Christmas Title ‘Seasonal Welcome’ All copyrights reserved by Susan Brown BA Hons. MCSD. MSAI. Double Dimension Design
Thursday 10th and Friday 11th December 2009 Huddersfield Town Hall - 7.30pm
Open Morning Saturday 16th January 2010. 9.30 - noon Senior School Scholarship & Entrance Exam Saturday 30th January 2010 Music Festival Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd May 2010 Huddersfield Grammar School - Royds Mount, Luck Lane, Marsh, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 4QX Tel: 01484 424549 Fax: 01484 531835 email: admin@huddersfield-grammarschool.co.uk
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
2009 / 2010 SEASON
Christmas BRIAN KAY
MARTENE GRIMSON HEPWORTH
(COOKSON HOMES)
BAND
MUSICAL DIRECTOR - DAVID HIRST DARIUS BATTIWALLA - ORGAN JOSEPH CULLEN - CHORUS MASTER THURSDAY
10
DECEMBER
2009
THIS EVENING ’ S CONCERT IS SPONSORED BY :
JULIE HALE CONSULTANCY FRIDAY
11
DECEMBER
2009
THIS EVENING ’ S CONCERT IS SPONSORED BY :
HUDDERSFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL GREENBANK TETROTECH LTD & SOUTHWESTERN CORPORATION 7.30 pm HUDDERSFIELD TOWN HALL P A G E
O N E
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE POWER INDUSTRY
Southwestern Corporation Limited is once again pleased to support the Huddersfield Choral Society, this time at the Christmas Concert. We wish all our friends and all others present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and wish every success to the Huddersfield Choral Society in the future.
Graham Bell - Managing Director
SOUTHWESTERN CORPORATION LIMITED PO Box 336 • Stafford • England
Telephone: (01785) 224466 • Facsimile: (01785) 226699 P A G E
T W O
E-mail: southwestern.uk@btinternet.com
Welcome to our annual Christmas concert. We are delighted to have Brian Kay back with us once again to present and conduct this evening's music with his customary style and wit. We are also very pleased to welcome the international soprano Martene Grimson, Hepworth Band and organist Darius Battiwalla. The Huddersfield Choral Society was founded in 1836, and has performed in many of the world's great musical centres. Its special quality is the unique 'Huddersfield Sound' - a thrilling full-bodied and firm blended tone, flexible enough for both the most shattering climaxes and for the softest but focused pianissimos. The choir has been busy during the past summer with several engagements. April saw an invitation from the Orquestra Nacional do Porto to perform Britten's War Requiem under their principal conductor Christoph König in the stunning new Casa da Musica concert hall in Porto designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Our association with Signum Records continued with a recording in June at Huddersfield Town Hall of Stainer's The Crucifixion, conducted by Joseph Cullen with Darius Battiwalla, organ, and soloists Andrew Kennedy and Neal Davies. Copies of this CD are available for sale in the Area entrance tonight, along with notelets featuring paintings by local artists, Huddersfield Choral Christmas puddings and other items. The recording sessions were closely followed by a visit to Orkney for two concerts - including Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony with Martyn Brabbins - as part of the St Magnus Festival. More recently, a section of the choir made a return visit to Bowness on Windermere on 10 October for a concert in St Martin's church conducted by Joseph Cullen with Darius Battiwalla at the organ. Other projects this season included participation in a world première performance of a new work by Alvin Curran on 29 November at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, recorded for BBC Radio 3. This was followed by a live broadcast on BBC Radio 4 of Sunday Worship from St Paul's Hall on 6 December starting at 8.10am, although the choir were rehearsing from 7.00am! On 3 April 2010 the choir sings Orff's Carmina Burana at the Sage Gateshead with the Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Bramwell Tovey. The Society promotes its own professional subscription concert season in Huddersfield Town Hall, its home since 1881. Delius's A Mass of Life was the first Subscribers' concert on 30 October in a stunning performance with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by P A G E
Martyn Brabbins. Messiah is a Huddersfield favourite: this year's performances are conducted by Grant Llewellyn with the Orchestra of Opera North. The public concert is on Tuesday 15 December, with the Subscribers' performance the following evening. The final Subscribers' concert, on 16 April 2010, will be Handel's Judas Maccabaeus with the Manchester Camerata conducted by Takuo Yuasa. At this concert we welcome to Huddersfield a contingent from the Osaka Symphonic Choir, making a reciprocal visit following the Choral's visit to Japan in 2007. In 2010/11 the Society celebrates its 175th season. A major sponsorship deal with the University of Huddersfield has strengthened links between the two institutions and is resulting in a great range of collaborative activities, including a choral conducting scholarship. There is an active recruitment programme to replace singers who retire or move away. Several new members have already joined us this season, bringing our total membership to well above 200. Our recruitment officer Gaynor Haliday (07951 482 047 or gaynor.haliday@huddersfieldchoral.com ) would be delighted to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the choir. For enquiries about becoming a subscriber, please contact Julie Hale on 07989 395 066 or julie.hale@huddersfieldchoral.com Details of all concerts and events can be found on the website at http://www.huddersfieldchoral.com
Legacies Including a legacy to The Huddersfield Choral Society in your Will is a practical way to make a lasting contribution to our future. Please help us remain one of the most inspiring and vibrant Choral Societies in Britain for the next generations. The Society is a registered charity, Number 1100851. Enquiries may be directed to the Society’s Treasurer Mr. Adrian J. Lee: -∞72 Benomley Road, Almondbury, Huddersfield, HD5 8LS Telephone: 01484 450321 Email: adrian.lee@huddersfieldchoral.com
T H R E E
P A G E
F O U R
JOSEPH CULLEN Chorus Master
Described by Opera News as ‘clearly a name to watch’, Grammy Award-winning Joseph Cullen is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in the UK in recent years. His experience spans a range of prestigious appointments, including Director of the London Symphony Chorus, Chorus Master of the Huddersfield Choral Society, Chorus Director of the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and guest conducting appearances with orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and The Academy of St Martin-in-theFields.
