Music

The music to be sung at the three-day Festival in April is chosen by a Music Committee chaired by Jonathan Willcocks. Each group of four choirs prepares a different set of music in the five main classes:

• full chorus (a full-size work e.g. Mozart's Requiem)
• madrigal
• part song
• men's song
• women's song

There are two other classes:

• ensembles – each choir can field up to three ensembles (small groups of up to twelve singers)
• own choice – a piece under four minutes, chosen by each choir.

At the traditional March concert all those choir members who want to take part (and a growing number of independent singers) perform in rotation Bach's St Matthew or St John Passion or Handel's Messiah.

Youth Choirs choose two pieces of music to showcase their skill and talent.