GABRIELI ROAR

Our Music Department pulled out all the stops for the biggest partnership event we have ever staged. ROAR was a collaboration with the internationally renowned Gabrieli Consort and Players, a choir and period instrument ensemble which has youth engagement as one of its strategic pillars. A choir of 1,000 young people led by Radley College and featuring children from across Abingdon, Didcot, Birmingham, and Coventry gave a spectacular performance of Michael Praetorius’ music. Sam (S, J Social), one of the soloists of the night, tells us more.

On 5th December 2022, the 100 strong Radley Chapel Choir and hundreds of children from across Oxfordshire, Coventry and Birmingham convened in Coventry Cathedral to partake in a concert celebrating the 400th anniversary of the death of Michael Praetorius. Praetorius was a German composer and organist who lived from 1571 to 1621 and is considered one of the most versatile composers of his age. The concert was arranged by the Gabrieli Consort and Players, and it was the largest of eight concerts that took place in the ROAR series across the UK.

Musical Director Paul McCreesh stated that this was the biggest choir he had ever conducted. In fact, due to the choir’s vast size, I counted several conductors dotted around the monstrous and modern Coventry Cathedral. Built alongside the ruins of the old cathedral that was destroyed in WWII, the large expansive space resulted in phenomenally powerful acoustics. I enjoyed watching the professional musicians at work; they had a true mastery over their unique, period instruments. The sackbut and cornetto playing was particularly amazing. The grand finale, In Dulci Jubilo was incredible; the sound of a 1,000 strong choir at full voice with an ensemble of fanfare trumpets is something I’ll never forget.

Although it was an incredibly long day, I really enjoyed it. I was fortunate to be one of four Radleians who sung a solo in Quem Pastores Laudavere. I found it quite daunting, but I can’t even imagine how scary it was for Ethan (S, G Social) who started the whole concert off with a solo plainsong verse. In just my first term at Radley, this was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to see what else is yet to come.