audiences of up to 14000 in the Jay Pritzker Auditorium in Millenium Park, and conducted Lobesgesang (Mendelssohn) with the Berkshire (USA) Choral Festival in Canterbury Cathedral. He has conducted the LSC in Bach’s St Matthew Passion in the Barbican with the City of London Sinfonia in successive years and again directs the CLS in three concerts in the City of London Festival this time featuring Cantatas by J S Bach early in 2010. Last June he completed the final CD of a trilogy with the Huddersfield Choral Society conducting The Crucifixion (John Stainer) on the Signum Classics label.
Joseph has worked closely with some of the world’s leading conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Mark Elder, Michael Tilson Thomas, Valery Gergiev, Michael Tilson Thomas, Gianandrea Noseda, Vasily Petrenko, Yan-Pascal Tortelier, Bernard Haitink, Richard Hickox and Sir Colin Davis, with whom he won a 2006 Grammy award for the LSO Live recording of Falstaff (Verdi). Other recordings include the Grammy-nominated Peter Grimes (Britten) and A Child of our Time (Tippett). for LSO Live and ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ (Mahler) for EMI. He will again prepare the LSC for the second performance of James MacMillan’s St John Passion, written for the 80th birthday of Sir Colin Davis with the LSO. In 2001, Joseph Cullen was appointed Director of the London Symphony Chorus, whose engagements this season have included visits to Rome (Creation) and Luxembourg (Verdi Requiem). Last April he conducted the London Symphony Chorus in Mozart's C minor Mass in Co. Clare, Eire and in the past year he has visited Orkney (Sea Symphony) and Oporto (War Requiem) with the Huddersfield Choral Society and appeared at the Grant Park Festival in Chicago where he conducted Russian programmes including The Bells (Rachmanninov) to P A G E
F I V E
P A G E
S I X
SOPRANO: Margaret Atkinson* Susan Baines Sheila Baker** Jill Bamford Lydia Bayliss Charmaine Beaumont** Jill Benn Patricia Berry* Janet Booth Chrissie Bosworth Elly Bosworth Elizabeth Boyle Dorothy Bradbury Christine Broadbent Louise Brown Sarah Brown Colleen Brown Derrianne Byrne Mary Cadwaladr Barbara Carroll Joanna Cole Tricia Commons Gwyneth Cooper Rosemary Cooper Andrea Crawshaw* Eleanor Davies Jenny Ellis Sue Ellis Linda Fellows Sheila Garside* Katherine Hall Julia Harvey Margaret Henry* Hilary Hibbin Kate Hyland-Collier Amy Jackson Caroline Jones Georgia Katsiroumpa Helen Kettlewell Emma Kilroy Libby Kraus Fiona Law Elaine Lee* Anne Lockwood Helen Martin
Choir Members
Jules Mehten Wendy Moores Cath Murgatroyd Megan Nelson Pamela Pal Jean Parker* Leah Pattison Stephanie Pioli* Carol Randerson* Christine Roberts Katrina Robinson-Brown Jane Sargent* Hannah Saxon Chanelle Schofield Sue Shepherd Thelma Simpson Debbie Skipper Susan Smith Doreen Smurthwaite Nan Steinitz Ruth Stones* Marilyn Sutcliffe Sarah Wickham Denise Wilkes Glynis Wilkinson Susan Wilkinson* Mary Wilson ALTO: Ruth Aldred Helen Ashley-Taylor Anna Bailey Thelma Bateman Sue Beatty** Ann Boswell Barbara Brook* Rowena Burton Sandy Cole** Margaret Collison Jean Collison* Cynthia Daniel** Janet Dransfield* Christine Durham** Winifred Ellis* Janet Gabanski Alison Hale
