O Magnum Mysterium - Gloucester Choral Society

O Magnum Mysterium
Gloucester Cathedral Crossing, Boxing Day 2014 - Photo: James Birtwistle
O Magnum Mysterium:
Settings through the Ages
Gloucester Cathedral
31st October 2015
Gloucester Choral Society
& Friends
Musical Director: Adrian Partington
O Magnum Mysterium Workshop
We are running a full day workshop of seven settings of “O Magnum Mysterium” which will be rehearsed and
performed in the nave of Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 31st October 2015.
Not only is the workshop an opportunity to sing the various settings of the text relating to the nativity, but also
gives choirs a potential opportunity to rehearse music that they might include in their Christmas concert
programmes.
There is a brief introduction to the piece on the following link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Magnum_Mysterium
The settings we will be rehearsing and performing are a plainsong setting followed by:
William Byrd
1540-1623
2’46”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQCIcrlq9zo
Thomás Luis de Victoria
1548-1611
4’02”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeKvNxYMDxE
Giovanni Gabrieli
1554-1612
3’42”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsZqKJgoY98
Francis Poulenc
1899-1963
3’30”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We2WFonJMEI
7’21”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ch7uottHU
Morten Lauridsen
b1943
The other two settings have been commissioned specially for the day; one by our very own John Merrick and the
other by Freya Ireland, a student in year 12 at Pates Grammar School, Cheltenham. Freya won the under 18’s
category of the 2014 NCEM (National Centre of Early Music) Young Composers Award. Her winning entry was
recently performed by The Tallis Scholars on The Early Music Show on BBC Radio 3. Freya’s setting is for double
choir and provides an interesting 21st century musical challenge to complement the 16th century double choir
setting by Giovanni Gabrieli.
Booklet
We have prepared a comprehensive booklet which contains all the music and is accompanied by ‘Programme
Notes’ and images of Nativity scenes from the extraordinary heritage of stained glass windows in Gloucester
Cathedral and churches around Gloucestershire, with associated commentary.
A bound colour version of the booklet will be provided as a memento to all participants on the day of the workshop
together with published versions of the Poulenc and Lauridsen settings. A draft version of the booklet can be
found on the following link to GCS Website - http://gloucesterchoral.com/about-gcs/members-information/omagnum-mysterium-day/
Rehearsal files for the John Merrick and Freya Ireland settings together with all the music can also be found on
the same link to the GCS website – http://gloucesterchoral.com/about-gcs/members-information/o-magnummysterium-day/
The afternoon performance will be recorded and CDs will be made available at a cost of £10.
O Magnum Mysterium Workshop
Rehearsal timetable
Morning:
Sectional rehearsals
Sopranos, Altos – Chapter House with Adrian Partington and Jonathan Hope (Cathedral
Organist)
Tenors, Basses – Parliament rooms with Russell Burton and William Rowlands (Organ Scholar)
Afternoon:
Full rehearsal followed by performance in the nave with Adrian and Jonathan
9.00
Registration
9.30
Session 1 (sectionals)
11.00
Coffee
11.20
Session 2 (sectionals)
1.00
Lunch
1.45
Session 3 in the cathedral nave
3.00
Break
3.15
Concert in the cathedral nave
4.00
Finish
4.30
Evensong (Visiting choir)
The visiting choir for Evensong is The Howells Singers, Director Sebastian Thomson.
The visiting choir organist will be rehearsing in the Cathedral from 12 noon to 1 pm. He will then play for the choir
rehearsal 1 pm - 1.45 pm. The choir is made up of members who travel from around the country.
O Magnum Mysterium Workshop
Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
Price
£22.50 to include booklet and published music of Lauridsen and Poulenc settings. Soup and a Roll will be
available in the Chapter House for a further £5.
For your application to be confirmed please make payment of £22.50 (£27.50 to include lunch) per singer by
internet banking
to Sort Code 40-52-40 Account number 00007718 and referenced with your name and “OMM” with a copy of
the completed form by email to [email protected] or send a cheque made payable to “Gloucester Choral Society” in
an envelope marked “OMM” with a copy of the completed form by post to:
Peter Holmes,
Treasurer,
Gloucester Choral Society
c/o Knowle Cottage,
Cranham,
Glos. GL4 8JA
Please allow for £5 discount on your payment for O Magnum Mysterium for every applicant who buys a
ticket for any one of:
1. GCS Orff/Bernstein/Brahms concert in Gloucester Cathedral at 7.00pm on Saturday 21st
November.
2. Friends of 3 Choirs Festival John Rutter Workshop in Worcester on 24th October
3. Oxford Bach Choir Spem in Alium Workshop on 7th November
Feel Free to copy the table overleaf should there be more than 6 applicants (that the space below allows).
O Magnum Mysterium Workshop
O Magnum Mysterium in Gloucester Cathedral on 31st October 2015
Application Form
Name
Email Address
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Name
Voice Part *
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Name
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Name
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Name
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Name
Yes/No
Email Address
Voice Part *
Yes/No
Email Address
Voice Part *
Yes/No
Email Address
Voice Part *
Yes/No
Email Address
Voice Part *
Yes/No
Telephone number
(evenings/weekends)
Soup & Roll @ £5
Yes/No
*nominate yourself to one each of the following voice parts:
i. Soprano 1
ii. Soprano 2
iii. Alto 1
iv. Alto 2
Email Address
Voice Part *
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
Tenor 1
Tenor 2
Bass 1
Bass 2
I confirm I have paid the total fees of £………….. into the Gloucester Choral Society bank (Sort Code 40-52-40
Account number 00007718 and referenced “OMM and applicants name”) via internet banking or by cheque
enclosed with this form (payable to Gloucester Choral Society). (Please delete as appropriate)
Signed:
Choir:
Date: