University Of York Chamber Choir ... 31 St. Nicolas and Abraham and Isaac

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL CHAPEL Friday, 14th June, 1968 at 8 p.m. The University of York Chamber Choir Conductor PETER ASTON

PROGRAMME

Ave, verum corpus Vexilla Regis 0 vos omnes Mass in four parts

Byrd (c 1542-1623) Palestrina (c 1525-1594) Victoria (c 1535-1611) Byrd

Kyrie—Gloria—Credo—Sanctus—Benedictus—Agnus Dei Sedit Angelus: Antiphon for Robert Sherlaw Johnson (b 1932)

Easter Week from the Sarum Rite (conducted by the composer)

On Friday, 14th June the School was lucky enough to have York University's Chamber Choir performing in the Chapel. Unfortunately, however, few people took advantage of the opportunity: (to hear them at any other time one should have to pay for entrance, at School it was free).

Their programme was composed entirely of sixteenth century vocal music from various countries except for the final work which was a short composition by Robert Sherlaw Johnson who also conducted this work. All the rest of the concert was conducted by Peter Aston, also on the musical staff of the university. As a dividing item in the programme, Mr. Waine played a set of variations by Sweelinck on the organ.

The main work of the evening was Byrd's four-part Mass. There were also other pieces by Victoria and Palestrina.

The standard of singing, as was to have been expected, was extremely high. One consolation for there being such a small audience was the fact that this enhanced the resonant qualities of the chapel acoustics!

P.D.W.

"ST. NICOLAS" AND "ABRAHAM AND ISAAC" in The Minster

On Wednesday, 22nd May this term, the School presented a concert of religious music by Benjamin Britten in the Minster. The main work of the evening was the cantata "St. Nicolas", but preceding this, R. A. Howat —alto, M. P. Baby—tenor and T. M. Day—pianoforte, gave a performance of Canticle II entitled "Abraham and Isaac", which they had already performed in front of the SchoOl at a Sunday service in the Chapel at the end of last term.

The platform, on which the soloists sang, and the lighting, which had been prepared for a cycle of plays at the West end of the Minster, provided 31

a suitably dramatic setting for the work, which went well—helped by the acoustics of the Minster which add an aura of impressiveness and mystery to any musical work.

In the "St. Nicolas", we were aided, as when we performed the cantata in the chapel last term, by the solo tenor, Mr. Gordon Pullin, St. Olave's Choir and Queen Margaret's School Senior Choir. Mr. Pemberton played the organ, and Mr. Waine conducted. The Queen Margaret's chorus, where in the School Chapel they had sung on the balcony, in the Minster sang to the left of the main altar at the far end of the nave. The orchestra, augmented again by members of York Symphony Orchestra and friends of the School was situated in front of the St. Peter's and St. Olave's chorus who occupied the platform against the West wall.

The size of the audience was very gratifying and the School raised a considerable sum of money in the silver collection which went towards the Minster Appeal Fund, in aid of which the concert was held.

P.D.W.