Julie Hale Gaynor Haliday Richard Hallas Andrea Hindson Pam Hird* Jane Hobson* Sue Hornby Susan Kirby Hilary Laurie Sylvia McGee* Hilary McLean Elizabeth Mortimer Kath Northern* Marjorie Norton* Audrey O'Hara Alison Owen - Morley Jayne Preston** Frances Priestnall Caroline Robinson Jennifer Sanderson Susan Sandford Vicki Scurrah Eileen Sheller Suzanne Smelt Zelma Stevens Marjorie Swift** Pam Sykes Vera Thompson Anna Thompson Lettice Thomson* Susan Turnbull Sandra Twitchett Michelle Walker Jean Walters* Rebekah Wheeler Sue Wilman** Jenni Wohlman Glenda Wray
TENOR: Michael Benn* Jonathan Brigg Stephen Brook* Tom Chilton David Croft** Malcolm Fairless* P A G E
S E V E N
Chris Fawcett Graham Fearnley* Jeremy Garside Ronald Gee David Gee Steven Grant Malcolm Hinchliffe Roy Hirst Norman Hirst Martin Jenkins Martin Kettlewell Gregory Knaggs Timothy Lewis** John Ling David Lunn Richard Myhill Arthur Quarmby* Philip Ratcliffe Stuart Rudd Gerald Savage Ian Smith Alan Stephens Charles R. Sykes David Vickers Harvey Walsh David Ward Michael Widdall Tim Wilkes
BASS: Femi Aboaba Richard Ainley Christopher Arnold** David Atkinson Gareth Beaumont** James Blagbrough Graham Boyle John Brown* David Burgess Mike Corney Jim Cowell Martyn Crossley* James Curran** Ian Daniel* Peter Dawson P.J. Dodd
Granville Dransfield* Raymond Ellis John Harman David Hartley*** David Hoddle Dennis Holmes Keith Horner William Kirby Andrew Marsland John McGahey Barrie Mortimer Robin Owen - Morley Angus Pogson** Geoffrey Priestley David Robinson Howard Sandford John Sandland Graham Smelt Terry Smurthwaite Paul Spencer Jim Stafford* Alan Stirk Neil Stones Mark Taylor Richard Thompson Lyndon Wilkinson* Barrie Williams Conrad Winterburn**
* Holder of 25 year badge ** Holder of 40 year badge *** Holder of 50 year badge
P A G E
E I G H T
Brian Kay
Brian Kay divides his working life between the broadcasting studio and the concert platform. His many presentations for BBC radio have included Brian Kay's Sunday Morning, Brian Kay's Light Programme, the weekly listeners' request programme 3 for all and Choirworks - all on Radio 3 - on Radio 2 the popular programmes Melodies for You and Friday Night is Music Night, and for Radio 4, Comparing Notes and Music in Mind. His former BBC World Service programme Classics with Kay reached an audience of millions all over the world. Brian's television presentations have included the competitions to find the Cardiff Singer of the World and the Choir of the Year, and every year since 1996, the New Year's Day Concert from Vienna. He has twice won a Sony Award as Music Presenter of the Year, including the coveted Gold Award in 1996.
Berkshire Choral Festival. He is a Vice President of the ABCD (the Association of British Choral Directors) and of the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music). Brian Kay has twice appeared at the Royal Variety Show - in 1978 as a member of the King's Singers (he was a founder member, and as the bass voice in the group performed over 2000 concerts world-wide) and in 1987 conducting the Huddersfield Choral Society. He sang the voice of Papageno in the Hollywood movie Amadeus (his wife, the soprano Gillian Fisher sang Papagena). He has also been the lowest frog on a Paul McCartney single, one of the six wives to Harry Secombe's Henry V111th, and a member of the backing group for The Pink Floyd!
