OUR NEXT CONCERT

 

We do like a good pilgrimage! So we are going on another one.....

 

On a recent visit to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain I visited the cathedral museum where on display is a digital version of the absolutely amazing Codex Calixtinus. This volume dates from the 12^th century so is very old! And, although it is a collection of writings giving instructions to Santiago-bound pilgrims, it also has a significant amount of music, some of which is the earliest examples of music in parts. My trip has inspired the programme for our concert with a selection of music from the Codex forming its core.

 

Santiago de Compostela is a centre for pilgrims because of the shrine of St James, reputed to have been brought by sea to this particular place, Compostela, in Spain. The name Santiago is actually Saint James –Sant’Iago (Iago is Galician for Jacob which is Latin for James). Pilgrims having been coming from all over the world for centuries to visit the final resting place of St James (who is also the patron saint of Spain) and walking there along one of the many caminos is still as popular as ever. Singing and playing instruments have always been part of the camino tradition and many miracles have been reported along the way.  We can’t promise any miracles but the sopranos and altos of Cantilena will be joined by the playing of the organ (David Hansell) and two sackbuts (Stephen Pegler and Mike Trumble).

 

Our visit to Santiago looks at the main caminos from England, France, Portugal and within Spain itself, with music from these countries connected to St James, pilgrims and the long walk to Santiago. We span ten centuries, starting with plainchant and early polyphony from the Codex and ending with short extracts from Joby Talbot’s brilliant and evocative Path of Miracles written in 2005. There is a 13^th century Cantiga (Galician/Portuguese song about the Virgin Mary), 16^th century pieces by Tomás Luis de Victoria and Peter Philips, a work by the ‘Portuguese Monteverdi’ Joäo Lourenço Rebelo and sacred music by Francis Poulenc (inspired by a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna at Rocamadour) and the Catalan cellist Pau Casals.

 

 

Jenny Hansell (Director of Cantilena)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candlemas Concert

Cantilena

Saturday 3 February 2024 at 3pm

London Road Methodist Church, Horsham RH12 1AN

 

Cantilena’s Candlemas Concert is a veritable feast of music and readings celebrating Christmas, Candlemas and the cold weather! The music is from the 15^th century (celebrating the 550^th anniversary of the death of the Burgundian composer Dufay) up to the modern day (Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s very recent evocative setting of In the bleak midwinter).

After last year’s sell-out Candlemas Concert when we performed Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, we are including two of its movements along with In the bleak midwinter from his cantata A boy was born. And to complete a trio of In the bleak midwinter settings we are also singing the one by Darke, recently voted by organists as their favourite Christmas carol.

Works by Byrd, Charpentier and Reinecke and a few traditional carols and readings complete the programme.

The fourteen female singers directed by Jenny Hansell are accompanied by Liz Burtenshaw (piano) and David Hansell (organ).

The concert starts at 3pm and is an hour long so it should still be light when we finish and there is plenty of time to do other things both before and after the concert!

 

The Methodist church is warm and welcoming with comfy seats and plenty of nearby parking, such as the Swan Walk and North Parade car parks.

Tickets will be available at the door but if you would like to pre-book then please contact cantilena.info@gmail.com or 01483 275489. Tickets are £12 (schoolchildren £5). We currently do not have the facility to pay by card so please bring cash. Cheques are also acceptable.

We do hope you can join us for the final celebration of the Christmas season!

 

Jenny Hansell and Cantilena