A concert of music for Easter

Exultate Singers conducted by David Ogden

Wednesday 19th March 2008 at 8pm St James’ Priory, O bone Jesu Robert Carver (1487-1546) A concert of music The text of O bone Jesu is an extended version of a thirteenth century sequence, attributed to Pope Innocent V. There are many variants of this text, which was also for Easter set in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by Josquin, Palestrina, Lassus and Fayrfax. The setting by the Scottish composer Robert Carver is of a particularly extended Exultate Singers conducted by David Ogden and deeply contrite version of the text, written for the large and unusual number of 19 voice parts. Such a monumental setting must surely have been composed for a specific purpose. It has been suggested that his motet served as a private prayer O bone Jesu Robert Carver for James IV, who felt responsible for, and was afflicted with remorse at the death of his father, James III, at the battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. The text has been transferred The Reproaches John Sanders to the first person singular, and the music, compared with Carver’s other works, is sombre and restrained, and stark in the simplicity of its harmony. The motet is an example of a gloriously rich culture which came to such an abrupt and violent end because of the Take him, earth, for cherishing Herbert Howells political and religious upheavals of the 16th century.

O bone Jesu James MacMillan O good Jesus, O most holy Jesus, O most sweet Jesus, O Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary, full of piety, O sweet Jesus,according to your great mercy have mercy upon me. Interval O most compassionate Jesus I beseech you by that precious blood which you willingly shed for sinners Salvator mundi Thomas Tallis that you might wash away my wickedness and look upon me miserable and unworthy sinner Why fumeth in sight? Thomas Tallis imploring this name of Jesus. O name of Jesus, sweet name, name of Jesus, beloved name, name of Jesus, sweet name, Mass in G minor Ralph Vaughan Williams for what is Jesus if not our saviour? i. Kyrie Therefore good Jesus through your name ii. Gloria in excelsis save me that I shall not perish iii. Credo and suffer me not to be damned whom you created out of nothing. iv. Sanctus & Benedictus O good Jesus, let not my sin destroy me. v. Agnus Dei I beg you, most holy Jesus, forsake not me whom your love has made. O sweet Jesus, accept what is yours Exultate Singers is grateful for the support of: and reject that which offends you. John Lewis Partnership O most beloved Jesus, O most longed for Jesus, O most gentle Jesus, O Jesus, Richard Pedlar Architects A well established practice located in Bristol with a reputation for high quality permit me to enter into your kingdom, sweet Jesus. design and service. 4 Grove Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6UJ Tel: 0117 974 2612 www.rpca.co.uk Bowen May Chartered Accountants The Reproaches John Sanders (1933-1994) Specialists in small and medium sized businesses. Friendly, professional service offering a free initial The text of The Reproaches is an ancient part of the liturgy for Good Friday. meeting and sensible fees. Call 01249 720341 or email [email protected] It comprises three parts: the cry of Jesus on the cross (‘O my people, what Providence Music Shop Bristol’s biggest classical CD and printed music shop. have I done to you?’), the recollection of God's love for his people, and the 1, St George’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5UL Tel: 0117 927 6536 Trisagion (‘Holy is God, Holy and strong’), a prayer praising God's greatness Just Mosaics Original decorative and functional mosaics pieces handmade to your specifications. and asking for his mercy. This setting was written by John Sanders, Organist Visit www.justmosaics.co.uk or phone 07944 635487 and Master of the Choristers at Gloucester Cathedral between 1967-94. John Sanders O my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me! Ashes that a man might treasure in the hollow of his hand: Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy immortal One, have mercy on us. Not though wandering winds and idle winds, drifting through the empty sky, Scatter dust was nerve and sinew, is it given to man to die. i. I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, but you led your Saviour to the cross. Once again the shining road leads to ample Paradise; Open are the woods again, that the Serpent lost for men. ii. For forty years I led you safely through the desert. I fed you with manna from heaven, and brought you to a land of plenty: Take, O take him, mighty Leader, take again thy servant’s soul. but you led your Saviour to the cross. Grave his name, and pour the fragrant balm upon the icy stone. iii. What more could I have done for you? Take him, Earth, for cherishing, to they tender breast receive him. I planted you as my fairest vine, but you yielded only bitterness: Body of a man I bring thee, noble in its ruin. When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink, By the breath of God created. Christ the prince of all its living. and you pierced your Saviour’s side with a lance. Take him earth, for cherishing. iv. I opened the sea before you, but you opened my side with a spear. Prudentius (348-413), from Hymnus Circa Exsequias Defuncti translated by Helen Waddell I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud, but you led me to Pilate’s court. v. I bore you up with manna in the desert, but you struck me down O bone Jesu James MacMillan (b. 1959) and scourged me. I gave you saving water from the rock, Born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1959, James MacMillan is one of today’s most but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink. successful living composers and his works are performed throughout the vi. I gave you a royal sceptre, but you gave me a crown of thorns. world. His music is notable for its extraordinary directness, energy and I raised you to the height of majesty, but you have raised me high on a cross. emotional power. References to Scottish folk music imbue MacMillan’s work with a strong sense of the vernacular, while strongly-held religious and