On the concert platform, he presents and narrates concerts with many of the leading orchestras. His narrations include Peter and the Wolf, Paddington Bear's First Concert, Tubby the Tuba, Babar the Elephant, The Snowman, The Musicians of Bremen, Walton's Facade, Honegger's King David and Bliss's Morning Heroes. Brian Kay is conductor of Vaughan Williams's Leith Hill Musical Festival in Surrey, and of the Burford Singers, near to his home in the Cotswolds. He is also an associate conductor of The Really Big Chorus, with which he regularly conducts massed voices in London's Royal Albert Hall, together with recent concerts in Salzburg, Seville, Prague, Venice and Cape Town, a performance of Handel's Messiah in China, in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall, and singing cruises to the Baltic, the Aegean, the Black Sea and the Nile. He was, for ten years, Chorus Master of the Huddersfield Choral Society, and Conductor of the Cheltenham Bach Choir, the Bradford Festival Choral Society, the Cecilian Singers of Leicester, and the Kendal-based Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival. He frequently GuestConducts choirs and orchestras in many parts of the country. Further afield, in New Zealand he has conducted the Orpheus Choir of Wellington and the Auckland Choral Society, and in Sheffield, Massachusetts, the P A G E
N I N E
P A G E
T E N
Martene Grimson Martene Grimson graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before moving to London where she completed her studies at the Royal College of Music's Benjamin Britten Opera School and at the National Opera Studio. She was supported by the Royal Opera House, Countess of Munster Musical Scholarship and the Madeline Finden Memorial Award. Martene was awarded second prize in the 2006 Kathleen Ferrier Competition and has given recitals at the Aldeburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall, Royal Opera House (in the Linbury Studio and Crush Room), St John's Smith Square, Fairfield Hall and the Harrogate Festival. Her recent concert engagements include Pulcinella with Scottish Chamber Orchestra under Thierry Fischer, Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti with the Bayerischer Rundfunk at the Prinzregententheater, Munich under Ulf Schirmer, a concert performance as Dorinda Orlando with Independent Opera at the Wigmore Hall, a Strauss tour of the UK for Raymond Gubbay; Haydn with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Frans Bruggen in London and Bristol; Gretel Hansel and Gretel with the BBC Concert Orchestra under Charles Hazelwood at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and
P A G E
at the Chichester Festival; and Brahms' Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall under Sir David Wilcocks. Her operatic engagements include her role dĂŠbut as Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro for Opera East; Melia Apollo and Hyacinthus and Sivene Le Cinesi for Bampton Classical Opera; Ilia Idomeneo for Pinchgut Opera in Sydney; First Witch Dido and Aeneas for Opera North; Mrs Gleaton in Floydd's Susannah and Laurette in Bizet's Le Docteur Miracle for Wexford Festival. With the Classical Opera Company she has sung Hyacinthus Apollo and Hyacinthus, Aminta Il Re Pastore and Cinna Lucio Silla. She recently made her dĂŠbut for the Nationale Reisopera as Glauce Medea. Engagements this year include performances of Howard Goodall's Requiem Eternal Light with the Rambert Dance Company, a concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Watford Colosseum and she will sing the role of Sivene Le Cinesi with Bampton Classical Opera at the Wigmore Hall, and Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro for Longborough Festival Opera.
E L E V E N
David Hirst MUSICAL DIRECTOR
David Hirst began his musical career at the age of ten with the local village band playing cornet: he made rapid progress on the instrument, and at the age of fourteen was accepted into the Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band on the solo cornet bench.
In 1990 David returned to the Yorkshire Imperial Band conducting them at the British Open, All England Masters and as prizewinners at the “Brass in Concert� competition over three successive years. In 1994 David was invited to join the world famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band as Resident Musical Director, relinquishing this position in 2005 after 11 years. During this period the Band were National Champions (1997 and 1998), European Champions (1998) and All England Masters Champions (1997 and 2001) in addition to Yorkshire Area Champions (1995, 1997 and 2003).
Two years later David joined the Black Dyke Mills Band on Soprano Cornet where he had four successful years including wins at the British Open, National and World Championships. In 1972 David began studying music at the University of Huddersfield, being taught trumpet by Maurice Murphy. A growing interest in Orchestral and Big Band playing led him to being one of the early members of the James Shepherd Versatile Brass. In 1978 David rejoined the Black Dyke Mills Band on Soprano cornet enjoying further contest success.
Since leaving B&R David has been guest conductor with Grimethorpe, Faireys and Fodens, and is regularly invited to undertake contest preparation workshops with bands of all standards.
By the mid '70s he was conducting various village bands before being appointed in 1980 as the Musical Director of the Andrews Heat for Hire Band. After five successful years he then took over as Musical Director at the Lewington Yamaha Band followed by two years as the Resident Conductor at Black Dyke conducting the band during their historic tour of Australia in 1988.
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T W E L V E
Hepworth Cookson Homes Band Hepworth, the village from which the band takes its name is situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park, close to the 'Summer Wine' town of Holmfirth in West Yorkshire.
up at the English National Championships and qualified to represent Yorkshire at the finals of the British Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, a fitting way to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
The band’s principal sponsor is the Huddersfield based property development company Cookson Homes. The company has been a key part of Huddersfield's urban renaissance, built upon the area’s rich heritage, architecture and culture. Cookson Homes is dedicated to promoting the local community's heritage and by applying the same approach it takes to its developments; the company is committed to building upon the success of the band.
So far this year, the band has finished runners up at the Butlins Mineworkers Brass Festival, the Saddleworth Whit Friday Marches, the English National Championships and has once again qualified for the finals of the British Brass Band Championships.
