Music at St John's during the Edinburgh Festival
The Choir of St John's in concert
A feast of American music, including Bernstein Chichester Psalms, Copland In the Beginning, and Samuel Barber's famous Adagio
Stephen Doughty - Director
Thursday 26 August, 7pm, St John’s Church, Princes Street
Music lists, including the Festival services listed below, are available as PDF files from the choir website (external link)
Sunday 9 August
9.30am Choral Matins - A Refining Fire
We celebrate the work of Samuel Sebastian Wesley, born 200 years ago and one of the first to transform Anglican church music, in hymns and choral works
Te Deum & Jubilate in E
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
Choral Song and Fugue
10.30am Choral Eucharist - An Italian Feast
Dating back some 500 years, enjoy the simplicity and charm of Andrea Gabrieli's 4-part Mass along with Tallis' famous anthem for the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Mass for 4 Voices - A Gabrieli
O sacrum Convivium - A Gabrieli
O nata lux - T Tallis
6.00pm Launch of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace
‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’ The Festival of Spirituality and Peace seeks to bring longstanding faith principles to bear on current global and social issues. An outstanding example of that is the Jubilee movement, which mobilised unprecedented numbers of people to campaign against global poverty and together with Jubilee Scotland, we celebrate 10 years of activity this year. Join us as we explore how people of all faiths and none can make it a common cause to practice compassion in a troubled world and to live by the ‘Golden Rule’ – as we launch joint resource materials for use by those with overseas links. With contributions from various Festival artists and special guest and keynote speaker Azeem Ibrahim, Scottish Muslim of the Year.
Sunday 15 August
9.30am Choral Matins
That will make the ladies scream Haydn's observation about his Surprise Symphony could equally be applied to his turbulent motet, here paired with his festive Te Deum in C.
Responses - T Ebdon
Te Deum in C - J Haydn
Insanae et vanae curae - J Haydn
10.30am Choral Eucharist
"Nobody has a greater reverence for you than I have." So said Schubert about Haydn and our orchestral services continue with Schubert's cheerful Mass, written when he was only in his 20s, and his well-loved setting of Psalm 23.
Mass in B flat - F Schubert (with orchestra)
The Lord is my shepherd - F Schubert (orch. Doughty)
6.00pm Choral Evensong - Cori Spezzati
As part of the celebrations for Andrea Gabrieli's 500th anniversary, we feature the music for which St Mark’s,Venice is famous, here written for three choirs.
Magnificat à 12 - G Gabrieli
Nunc Dimittis à 12 - GP da Palestrina
Beata es Virgo - G Gabrieli
Sunday 22 August
9.30am Choral Matins - 20th Century Highlights
Hear some of the 20th Century’s bold additions to the repertoire, including Walton's monumental setting of the Te Deum and Dove's starry anthem.
Responses - T Noon • Coronation Te Deum - W Walton
Seek him that maketh the seven stars - J Dove
Crown Imperial - W Walton
10.30am Choral Eucharist - Sunday Morning Jazz
One of the most popular composers for voices today, Bob Chilcott, in his A Little Jazz Mass, brings together two very diverse traditions - the Latin mass and the jazz idiom - in an expressive and entirely unforced way.
A Little Jazz Mass - B Chilcott (female voices)
Lord make me an instrument - J Willcocks
Tantum ergo - G Fauré
6.00pm Choral Evensong - for Men’s Voices
A showcase for the Men of the Choir. Wood's majestic setting of the Canticles is paired with Tomkins’ joyous anthem, full of rhythmic vitality. Marchand rounds off the service with a strident baritone trumpet tune.
Evening Canticles in G - C Wood
O give thanks unto the Lord - Tomkins
Basse de Trompette - Marchand
Sunday 29 August
9.30am Choral Matins - Tudor Church Music
Parsons' First Service, his largest surviving work, was also among the first to be written for the brand new Book of Common Prayer, paving the way for the later splendours of Tomkins and Byrd
Te Deum (1st Service) - R Parsons
Jubilate (5th Service) - T Tomkins
Beati mundo corde - W Byrd
10.30am Choral Eucharist - Hungarian Masters
Kodaly's wartime Mass is both thrilling and extraordinary, featuring stratospheric soprano writing, while Liszt's carefully-crafted motets reveal deep devotion with his distinctive harmony.
Missa Brevis - Z Kodaly
Tantum ergo & Ave verum - F Liszt
6.00pm Choral Evensong - Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist
The finale of our Festival Worship featuring the majestic final movement of Mozart's Vespers with trumpets, trombones & drums and his bright motet in honour of St John the Baptist.
Magnificat (from Vespers) - WA Mozart
Inter natos mulierum - K.72 - WA Mozart
Worship >> Church Year >> Festival Worship 2010