James MacMillan political beliefs coupled with community concerns inform both the spirit and Take him, earth, for cherishing Herbert Howells (1892-1983) subject matter of his music. Herbert Howells composed this motet in the spring of 1964, and dedicated it ‘to the honoured memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, For his setting of O bone Jesu, MacMillan looked back 500 years to his Scottish compatriot President of the United States of America.’ The work was premiered later Robert Carver. Like Carver’s setting, MacMillan uses the repeated word ‘Jesu’ to act as that year in Washington, D.C. Having lost his own young son to a debilitating musical pillars that define the structure of the piece. Each time the ‘Jesu’ chords are neurological disease a few years earlier, Howells was aware of the pained harmonised slightly differently. In between, MacMillan writes passages with contrasting textures and different combination of singers, showcasing different aspects of the

Herbert Howells state of the audience who would first hear this music, so his setting begins with a sense of quiet reverence. Quickly the harmonies become thicker, the mood more rather like a concerto. Like much of his choral music it uses the vocal inflections of the agitated, leading to an expansive climax at the words, Take, O take him, mighty Leader, Scottish lament. The result is a sensual and spiritual web of sound which, in the composer’s Take again thy servant’s soul. From here the music broadens and dies back until the final words, is designed to be “gorgeous rather than austere”. repetition of the opening text: Take him, Earth, for cherishing. The piece was commissioned by The Sixteen to celebrate their 20th anniversary. It received its world premiere on 10 October 2002 in Southwark Cathedral, London. Take him, earth, for cherishing To thy tender breast receive him. Salvator Mundi Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) Body of a man I bring thee, noble even in its ruin. Tallis’ setting of Salvator mundi is one fifteen Latin motets written early in Once was this a spirit’s dwelling, by the breath of God created. High the heart that here was beating, Christ the prince of all its living. the reign of Queen . It was first published in Cantiones Sacrae, a collection of 34 motets in part book form which Elizabeth commissioned Guard him well, the dead I give thee, from her two senior Chapel Royal musicians, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Not unmindful of his creature Shall He ask it: He who made it Cantiones Sacrae demonstrated Elizabeth’s determination that England should