There has long been a strong tradition of brass bands and music making in the Holme Valley and Hepworth has been a part of this since its formation in 1882. The band’s long history puts it amongst the oldest brass bands in the country. Throughout its history the band has enjoyed notable contest success. More recently in 2004 the band was crowned Scottish Open Champions and Saddleworth Champions at the famous Whit Friday Marches. In 2005 the band won the Grand Shield, earning an invitation to compete at British Open Brass Band Championships for the first time in its history. In 2007 the band were runners P A G E
As well as the band’s impressive record on the contest platform, it is equally at home on the concert stage, where it has gained a reputation for presenting varied, exciting and polished performances. The band promotes its own annual concert series and performs further afield in 'Championship Brass' concert series promotions, staged productions and in concerts with some of the country's leading choirs. On the recording front, the band has performed with international trumpet soloist Huug Stekete for his solo CD 'Shining Waters'. 'Portraits' features the band with soloists from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Orchestra of The Hague. 'Celebration' is the band’s latest recording, and was released to celebrate the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
T H I R T E E N
✴✴ ✴ STARS ✴✴
OF HUDDERSFIELD
✴ ✴ ✴
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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Ding Dong Merrily on High Shining Star Away in a Manger O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum) II Est Ne (He is Born) Who is He ? Christmas Swing Kymbayah Christmas Joy
✴
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
Let There Be Peace On Earth Santa Claus-Trophobia In the Bleak Midwinter A Merry Little Christmas Lullaby Schneewaltzer (Snow Waltz) A Christmas Fantasy We Wish you a Merry Christmas
✴
£10 each or £11.50 (including postage and packaging, cheques payable to Sellers Charity Account) available from DAVID ARMITAGE Sellers International Limited, Engine Bridge Works, Chapel Hill, Huddersfield HD1 3EH Telephone: 01484 540006 Or from: DAVID LOCKWOOD - Tel: 01484 666827
GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND WILL RECEIVE A DONATION FROM EVERY DISC SOLD P A G E
F O U R T E E N
Christmas Concert A Merry Little Christmas - arr. Goff Richards (Choir & Band) -o-
Alleluya, a new work is come on hand - Peter Wishart (Choir) Gabriel to Mary came - arr. David Willcocks (Choir) -o-
Hark! the herald angels sing - arr. David Willcocks (All) Verse 1: Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new born King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled: Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies, With th’angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King.
Verse 2: Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time, behold him come Offspring of a virgin’s womb: Veiled in flesh, the God-head see, Hail th’incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King.
Verse 3: Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Ris’n with healing in his wings; Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King.
-o-
Dance Fever - Kenneth Downie (Band) Candlelight Carol - John Rutter arr. Mallet (Band) Shepherd’s Pipe Carol - John Rutter arr. Sparke (Band)
Continued on page 17
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F I F T E E N
Serving Industry, Commerce & the Private Client
13 STATION STREET • HUDDERSFIELD • HD1 1LY TELEPHONE (01484) 519519 E-MAIL: mail@baxlaw.co.uk • FAX (01484) 518085
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S I X T E E N
Christmas Concert Rejoice Greatly - Messiah - Handel (Soprano & Darius Battiwalla) The Star of Bethlehem - Stephen Adams (Soprano & Darius Battiwalla) -o-
While shepherds watched their flocks by night - (All) Verse 1: While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around.
Verse 3: 'To you in David's town this day Is born of David's line A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign:
Verse 5: Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song:
Verse 2: 'Fear not,' said he, (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind); 'Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind.
Verse 4: 'The heav'nly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid.'
Verse 6: 'All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Good will henceforth from heav'n to men Begin and never cease.'
-o-
Hail, smiling morn - Spofforth (Choir) Stille Nacht - arr. Brian Kay (Choir) Birthday Carol - David Willcocks (Choir) -o-
Christmas Triptych - James Curnow (Band)
I N T E R V A L Continued on page 18 P A G E
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Christmas Concert Sleighride - Leroy Anderson (Band) -o-
Ding Dong! Merrily on high - arr. Charles Wood (Choir) Love came down at Christmas - Graham Barber (Choir) Ring at Christmas time - Ian Stansfield (Choir) -o-
Let the bright Seraphim - Samson - Handel (Soprano & Darius Battiwalla) The Holy City - Stephen Adams (Soprano & Darius Battiwalla) -o-
The wonder of Christmas - Peter Graham (Band) Away in a Manger - arr. Peter Graham (Band) (Flugel soloist Natalia Beer) -o-
Esta Noche - arr. John Rutter (Choir & Soprano) In the bleak midwinter - Harold Darke (Choir & Soprano) I wish you Christmas - John Rutter (Choir)
Continued on page 21
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E I G H T E E N
Recordings OTHER RECORDINGS AVAILABLE:
THE CAROLS ALBUM: £12.00
• A Christmas Fantasy • • A Christmas Celebration • • Belshazzar’s Feast • • Messiah • THE HYMNS ALBUM: £12.00
THE CRUCIFIXION: £12.00
Recordings will be on sale in the Area Entrance tonight or can be obtained from:
David Lockwood (Telephone 01484 666827)
E-mail: david.lockwood@huddersfieldchoral.com
THE HUDDERSFIELD CENTRAL LODGE
AA and Visit Britain 4 Star Accredited www.centrallodge.com Relatives or friends visiting Huddersfield?
