Come & Sing - Early Music

Saturday 10 February, Holy Sepulchre Church, Northampton

A fantastic day of music making enjoyed by all at the historic Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Northampton in our second successful Come and Sing event. The Church provided the perfect period surroundings for the music of Monteverdi and Durante.

Although the church was chilly, we were all warmed by teas and coffees throughout the day, as well as Marcela's fabulous Latin-flavoured warm-ups! We particularly enjoyed being joined by musicians - Tom Moore's sterling efforts throughout the day on the piano accompaniment and then being joined by Adrian Turner and Laura Grieveson on violin for the informal concert at the end of the day.





Winter Wonders

Thursday 7 December 2023, Church of St Alban the Martyr, Northampton

An enthusiastic audience particularly appreciated this concert focused on music from living composers, including James MacMillan, Sarah Quartel, Ola Gjeilo and Will Todd.

There was also an opportunity for audience particpation in both carols and a piece by Judith Weir. The choir was ably supported by Tom Moore and Corinne Malitskie on piano and cello.



O Sing Joyfully!

Saturday 8 July 2023: Church of the Holy Sepulchre

We particularly enjoyed singing the music of Monteverdi and Durante in the glorious atmosphere of 'the round church' which is absolutely apposite for this period of music.

It was wonderful to be joined by Tom, Corinne, Adrian and Laura to support on piano and strings.Solos from Tom and Adrian were much appreciated.



Sweet Spring

Thursday 27 April 2023: Christchurch, Northampton

The choir enjoyed singing s refreshing programme of short pieces, many unaccompanied, for our springtime concert. The programme featured music by Cecilia McDowall, Bob Chilcott, Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Judith Weir, Wood and Stanford, as well as poetry readings on the Spring theme from Rossetti, Donne and Shakespeare.






Christmas Carol Concert

Thursday 8 December 2022: Church of St Michael and All Angels, Northampton

For Marcela's first concert, the choir enjoyed a mix of festive favourites and some new pieces by modern composers such as Judith Weir.





Summer Celebration - Music from the British Isles

Saturday 16 July 2022, St.Peter and St.Paul's Church, Abington Park, Northampton

With Justin having to leave at short notice to take up his position in Croydon, the choir was led by Laurence Caldecote who stepped in as a temporary director for the summer term. The choir benefitted from his excellent musical knowledge.

For this concert in HM Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee year, the choir enjoyed delivering a celebration of our history of choral music in the UK. Our concert featured music from composers throughout the British isles showcasing our wonderful choral history and tradition.

Come and Sing: Vivaldi Gloria

Saturday 1 February 2020: Church of the Holy Sepulchre

For 2020 the choir decided to try a Come and Sing event with the aim of encouraging more people to participate on the singing we enjoy so much. We must thank both Simon Toyne and Rhonda Browne for their support in this endeavour, especially for the fantastic warm-ups. Thanks too to the many members of the Malcolm Arnold school Chapel Choir to joined us to practice the Gloria before their trip to Windsor.

We had about 80 people singing the Gloria in an quick concert at the end of the day on what was a friendly and enjoyable occasion.

Unfortunately this was to be the last choir event prior to the pandemic, with the choir decided to cancel the following concert of the Vivaldi Gloria on what turned out to be the weekend before lockdown started.







A Salon Evening

On the eve of Bastille Day, an evening celebrating the French Salon, inspired by Rossini's "The Sins of Old Age"

Saturday 13 July 2019: at St Matthew's Church

For this concert the choir partnered with the amazing Salon Musical team to present a salon evening of food, wine and song!

The concert took the form of a mix of choral and solo pieces, with the audience booking places at tables. THe choir provided bread, cheese and other nibbles, and everyone brought along a bottle (or two) to make this an extremely convivial evening. Unlike a normal concert, the salon atmosphere allowed our audience to continue to enjoy snacking and chatting whilst also appreciating the superb music.

