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:

Competitions:

Each choir will present an ‘own-choice’ recital (max. 20 mins), to include:

i. A piece with accompaniment

ii. A piece sung unaccompanied (a cappella)

iii. A piece written by a living composer

iv. Excerpt(s) from the major work(s) being performed in the evening concert, which will be announced to choirs two weeks before the Festival.

Ensemble Competition:

              As a ‘prelude’ to the Competitions, there will be an optional Ensemble Competition where groups of between 4-12 singers will perform a single unaccompanied piece, selected by the Music Committee. Choirs may enter as many groups as they wish. The Ensemble pieces for 2020 will be as already announced:

Blue div: Passereau – Il est bel et bon (Novello)

Red div: Finzi – My spirit sang all day (Boosey and Hawkes)

Green div: Ireland – The Hills (Stainer and Bell)

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.

This year Bach's B Minor Mass.

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