*
Excellent accommodation at sensible prices available over the holidays.
*
Award winning guest accommodation.
Contact us for offers or to view.
01484 515551
angela@centrallodge.com
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N I N E T E E N
Susan Brown BA Hons. MCSD MSAI Susan Brown was born in Yorkshire and graduated from Leeds with a BA Honours degree in Interior Architecture in 1979. To date her professional life has involved both Interior Architecture and Painting. Now an established artist, Susan creates bold and vibrant images which portray what she describes as the real world. She sees them as an interpreted record of life through architectural studies of existing surroundings. These explore the mathematics, rhythm and movement within structures and the relationship between man and the built environment in an exciting and immediate style. Her background in design has given her an exceptional command of colour, texture and pattern, which gives these images a dual quality of technical and aesthetic beauty. Susan is an elected member of both the Chartered Society of Designers and the Society of Architectural Illustrators. Official recognition has also come in the form of awards at The Discerning Eye Exhibition, the Singer Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, the Hunting Art Prizes and the Laing Art Competition. Her paintings can be found in a number of prestigious collections both in this country and abroad, including those of AEDAS Architects, the Sir George Martin Trust, HBOS, Natwest, Provident Financial and the Universities of Sheffield and York.
Susan Brown Studio
The Crown, Park Lane Birdsedge, Huddersfield HD8 8XW Tel. 01484 603 769 All copyrights reserved by Susan Brown BA Hons MCSD MSAI Double Dimension Design
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T W E N T Y
Christmas Concert
O come, all ye faithful - arr. David Willcocks (All) Verse 1: Verse 3: O come, all ye faithful, Sing, choirs of angels, Joyful and triumphant, Sing in exultation, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Come and behold him Glory to God Born the King of Angels: In the highest: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! Christ the Lord! Verse 2: God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
Verse 4: Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born on Christmas morning, Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! -o-
A Christmas Fantasy - Gordon Langford (Choir & Band)
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T W E N T Y - O N E
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T W E N T Y - T W O
As we approach our 175th anniversary season in 2010/2011, we wish to inform you of our plans to date.
events. Tonight you can see our new choral notelets and our special Christmas pudding!
Choir members have entered into the spirit of fundraising for this very special season and we have set up a fundraising committee to plan our celebrations. These will include six workshops aimed to widen access to both the senior and junior choirs and to share the skills of our professional musicians. It is particularly important that we encourage young singers to join us and thus ensure the future success of our Society.
If you feel you can support us in any way then we would be delighted to hear from you.
We now have a new recording of Stainer's Crucifixion which is on sale tonight, or can be ordered via our website. We are also producing our own notelets to raise funds. These are also on sale at our display in the Area entrance. A new edition of ‘And the Glory' - the history of the Society - is currently in production and will be available in 2010. We plan to hold a Sponsored Walk (with some singing en route) on June 5th 2010 and we are holding a Sponsored Sing in Huddersfield Town Hall in April 2011. Additional concerts are being planned for the 2010/11 season including a gala performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius on Saturday 18th June 2011 - a date very close to our founding date in June 1836. We are proud of the great tradition of the Society and are working hard to ensure the success of this special celebration. Individual members are holding a wide variety of events from Ceilidhs to cake baking, plant sales and plum pudding sales. Also in support of the 175th anniversary celebrations we are launching our “£175 for 175” appeal. Any friend or supporter of the Society may, if they wish, contribute by Gift Aid, either by single donation or by monthly standing order. All donors will be acknowledged in our souvenir brochure commemorating the 175th season and will receive a complimentary copy. Further details from Adrian Lee on 01484 450321 or e-mail adrian.lee@huddersfieldchoral.com
We are preparing a series of display boards on the history and development of the Society. If you have any items of interest which could be photographed then we would be very pleased to have sight of them.
EVENTS
❑ Sunday 25th April 2010 Sunday Lunch with Brian Kay Bertie's Banqueting Rooms, Elland Tickets £30 from Gaynor Haliday on 01484 667849 ❑ Saturday 15th May 2010 Ceilidh at Holmfirth Civic Hall ❑ Saturday 29th May 2010 Plant sale at the home of Sir John Harman We look forward to welcoming you at all of the above events. Do keep looking at the special 175th anniversary page on our website at www.huddersfieldchoral.com or contact Jenny Lockwood on 01484 666827 or email david.lockwood@huddersfieldchoral.com
Our Recordings, Notelets and Christmas Puddings are on sale this evening in the Area Entrance.
