News of the Choir and its membersNews of the Choir and its membersMarch 29th 2008 saw the choir present an unusual concert of music from each of the significant events in the life of Christ, illustrated with projected images of relevant scenes and expanded with occasional narrative.
The Church of St Michael & All Angels was full to capacity and the audience was treated to some rousing, stirring and moving performances of a variety of works
The programme comprised:
| Event | Performance |
|---|---|
| John the Baptist | Vox Dicentis - Edward Naylor Ave Maria - Rachmaninov |
| Nativity | O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen There is no Rose - Joubert |
| Childhood | Crown of Roses - Tchaikovsky |
| Baptism | Wash me Throughly - S.S.Wesley Come Holy Ghost - Thomas Arnwood |
| Teachings | Amazing Grace - arr John Bertalot |
| Forty Days and Forty Nights | The Wilderness - S.S.Wesley |
| Palm Sunday | Hosanna to the Son of David - Thomas Weekles |
| Last Supper | Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face - Percy Whitlock |
| The Betrayal | This is the Record of John - Orlando Gibbons |
| Crucifixion | Popule meus - Victoria Crucifixus - Lotti |
| Easter | This Glorious Eastertide - arr Charles Wood |
| Ascension | God is Gone Up - Gerald Finzi |
Musical Director Stephen Meakins comments: "Whether inspired by the Muses or touched by the hand of God many composers and artists have produced some of their best works when dealing with religious subjects. I conceived the idea of ‘Visions of Christ’ being a multi-media experience with narrative, song and images. It is hoped that for a short time this presentation will lift the participant out of the daily stresses of modern life to engage in a brief journey of spirituality."
On Saturday 21st July 2007, the Northampton Chamber Choir and a chamber orchestra, assembled specially for the occasion from the finest musical talent in Northamptonshire, performed Handel's "Alexander's Feast" under the direction of Robert Walker, conductor and musical director of the choir.
The featured soloists were soprano Charlotte Shipley, Nicholas Moodie and ex All Saints' Northampton tenor Daniel Turner, currently undertaking postgraduate singing studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Robert Walker conducts the orchestral rehearsal
The Northampton Chamber Choir, under the direction of their conductor and musical director, Robert Walker, recently took the opportunity of showcasing Northamptonshire musical talent, when they were asked to perform at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
A challenging and varied selection of music for the Matins, Eucharist and Evensong services was performed by the choir over the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April to reflect the age of the royal chapel, from the 16th Century to the present day. Robert Walker's own composition, "Te Deum" represented the present day, and the magnificent St.George's organ accompanied the choir, played by one of the finest young church organists, Northampton born and bred, Richard Pinell.
Saturday 2nd September 2006 saw the choir at Worcester Cathedral for Choral Evensong.
This was the first evensong under Robert Walker's direction and the music included Robert's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis 'The St. Paul's Service'. This work was commissioned by the Friends of St Paul's Cathedral and was first performed there earlier this year.
Daniel Turner at the Organ
It is a challenging work, but the choir and our organist, Daniel Turner, rose to the occasion and filled the Cathedral with the glorious sounds Robert intended
The introit was Ambrosian Prayer by Judge, and the anthem was Faire is the Heaven by Harris
In the Quadrangle at Worcester Cathedral