate long after the concert’s end - this choir is not to be missed.

“They didn’t just sing the notes; they poured their hearts into [the] performance” Wiltshire Times