Listed below are the events planned up to May 2010. This is constantly being updated and details will be posted on our website at www.huddersfieldchoral.com. Commencing this evening we shall have a table in the Area entrance with recordings, other items for sale and further details of all the P A G E
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In the Bleak Midwinter A Christmas Carol
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Christina Rossetti
According to a number of newspaper headlines, In the Bleak Midwinter was Britain's most popular Christmas carol in 2008. Some commentators thought this singularly appropriate as Britons faced their most frugal Christmas for years. Even if the carol seemed an unlikely choice to win the popular vote, it made a good seasonal story and provided some light relief, at a time when the front pages were dominated by fears of recession, the prospects for Barack Obama's presidency, and the uncertain peace in Gaza. Reading the story behind the headlines revealed that a BBC poll of some of the world's leading choirmasters and choral experts had named Harold Darke's setting of In the Bleak Midwinter as the best Christmas carol. A solo voice, which emphasises the haunting beauty of Christina Rossetti's poetry, memorably opens this setting of the carol. In later verses, the harmonies of the full choir are underpinned by a beautiful and lilting organ accompaniment. Harold Edwin Darke (1888-1976) trained at the Royal College of Music where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and organ with Walter Parratt. He enjoyed a distinguished career as an organist, choir trainer and composer, and made a lasting contribution to choral and church music. From 1941-5, Darke was organist of King's College, Cambridge, where his setting of In the Bleak Midwinter has been sung in the service of Nine Lessons and Carols on numerous occasions. In contrast, Gustav Holst's earlier setting of Christina Rossetti's Christmas poem was composed for congregational singing. In 1905, a group of clergy established a committee, under the chairmanship of the Revd. Percy Dearmer, to revise and update Hymns Ancient & Modern. Ralph Vaughan Williams who was appointed editor, aspired to include the finest hymn tunes in the world. Folk tunes and traditional songs would be added, as well as earlier compositions by the likes of Thomas Tallis. Contemporary English composers, including Gustav Holst, were given the opportunity to create new hymns. Such was their enthusiasm that it soon became evident that a second volume would be required if all the new hymns were to be included; The English Hymnal was published in 1906. As well as assisting Vaughan Williams in the editing of the hymnal, Holst composed three original hymns based on previously gathered folk tunes for this new volume. For In the Bleak Midwinter, he chose the folk tune Cranham , named after the Cotswold village in which it was collected. It is believed that Holst actually composed the hymn whilst staying in Cranham for a short time. To this day, a cottage in the village where he is said to have stayed is named Midwinter Cottage. The simple melody has proved to be one of Holst's most popular and enduring compositions. For the struggling composer this proved to be a turning point in his musical career. He had recently taken up his second teaching post at St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, and was beginning to forge his own identity. In the Bleak Midwinter has remained popular ever since, although much of Christina Rossetti's poetry fell out of favour after the First World War. Her work, like that of many another respected Victorian writer has been re-assessed in the last half century and she is now recognised as one of the most important women poets writing in nineteenth century England. Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), the daughter of an Italian poet and political refugee was born and raised in London. In 1848, she modelled for her older brother's first completed oil painting, The Girlhood of Mary Virgin. After his name, the artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti inscribed the initials 'PRB', standing for Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood of which he was a founder member. Christina's poetry was shaped by her deeply held religious convictions. In her Christmas poem, In the Bleak Midwinter, which was written sometime before 1872, and inspired by John Milton's On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, Christina describes the physical and human characteristics of the Incarnation of Christ. She paints a picture in words of the humble stable in which Christ was born surrounded by beasts of burden and challenges the faith of her readers to give Him their hearts. Here is the real message of Christmas, as remote from the hollow materialism and excess which has characterised recent Christmas celebrations, as the frozen earth and falling snow in which Christina Rossetti sets the Nativity, to that stable in Bethlehem. BRIAN HAIGH P A G E
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In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, Long ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign : In the bleak midwinter A stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breast full of milk And a manger full of hay. Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air, But His mother only, In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss What can I give Him, Poor as I am ? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part Yet what can I give Him Give my heart.
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SPONSORSHIP F R I E N D S ‘The Friends of the Huddersfield Choral Society’ was established in 1995 and provides a link with The Society, support of The Society’s activities and benefits for its members.
