This concert draws from the rich talent of English composers, two of whom are Wimbledon Choral favourites - Cecilia McDowall and Michael Higgins.  McDowall's Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea) was the first work of hers published by OUP.  Its seven short sections merge into a single powerful wave with elements of peace and tranquility mixed in with a turbulent yet joyful mid-section.   Music of the Stars was published in 2023 and the text used demonstrates the power of music as a means of consoling and uplifting in challenging times.   At the time of writing, it is believed our performance will be the first in the UK using the original orchestration..

Ralph Vaughan Williams (President WCS 1946-1958) often used English folk songs as the source and inspiration for some of his works.   He adapted the old song Dives and Lazarus to become the hymn tune known as Kingsfold, named after the village located a few miles south of where he lived in Leith Hill, West Sussex.  The text associated with the tune is usually I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say and the choir will sing this prior to the players performing the composer's Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus.

The concert opens with Elgar's delightful Serenade for Strings and, towards the end, includes Michael Higgins' beautiful O Salutaris Hostia, his arrangement of Elgar's Nimrod (from the Enigma Variations).

Concert Programme

• Elgar : Serenade for Strings
• McDowall : Ave Maris Stella
• Vaughan Williams : I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say [hymn Kingsfold]
• Vaughan Williams : Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus [same theme as Kingsfold]
• Higgins : O Salutaris Hostia
• McDowall : Music of the Stars (UK premiere)

This will be Daniel Mahoney's first concert with Wimbledon Choral as its Music Director.

Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, 146 Sloane Street, London, London SW1X 9BZ      [How to get there]

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