SUMMER GOLD

Sir John Rutter will be 80 this year! Surely no better time, therefore, to celebrate the music of this much-treasured English composer, once described by Sir David Willcocks as “the most gifted composer of his generation”, with a performance of his exultant Gloria. Rutter’s music, with its singable melodies and satisfying key-changes, invariably goes straight to the listeners’ hearts and, since its first performance in 1974, the Gloria has been enormously and justifiably popular due to its brass fireworks and jubilant choral writing.

James Whitbourn, who sadly passed away relatively young last year, was known for his ‘boundless breadth of choral imagination’ (The Observer) resulting in compositions of brilliance and power. His ‘Son of God’ Mass is a gem; uniquely scored for choir, organ and soprano saxophone, it is a work that enables appreciation of the saxophone as a compelling, wordless soloist, often contemplative and mysterious, sometimes soaring and exuberant. The music is tellingly written throughout to suit the mood and meaning of the texts, and the final climactic Amen will leave no doubt as to the sincerity of this exceptionally moving music.

Completing this powerful presentation of Great British music for brass, organ and choir, was James MacMillan’s wow-factor motet with fanfares Summae Trinitati and Finzi’s arresting God is gone up. Unaccompanied works by Paul Mealor and Cecilia McDowall provided opportunities for more peaceful reflection.

Bones Apart is a multi-award-winning all-female trombone quartet which, since its formation in 1999, has rapidly gained international recognition performing its unique and diverse repertoire to audiences worldwide. For this concert they handpicked a stellar brass ensemble whose members have played with numerous major national orchestras, as well as with musicians including Jamie Cullum, Sting and Tom Jones, and in film-scores from Skyfall to Harry Potter!