Symbol of His mystery. Tallis Thomas be put on the musical map and the intention was almost certainly that sets Comes the hour God hath appointed to fulfill the hope of men, of part books would be purchased by domestic households as well as finding their way into Then must thou, in very fashion, churches and chapels on the continent. What I give, return again. Using a text from the Liturgy for Good Friday, the vocal parts imitate each other entering in Body of a man I bring thee. sequence from the sopranos down to the basses with arresting rising intervals of fifths and Not though ancient time decaying wear away these bones to sand, fourths. All parts come together at the words words ‘auxiliare nobis’ (help us) followed by a repeated imitative section, ‘te deprecamur’. Although he restricts himself to an economic and was told: “It is the work one has all along been waiting for”. use of rhythmic and melodic motifs, Tallis creates a continuous musical unfolding across In the event the first performance was given in December 1922 by the City of Birmingham the entire length of the piece. Choir under Joseph Lewis. The first London performance was in Westminster Cathedral in Saviour of the world, save us, March 1923. who through thy cross and blood didst redeem us: English church music in the early twentieth century was not exempt from the urge help us, we beseech thee, our God. Good Friday, Antiphon at the Adoration of the Cross towards greater freedom of expression, in reaction to the cut-and-dried tonal scales of the previous century. A powerful stimulus towards this liberation was the rediscovery and Why fumeth in sight? Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) republication of the large treasury of Tudor church music. Vaughan Williams was in the This piece is an example of one of Tallis’ sacred pieces in English which are much simpler forefront of this movement and this, along with his love of folksong and modal harmony, and more direct than his Latin motets. The words are taken from Psalm 2. This hymn-like provided the inspiration for the compositional style of the Mass in G minor. tune was made famous by Vaughan Williams in his Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis The work is in some respects a companion piece to the instrumental Fantasia on a Theme for string orchestra. of Thomas Tallis of 1910, not only in the way it looks back to the Tudor age while still employing a twentieth century vocabulary, but in its design, being for four soloists and Why fumeth in sight: the Gentiles’ spite, God’s wordes decreed: I (Christ) wil spread double choir, as the Fantasia was for string quartet and double string orchestra. Vaughan In fury raging stout? for God thus said to me: Williams also employed some of the features of Elizabethan fantasy, notably the device of a Why taketh in hond: the people fond, “My son I say: thou art, this day, Vain things to bring about? I haue begotten thee”. motif, always slightly varied, that lends unity to the work as a whole. The kings arise: the lords devise, Ask thou of me: I will give thee, Each movement is concise in structure but generates considerable power on a large in counsels met thereto: to rule all Gentiles’ lands: scale, with the two choirs often singing in dialogue, most notably in the Gloria and Credo. Against the Lord: with false accord, Thou shalt possess: in sureness, The Sanctus, where the music seems to pay deliberate compliment to Holst, is especially against his Christ they go. the world how wide it stonds. imaginative in its deployment of simple chords to powerful effect. The Agnus Dei is Let us they say: break down their ray, With iron rod: as mighty God, perhaps the most personal movement in the work, and after a reflective opening builds of all their bonds and cords: all rebels shalt thou bruise: up to a forthright choral outcry - Dona nobis pacem (GIve us peace) - a cry for peace in an We will renounce: that they pronounce, And break them all: in pieces small, their laws as stately lords. as shards the potters use. unsettled and insecure post-war land. But God of might: in heaven so bright, Be wise therefore: ye kings the more, Shall laugh them all to scorn: Receive ye wisdoms law: i. Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy The Lord on high: shall them defy, Ye iudges strong: of right and wrong, Christe eleison Christ have mercy they shall be once forlorn. advise you now before. Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy Then shall his ire: speak all in fire, The Lord in fear: your service bear, to them again therefore: with dread to him rejoice: ii. Gloria He shall with threat: their malice beat, Let rages be: resist not ye, Gloria in excelsis Deo, Glory be to God on high in his displeasure sore. him serve with ioyful voice. et in terra pax and peace on earth Yet am I set: a king so great, The son kiss ye lest wrath he be; hominibus bonae voluntatis. to men of good will. on Sion hill so fast: lose not the way of rest; Laudamus te, benedicimus te, We praise you, we bless you, Though me they kill: yet will that hill, for when his ire is set on fire, adoramus te, glorificamus te. we worship you, we glorify you. my law and word outlast. who trust in him be blest.