The Society is extremely grateful for the support from the following organisations over this season: • UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD • Principal Partner • THE DELIUS TRUST • SYNGENTA • • SS COMPONENTS LTD • • SOUTHWESTERN CORPORATION • • HUDDERSFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL • • THE GREENBANK GROUP UK •
BENEFITS INCLUDE: • Priority booking for Public Concerts at the Town Hall (limited in the case of Public Messiah tickets).
• INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED •
• Subscriber Friends who are unable to attend the ballot given priority in the subsequent allocation of tickets.
• G CONSULTING • JULIE HALE CONSULTANCY • -o2
We also express our sincere gratitude for the continuing personal sponsorship of Mrs. Catherine Harrison and Mrs. S. A. Brennan.
• Priority on returned tickets for subscription concerts. • Regular Newsletters covering the life of The Society. • Prize Draws. • Discounted recordings of the Huddersfield Choral Society.
The cost of membership of The Friends is £18 joint membership, £12 single membership. Further details and an application form can be obtained from: Cynthia Pratt Chapel House, Slant Gate, Highburton Huddersfield HD8 0QN Tel: 01484 600352 P A G E
The Huddersfield Choral Society’s success over recent years has been greatly assisted by the support of our Sponsors and their valued contribution to The Society’s wellbeing. We are fortunate indeed in having a number of faithful Sponsors of many years standing and we are very pleased when new Sponsors are able to join us. Opportunities do exist for further support and a share in the life of The Choral.
Tony Booth: Sponsorship Secretary Lavender Cottage, 6 Poplar Bank Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield HD8 0AE Tel: 01484 602445 E-mail: tony.booth@huddersfieldchoral.com
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Future Concerts • TUESDAY 15 (Public) WEDNESDAY 16 (Subscribers) DECEMBER 2009 • HUDDERSFIELD TOWN HALL - 7.15pm MESSIAH - Handel Orchestra of Opera North - Conductor - Grant Llewellyn • SATURDAY 3 APRIL 2010 • THE SAGE GATESHEAD - 7.30pm LA VALLEE DES CLOCHES - Ravel (arr Grainger) SHEHERAZADE - Ravel CARMINA BURANA - Orff Orchestra of Opera North - Conductor - Bramwell Tovey • FRIDAY 16 APRIL 2010 • HUDDERSFIELD TOWN HALL 7.30pm (Subscribers’ Concert) JUDAS MACCABAEUS - Handel Manchester Camerata - Conductor - Bramwell Tovey Conductor - Takuo Yuasa With members of the Osaka Symphonic Choir • SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2010 • ST PAUL’S HALL HUDDERSFIELD PRESIDENT’S GALA CONCERT Conductor - Joseph Cullen Organ - Darius Battiwalla
MADE TO MEASURE because you’re unique!
Your cloth or ours
LAURIE HOPKINS MENSWEAR
18/20 Acre Street Lindley Huddersfield www.lhmw.co.uk Tel: 01484 511088
Our Christmas gifts are now in stock & available for shipping up to 22nd December 2009
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The Society would like to thank the ‘Friends of the Huddersfield Choral Society’ for their generous donation towards the cost of the recently released recording of Stainer’s Crucifixion.
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Huddersfield Choral Society Conductor Laureate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARTYN BRABBINS Chorus Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOSEPH CULLEN Deputy Chorus Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DARIUS BATTIWALLA Accompanist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DANIEL GORDON Deputy Accompanist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MALCOLM HINCHLIFFE Agent: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PATRICK GARVEY (Tel 01904 621222)
OFFICIALS AND COMMITTEE President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BRENDA MOSLEY Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . .CONRAD WINTERBURN General Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JIM COWELL Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADRIAN LEE Choir Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANDREA CRAWSHAW Subscribers’ Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JULIE HALE Sponsorship Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . .TONY BOOTH Programme Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID LOCKWOOD Recruitment Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . GAYNOR HALIDAY Publicity Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JIM COWELL Music Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID BURGESS Associates Members’ Secretary . . . . . JEAN PARKER Archivist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MALCOLM HINCHLIFFE Chairman 175 Committee . . . . . . . JENNY LOCKWOOD Members’ Representatives Janet Booth David Croft David Gee Hilary McLean Jane Sargent Vicki Scurrah Mark A Taylor Sue Turnbull Subscribers’ Representatives Helen Marshall Cynthia Pratt Honorary Life Members Mr. R. Barraclough DL Mr. H. Clough Mr. D. Hartley Mr. J. D. Haywood DL Mr. K. Rothery Mr. G. Slater
HUDDERSFIELD CHORAL SOCIETY PO Box B30, 35 Westgate, Huddersfield HD1 1PA Telephone: 01484 519431 www.huddersfieldchoral.com
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Supporting our community
Syngenta, Huddersfield Manufacturing Centre
PO Box A38, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1FF Tel: 01484 537456 Fax: 01484 517067 www.syngenta.com
Christmas 2009 - 2010 Season
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