Programme Part 1

Messa di Gloria (Puccini)

We all sing along to Puccini's Nessun Dorma (from Turandot) but there was more to Puccini than just opera. Tonight we are showcasing his Messa di Gloria, composed as his graduation work. It had its first performance in Lucca (near Pisa) on 12 July 1880 but, although it was well received, he never published the manuscript and it was next performed in 1952, well after his death.

Although the publishers used the name Messa di Gloria, Puccini had called it Messa a Quattra Voci (Mass for four voices). Not bad for an 18-year-old.

1. Kyrie

2. Gloria

   • Gloria in Excelsis Deo
   • Laudamus Te
   • Gratias Agimus Tibi
   • Gloria in Excelsis Deo
   • Domine Deus
   • Qui Tollis Pecata Mundi
   • Quonium te Solus Sanctus
   • Cum Sancto Spiritu

3. Credo

   • Credo in Unum Deum
   • Et Incarnatus Est
   • Crucifixus Etiam Pro Nobis
   • Et Resurrexit
   • Et Spiritum Sanctum
   • Et unum sanctum
   • Et vitam venturi saculi

4. Sanctus e Benedictus

   • Sanctus Dominus Deus
   • Benedictus qui venit

5. Agnus Dei

God rest you merry, gentlemen – Please stand and join in.

Christmas Day (Holst)

How many carols can you identify?

Unto us is born a son – Please stand and join in.

Interval

Programme Part 2

I Was Glad (Parry)

You may recognise this as one of the works at King Charles's coronation. In fact, it has helped to crown six monarchs since Edward VII and Alexandra's coronation in 1902. King Charles is a lover of Parry's work but during the 1902 coronation the actor Sir Henry Irving unwittingly turned to Parry and said: “Don't think much of the music so far!” Parry kept quiet.

The piece incorporates a contemplative prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. We can relate to that.

O come all ye faithful – Please stand and join in.

Bethlehem Down (Warlock)

Bethlehem Down was written in 1927 in response to an advert in the Daily Telegraph appealing for submissions for a Christmas carol competition. Warlock and Bruce Blunt, a poet and friend, are reputed to have entered the competition to win the financial reward in order to enjoy a night of heavy drinking in London! Whatever the motivation, it's a rather beautiful piece.

Come to Bethlehem (Warlock)

A Christmas carol with words by Dorn Gregory Murray. It takes its melody from Warlock's Capriol Suite, a set of six dances in the Renaissance style. They form his most famous work. Each dance is short, and draws inspiration from the tunes found in a 1589 dance manual.

Warlock was an ardent admirer of Delius throughout his career, and his harmonic style is very similar. The whole suite was written over a single weekend in October 1926. Come to Bethlehem is a choral version of the fifth movement of the suite, Pieds-en-l'air.

Hark the herald angels sing – Please stand and join in.

Blest Pair of Sirens (Parry)

For this work Parry used the words of Milton's ode. The “sirens” are not the Greek variety who lured sailors to their doom, but the uplifting combination of words and music. It was sung by the choirs of Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April 2011, during the signing of the register.

Blest Pair of Sirens was written in 1887 and dedicated to Stanford and the Bach Choir, the well-known amateur choral group that gave the premiere in London on 17 May of the same year. It was, in fact, the choir's very first commission, written for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.