Mass in G minor Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Gratias agimus tibi propter We give you thanks for your magnam gloriam tuam. great glory. In 1916 Gustav Holst organised a four-day music festival at Thaxted, Essex, over the Whitsun weekend. He augmented the church choir with his students from Morley College Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Lord God, Heavenly King, and called the result the Whitsuntide Singers. When Vaughan Williams returned from the Deus Pater omnipotens. God the Father almighty. war, he was thrilled by this choir and dedicated his Mass in G minor to them. Another Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe, Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. inspiration for the work was the singing of Westminster Cathedral Choir under R. R. Terry, Domine Deus Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Lord God Lamb of God, Son of the Father. who had not only revived many of the choral works of Taverner, Tye, Tallis and Byrd, but commissioned or performed works by contemporary composers, among them Stanford, Qui tollis peccata mundi, Who takes away the sins of the world, Howells, Holst and Bax. Vaughan Williams sent the score of the Mass to Terry for comment, miserere nobis. have mercy upon us. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe Who takes away the sins of the world, deprecationem nostram. receive our prayer. Et exspecto resurrectionem resurrection of the dead Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, Who sits at the right hand of the Father, mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. and the life of the world to come. miserere nobis. have mercy upon us. Amen. Amen. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, You alone are holy, Quoniam tu solus Dominus, You alone are Lord, iv. Sanctus & Benedictus Quoniam tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. You alone are the most high, Jesus Christ. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Lord God of hosts, Cum Sancto Spiritu Jesu Christe Cum With the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Pleni sunt caeli et terra Gloria tua. heaven and earth are full of your glory. Sancto Spiritu in Gloria Dei Patris, Amen. Amen. Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest. Benedictus qui venit in Blessed is he who comes iii. Credo nomine Domini. in the name of the Lord. Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker Hosanna in excelsis. Hosanna in the highest. factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisibilium. invisible. v. Agnus Dei Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi; Lamb of God, you take away the sins unigentum. begotten Son of God miserere nobis. of the world. Have mercy on us. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Born of the Father before all ages. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi; Lamb of God, you take away the sins Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, God of God, Light of Light, miserere nobis. of the world. Have mercy on us. Deum verum de Deo vero. very God of very God, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi; Lamb of God, you take away the sins Genitum non factum, Begotten not made, Dona nobis pacem. of the world. Grant us peace. consubstantialem Patri being of one substance per quem omnia facta sunt. with the Father who made all things. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram Who for us men and for our salvation came down salutem descendit de caelis. from heaven. DAVID OGDEN is much in demand as a conductor and Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the Virgin director of choral and church music workshops, courses and ex Maria Virgine et homo factus est. Mary, and was made man. festivals in the UK and abroad. As well as Exultate Singers, he conducts City of Bristol Choir, the RSCM Millennium Youth Crucifixus etiam pro nobis; He was also crucified for us: Choir, Midlands and South West Cathedral Singers, and the sub Pontio Pilato passus, suffered under Pontius Pilate youth choir, Bristol Voices. He is Director of Music at the et sepultus est. and was buried. © Mark Simmons thriving church in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Et ressurexit tertia die And the third day He rose again secundum Scripturas. according to the scriptures. David has conducted numerous concerts of all kinds of music, from jazz and songs from the Et ascendit in caelum; And ascended into heaven; and is shows to first performances by contemporary composers, along with an extensive repertoire sedet ad dexteram Patris. seated at the right hand of the Father. of choral anthems, motets, oratorios and large-scale choral works. In June 2007 he made his Et iterum venturus est cum gloria; And he shall come again with glory debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. judicarer vivos et mortuos. to judge the living and the dead. In the UK, he works extensively with the Royal School of Church Music, and with the BBC in Cujus regni non erit finis. His Kingdom shall have no end. religious broadcasting, conducting BBC TV’s Songs of Praise, BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship, Et in Spiritum Sanctum, I believe in the Holy Spirit, BBC Radio 2’s Sunday Half Hour and BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong. He has conducted choirs Dominum, et vivificantem: the Lord, the giver of life: who proceeds on BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the World Service. His compositions are sung worldwide qui ex Patre, Filioque procedit. from the Father and the Son. and regularly broadcast on BBC radio. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul Who with the Father and Son His anthem Christ has no body now but yours was chosen by the Archbishop of Canterbury adorator et conglorificatur: is adored and glorified. to be included in a radio broadcast in December 2007, and his piece Love’s redeeming work qui locutus est per Prophetas. Who has spoken through the Prophets. is done will be performed by 250-strong choir in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI as part Et in unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam I believe in one holy catholic and of a Papal Mass during his visit to the USA in April 2008. The Mass will be celebrated by the Ecclesiam. apostolic church. Pope in the newly-built Washington Nationals Baseball Stadium with a congregation of Confiteor unum baptisma I confess one baptism for the 40,000 people. www.davidogden.co.uk in remissionem peccatorum. remission of sins. And I await the EXULTATE SINGERS THE EXULTATE SINGERS CALENDAR 2008 Exultate Singers was founded in order to sing Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4 for a live broadcast on Sunday, 15th September 2002. It has gone on to give over 70 concerts, 2nd-4th May - CD recording sessions broadcasts and other appearances in locations varying from concert venues in Bristol Following the success of the debut CD Visions of Peace, we are delighted that John Rutter such as the Colston Hall, St George’s, St James’ Priory, St Mary Redcliffe Church and will work with Exultate Singers to record and produce their second CD in 2008. The CD St Alban’s Church; appearances in other venues around the South West in Dulverton, will include a selection of pieces that have been heard at the choir’s concerts including Amberley, Bath, Lacock, Weston-Super-Mare, Brompton Regis, Alveston, the National Trust Pearsall’s Lay a garland, Ian Carpenter’s setting of Christ whose glory fills the skies, Britten’s Victorian house of Tyntesfield, and Salisbury Cathedral to venues further Hymn to the Virgin and Billy Joel’s song, And so it goes. afield as diverse as Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, St Mary’s Church in Swansea and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. In October 2007 the choir toured Germany, singing 31st May - 1st June - Services at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin in Bach’s Church in Leipzig and in Berlin, Potsdam and Brandenburg, and giving an Exultate Singers sing Saturday Evensong, Sunday morning Eucharist and Sunday Evensong. impromptu a capella performance at Colditz Castle. Sunday 15th June at 3pm - Concert at the New Room, Plans for 2008 include recording a new CD with John Rutter and singing weekend services A Sunday afternoon recital at John Wesley’s Chapel, the New Room in Broadmead. For at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and in Salisbury Cathedral. In 2009 the choir has been tickets, contact the New Room on 0117 9264740. invited to sing at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. With a repertoire of over 300 separate pieces - ranging from two-minute anthems to Friday 4th July - Concert for St Mary Redcliffe Music Festival whole works such as Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert - the An English theme for this year’s appearance at the annual Music Festival in the choir has sung music from plainsong and Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary magnificent setting of St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol. Music will include Vaughan Williams’ music, jazz and spirituals. It has appeared on BBC Radios 2, 3 and 4, the BBC World Service Vision of Aeroplanes, marking the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death. The choir will and BBC television, and has performed pieces in an array of different languages including also perform The voice out of the whirlwind, Walton’s The Twelve, Set me as a seal and Where Russian, Latin, Aztec, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Quechua, Tagalog, Welsh does the uttered music go? Tickets will be available from the St Mary Redcliffe Parish Office and Icelandic. on 0117 929 1487. Soprano Liz Bagshaw; Ursula Bowlt; Susan Green; Elena Hazelgrove-Planel; Rachel Irwin; 6th-7th September - Services at Salisbury Cathedral Jennie Morris; Joanna Osborn; Rebecca Nieboer; Nicola Pocock; Pippa Ramsay; Exultate Singers return to Salisbury Cathedral to sing weekend services - Saturday Evensong Eleanor Roylance; Emmeline Smith; Beth Williamson. at 5.30pm; Sunday Eucharist at 10.30am and Sunday Evensong at 3pm. Alto Felicity Ball; Jenna Cooper; Alison Harris; Jessica May; Judith Ogden; Susan Pontin; Barbara Rusbridge; Emily West. Saturday 27th September - A concert of French music at St Mary Redcliffe Church This year’s Autumn St Mary Recliffe appearance has a French theme with music by Debussy, Tenor David Ball; David Brown; Ian Carpenter; Oliver Condy; Andrew Kirk. Ravel, Villette, Hakim, Langlais and Boulanger. Bass Nick Abbott; Richard Bacon; Chris Gray; Chris Lambert; Martin Le Poidevin; Mike Osborn; Nic Pillow. Thursday 18th December - Carols by Candlelight at St James’ Priory

