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Events Guide

Cherwell Choral Society present: Poulenc – Gloria

Details

Cherwell Choral Society’s concert this April will feature works by three French composers, Poulenc , Langlais and Fauré, and will take place in the newly refurbished St Mary’s Church in Bloxham.

The Gloria by Francis Poulenc, originally scored for soprano solo, orchestra, and chorus, is a setting of the Roman Catholic “Gloria in excelsis Deo text”. Completed in 1960, and premiered in 1961, it is one of Poulenc’s most celebrated works, and is a wonderful example of the blend of sacred and secular.
Described by the composer as having “very clear, primary colours”, the Gloria contains echoes of the soprano arias of Verdi and the rhythms of Stravinsky; it ranges from the dramatic to the playful.
Langlais’ Messe Solennelle dates from 1951 and is unquestionably his finest piece of church music. Langlais, who was blind from the age of 2, made his name as an organist, but was also a prolific composer. The organ part for the Messe was written for two instruments: the larger organ features angular melodies and chromatic harmonies in a dramatic dialogue with the choir, and the smaller generally doubles the vocal lines. However, the work may be played on just one organ, as in this performance. The final ‘Dona nobis Pacem’ is a fervent plea for peace.

The concert will also include the well-known Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré.

We are privileged once again to have Jonathan Hope, Assistant Organist at Gloucester Cathedral, accompanying the choir. The soprano soloist will be Elizabeth Etches Jones, and Dr Paul Hedley is the choir’s musical director.

Tickets are £16 (children under 16 free), and are available from The Joiners Arms, Bloxham, online, or call 01295 367441. Tickets will also be available on the door.

 

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