Spring Magnificat
373 Manchester Street, Christchurch
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A seasonal celebration including Vivaldi's Spring and his marvellous Magnificat will be presented by the CBS Orchestra and Chorale in the Catholic Pro-Cathedral at 2 pm on Sunday, 12 November. Leader and soloist Henry Nicholson leads the orchestra, and musical director is Don Whelan. Programme admission prices will be $25 and $20.
The concert begins and ends with two substantial pieces by J.S. Bach, each featuring the stirring sound of a trio of baroque trumpets. His Suite No. 3 in D was written for a student society which gave regular concerts at a Leipzig coffee-house. Concealed within a procession of enticing dance movements is the famous tune floating above a walking bass which an enterprising violinist donated to posterity and ambient advertising as Air on a G String.
Bach greatly admired his slightly younger contemporary, Antonio Vivaldi, and transcribed his string music for organ. The Magnificat is a concise setting of the canticle for Vespers, performed in his Venetian orphanage by Vivaldi's highly trained young singers and players, concealed behind tantalising grills, but renowned for their virtuosity. Our CBS choir and orchestra performed the work there, without the grills, to a capacity audience on New Year's Day, 2000. The text is illustrated with delicacy and drama, in the same luxuriant spirit which animates Spring, from the Four Seasons. In this case, the composer provides his own programme with a matching sonnet, to ensure ''thunder and lightning", a "barking dog" and when "nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring".
Based on the well-known hymn tune for Praise To the Lord, Bach's Cantata 137, Lobe den Herren, is an exultant work, which keeps the melody always to the fore. Three delectable solo arias are framed by a jazzy opening fantasia and a triumphant final chorale. This is the third cantata presented during 2023 by the newly formed CBS Chorale, each based on a well-known English hymn. It is hoped to continue this initiative next year, bringing to life masterpieces which have not been heard in this city. Able singers would be welcome.
CBS Music continues its popular Lunch Plus Wednesday At One recital series, with details of each weekly artist posted on the web. The annual Messiah will be presented at 1.30 pm on Sunday, 1O December, and the CBS musical year will conclude with Dvořák’s Mass in D at the Christmas Midnight Mass.
The cathedral choir musicians maintain an extensive repertoire of masses and motets, sung each Sunday at the 11 a.m. Solemn Choral Mass. New members are welcome to the 7.30 pm Wednesday evening rehearsal at the Catholic Pro-Cathedral. Sight reading ability is expected. Those interested are invited to contact the CBS Musical Director, Don Whelan, phone 358-5873.
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