Saturday 20th December - Christmas Oratorio by JS Bach With Emerald Ensemble at St Mary Redcliffe Church

Monday 22nd December - Christmas Spectacular Exultate Singers with Emerald Ensemble at St George’s, Bristol

Friends of Exultate Singers is a scheme that helps to support the choir. For more information about becoming a Friend, visit the website or speak to a member of the choir. If you would like to be kept up to date with information about Exultate Singers’ concerts and events, you can join our free mailing list. Just email your contact details to [email protected], fill in the form online at exultatesingers.org, or write to 13 Oak Grove, Easton in Gordano, Bristol BS20 0LN. Israel in EgyptHandel

City of Bristol Choir with Emerald Ensemble conducted by David Ogden Saturday 17th May 2008 at 7.30pm | St George’s, Bristol A performance of one of Handel’s greatest works, dominated by massive virtuosic choruses telling of the plagues of Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. Tickets £8-£18 (concessions £6-£16) from City of Bristol Choir on 07726 762070 or St George’s on 0845 40 24 001.

A monthly organ recital series in aid of Westbury-on-Trym ’s Organ Appeal

Coffee, cakes & organ music from 10.30am Holy Trinity Church, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Suggested donation £5 in aid of the Organ Appeal.

19 April Huw Morgan | 31 May John Bradley 5 July Nigel Nash | 13 September Nic Pillow 18 October Oliver Condy | 8 November David Bednall 6 December John Davenport

For more details, visit www.organappeal.co.uk or phone 0117 950 8644.

Programme designed by Judith Ogden and printed by David Harrison Printing 0117 957 1493