O Magnum Mysterium - A Christmas Mystery
Organ: Philip Scriven
With: The Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble
Mathias: Sir Christèmas
Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium
Audience Carol: O little town of Bethlehem
Praetorius: Puer Natus in Bethlehem
Clemens non Papa: Pastores, Quidnam Vidistis
Audience Carol: While shepherds watched
Messiaen: Les Bergers (Organ solo)
Ballet/Shaw: Lute-book Lullaby
Kirkpatrick/Willcocks: Away in a Manger (Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble)
Gauntlett/Willcocks: Once In Royal David's City (Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble)
Audience Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful
INTERVAL
Hassler: Hodie Christus Natus est
Poulenc: O Magnum Mysterium; Hodie Christus Natus est
Audience Carol: A Great and Mighty Wonder
Willcocks: Deck the Hall
Rutter: Nativity Carol
Clemens non Papa: Missa 'Pastores Quidnam Vidistis': Credo
Anderson arr Trotter: Sleigh Ride (Organ solo)
Pearsall/ Rutter: In Dulci Jubilo (Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble)
Leontovich/Wilhousky: Carol of the Bells (Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble)
Audience Carol: Hark the Herald
On the eve of the Christian season of Advent this concert of choral music sought to portray the mystery of Christmas, taking its title from the ancient responsorial chant of the same name that reflects the sense of wonder that animals should witness the birth of the newborn Lord, lying in a manger.
Over the centuries this simple tale has inspired many composers, and the concert included versions by Francis Poulenc and Morten Lauridsen. Other works in the concert also reflected the wonder and the joy of the nativity of Christ in different ways.
The concert was ideally suited to the historic Church of Saint Lawrence in Alton with its magnificent Speechly organ, which was played by the Waverley Singers' good friend and regular accompanist Philip Scriven. The choir was delighted to be joined for some items by the Farnham Youth Choir Ensemble, who also performed their own numbers - to great acclaim! (See below for our interview with the members of the Ensemble ahead of the concert.)
Reviews
"Waverley Singers Christmas Concert: St Lawrence Church, Alton"
An edited version of this review was published by the Farnham Herald on 1 January 2024.
The Waverley Singers’ Christmas Concert ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ on Saturday, 2nd December in St Lawrence Church, Alton took as its theme the mystery that unfolded in a stable on a cold winter’s night over two thousand years ago. The choir’s Musical Director, Richard Pearce, has the gift of putting together original and inspiring programmes, and this concert was no exception.
The night was certainly cold in Alton, but the audience responded warmly not only to the choir and to organist Philip Scriven, but also to the seven young singers of the Farnham Youth Choir (FYC) Ensemble, who delighted with their poignant, lively, and assured unaccompanied singing of four carols. The FYC will be worthy representatives of the UK at the World Choir Games in New Zealand in July 2024; they have a fundraising campaign to ensure all their members are able to take part: https://www.fyc.org.uk/
The programme included familiar audience carols but also less well-known works from the Renaissance period, with ‘Puer Natus in Bethlehem’ by Michael Praetorius, ‘Hodie Christus Natus Est’ by Hans Leo Hassler, and two pieces by Clemens non Papa (so named to distinguish him either from Pope Clement or the priest poet Jacopus Papa!) ‘Pastores, Quidnam Vidistis?’. These were complemented by modern pieces by, among others, Francis Poulenc, David Willcocks, and John Rutter.
Meanwhile Philip Scriven tickled the audience’s fancy with, first, a modernistic piece by Olivier Messiaen, ‘Les Bergers’, and then Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride’ reputedly the most widely performed and recorded piece in the history of Western music!
Over the last year the choir has helped local charities raise nearly £3200, and this time the retiring collection for the Alton Food Bank raised a magnificent £840.
The choir’s next event is a workshop on Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ on 13th January – all are welcome. Details at www.waverleysingers.com
Gallery
Youtube