CANTORUM CHOIR. Patron Ralph Allwood MBE

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2 CANTORUM CHOIR Patron Ralph Allwood MBE Cantorum Choir is a dedicated and talented choir of approximately forty voices, based in Cookham, Berkshire. Under the directorship of Elisabeth Croft, the ensemble continues to earn itself a reputation as one of the leading chamber choirs in the area. The choir boasts a wide-ranging repertoire and performs professional-quality concerts across the year. At the Choir of the Year 0 auditions earlier this year, Cantorum grabbed the judges attention and were a Choir of the Day, earning full marks for Technical achievement and Musicality: A truly beautiful performance. Cantorum was subsequently placed fifth nationally in the Adult Choir category. Sopranos Julia Bentley-Dawkes, Kate Cromar Louise Evans, Kirsty Janusz Sandy Johnstone, Jenny Knight Julia Millard, Hilary Monaghan Joy Strzelecki, Deborah Templing Philippa Wallace Altos Bridget Bentley, Jill Burton Jami Castell, Sarah Evans Anne Glover, Angela Plant Elspeth Scott, Chiu Sung Lorna Sykes, Gill Tucker Tenors Anthony Dowlatshahi, Philip Martineau, Peter Roe, Malcolm Stork John Timewell Basses Derek Beaven, John Buck Arthur Creswell, Gordon Donkin David Hazeldine, Ed Millard Paul Seddon A Choir is for life.not just for Christmas! Please see the back cover for our 06 season, including Bach s magnificent Mass in B Minor

3 Elisabeth Croft (née Toye) Music Director Elisabeth is a graduate of Birmingham University and also of the Royal Academy of Music, where she won the 00 Michael Head Prize for English Song and the 005 Arthur Bliss Prize for twentieth Century music. In 008, she won the A.E.S.S. Patricia Routledge National Prize for English Song and has subsequently built a busy and successful career as a professional soprano, vocal coach, and choral trainer. She has for some years been working with Berkshire Maestros (The Young Musicians Trust) and is currently director of Berkshire Young Voices, the county training choir. She is also a regular tutor for the National Youth Choirs of Wales. Jozef Janik (Piano) Asst. Music Director Jozef has a BA in music from Zilina Conservatoire, and a Postgraduate Diploma with MA in Music from the Royal Academy, where he studied with Patsy Toh. He has given concerts in Austria, Sweden, France, Poland, England, Japan, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His list of awards includes First Prize in the International Piano Competition in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Recent concert venues have been The Forge in Camden, St. James Piccadilly and The Paris Conservatoire. SOUNDING BRASS Sounding Brass is a virtuoso ensemble of professional brass players who met through their work for Berkshire Maestros the County Music Hub. Since first being invited to play at Cantorum s Christmas Concert in 00, the group has maintained strong links with the choir and were prominent guests at our October event Gloria!, in which they played the Holst Suite No. for Military Band. They also joined with the choir to perform Rutter s Gloria and Chilcott s Jubilate. We are delighted to welcome them once again tonight. Trumpet Kevin Ransom Adam Denman Horn Jess Cooper Trombone Rob Croft Tuba James Baker

4 Items in Bold are for All Hodie Christus Natus Est Britten ( A Ceremony of Carols ) Once in Royal David s City Zion Hears the Watchmen s Voices J S Bach ( Sleepers Wake ) Mary s Lullaby Rutter Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Poston/Anon. O Little Town of Bethlehem The Shepherds Farewell Berlioz (L enfance du Christ) Coventry Carol Coventry Cycle arr. Shaw Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day English Traditional arr. Gardner God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen In the Bleak Midwinter PROGRAMME Soloists: Kate Cromar Soprano, Malcolm Stork Tenor Darke/Rossetti In Dulci Jubilo German Traditional arr. Pearsall INTERVAL Deck the Hall Welsh Traditional arr. Rutter Silent Night German Traditional arr. Rutter The Holly and the Ivy English Traditional arr. Gardner The First Nowell O Holy Night Soloists: Malcolm Stork Tenor, Kirsty Janusz Soprano Adam/Dwight Candlelight Carol Rutter Hark, the Herald Angels Sing! It s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Wyle & Pola arr. Krogstad The Twelve Days After Christmas Silver

5 For All to Sing Once in Royal David s City Once in royal David s city Stood a lowly cattle shed Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child. He came down to earth from Heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor and meek and lowly Lived on earth our Saviour Holy. And through all his wondrous childhood He would honour and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he. For he is our childhood s pattern, Day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew: And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness. 5 And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love, For that child, so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above. And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. 6 Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him; but in heaven, Set at God s right hand on high; Where like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around. O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth; For Christ is born of Mary; And, gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond ring love. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is giv n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heav n. No ear may hear his coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. Help Cantorum Choir just by shopping online. Give as you Live is an award-winning fundraising platform for charities. Shop with your favourite stores, and a donation from the retailer will be made to Cantorum Choir without costing you a penny extra. Compare prices and shop at thousands of leading stores like Amazon, Expedia and John Lewis. 5

6 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan s power When we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. From God our Heavenly Father A blessed angel came, And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name: Refrain But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this infant lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray: Refrain 5 Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface: Refrain The shepherds at those tidings Rejoicèd much in mind And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway This blessèd babe to find: Refrain The First Nowell The first Nowell the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep: They lookèd up and saw a star, Shining in the East beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night: Then entered in those wise men three, Full rev'rently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense 5 Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought: And by the light of that same star, Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went: 6

7 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn 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. 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. 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 Godhead 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. A note on this year s chosen charities Cantorum Choir endeavours to support two specially chosen charities each year with a donation from our proceeds. The aim is to make the choices of particular relevance to the area or to members of the choir. This year we are pleased and proud to be supporting: The Sepsis Trust, proposed by Pippa Wallace in memory of her mother, Marianne Stork, who was a founder member of Cantorum Choir. sepsistrust.org The Navakiran Orphanage, Nepal, proposed by Bridget Bentley, whose friends in Marlow Rotary Club are collecting on behalf of the children. navakiranorphanage.org There will be a retiring collection on behalf of these two charities after tonight s performance 7

8 Future Cantorum Concerts: Date: Saturday 9th March 06 Event: J S Bach Mass in B Minor Venue: All Saints Church, Marlow SL7 AA Date: Saturday 5th June 06 Event: Summer Concert Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Cookham SL6 9SP Date: Saturday 8th October 06 Event: Autumn Concert with Orchestra Venue: All Saints Church, Marlow SL7 AA Grateful thanks are due to: Greggs Bakery The Stationery Depot, Cookham Rise Parade All others who have helped in the production of this concert And thanks to you, our audience, for your continued support! If you would like to be on our mailing list, please us: info@cantorumchoir.org.uk If you or your organisation would like to consider sponsoring Cantorum Choir in some way, then please call us on to discuss the various options You can also follow us on Facebook: on info@cantorumchoir.org.uk This year supporting THE SEPSIS TRUST & THE NAVAKIRAN ORPHANAGE, NEPAL Registered Charity no: 60 8