We were extremely grateful to have been able to call upon the talents of such wonderful soloists and musicians. Much thanks goes to the following:

We were very pleased to have been able to perform a different style of event which both audience and singers appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed.





Mary's Lament

Saturday 30 March 2019

On this occasion the choir was joined by Sophie Stringfellow, finalist for the prestigious BBC Radio Young Chorister of the year competition 2018 as well as Jem Lowther on the organ as we tackled Pergolesi's beautiful Stabat Mater. The concert also included pieces by Tavener, Gijelo, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn.

More information on the performers and the pieces can be found in the Programme Notes



















Songs and Sonnets

Saturday 21st April 2018: at St Matthew’s Church, Northampton

A Shakespearean theme for our Spring concert this year, with both readings and text from the plays set to music. Both familiar pieces from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and folk settings of songs from the plays sat alongside the more challenging Moeran and Shearing song cycles.

Many thanks are also due to the fantastic contributions from Stephen Meakins, who was making the most of the new piano now in place at St.Matthew's, and Andrew Thompson with his wonderful rich baritone for our solos.




A European Christmas

Saturday 9th December 2017

A Christmas extravaganza with music and readings from across the continent. Our first concert with Justin was a resounding success with one of our largest ever audiences at St Matthew’s.






A Man of Sorrows

Saturday 8th Apri 2017

A very moving occasion for all as the choir performed Stainer's Crucifixion with what would unfortunately be one of only two concerts with Ted.



A visit to Peterborough Cathedral

Saturday 9th July 2016

The choir had fortuitously planned a joint venture with the St Matthew's Church Choir for what was to turn out to be Stephen's last 'performance' in both his role as Music Director for the Chamber Choir and as Director of Music at St Matthew's. As a result this was a celebratory occasion, with Stephen's brother Tom Moore again providing excellent organ accompaniment to Stanford's Magnificat in C, along with a reprise of Philip Stopford's new piece 'O How Glorious!' as the anthem. It was lovely to hear from members of the clergy afterwards that they felt we had really 'blown away the cobwebs' with the scale and quality of sound we were able to produce as a result of our combined efforts.



















Mozart Coronation Mass and Vespers

Saturday 16th April 2016: at Christ Church, Northampton

Two wonderful compositions by Mozart formed our Spring concert this year, and we were fortunate to be joined again by Anna and Nick Moodie, with Harry Bagnall and for the first time by Nicola Beckley (mezzo-soprano) as soloists. Anna in particular made a superb contribution given the number of soprano solos in these works. These were challenging pieces and the choir had worked hard on rehearsing them in the run up to the concert, but we found that our efforts paid off as this really contributed to our focus during the concert and our enjoyment of the music we were making together. It was also clear that this was appreciated by our audience, many of whom took the time to tell us that they had particularly enjoyed the evening, which was wonderful to hear.

Many thanks are also due to the fantastic professional musicians who supported us on the day:

More information on the performers and the pieces can be found in the Concert Programme and Programme Notes


A Festive Occasion!

Tuesday 15 December 2015

The choir once again enjoyed performing a short concert of carols and other seasonal pieces at St James' Church in Northampton. It was lovely to be welcomed by the Vicar and his congregation and celebrate the Christmas message with family and friends both old and new. As usual, everyone also particularly appreciated the warm mulled wine and mince pies whilst we socialised following the concert!


Reflections

Saturday 21st November 2015: at St Matthew's Church

A concert which explores different reflections on living, moving from life and love (through a variety of pieces from living composers, including "This is the day", written for the wedding of HRH Prince William and Katherine) to its reflection in death via Faure's beautiful and ethereal Requiem.

Much thanks goes to the following: Callum Alger as accompanist, and Lauren Osmond, Lufuno Ndou and James Wallace as excellent soloists



An Edwardian Summer

Saturday 11th July 2015: at All Saints' Church, Brixworth

Music from the Edwardian era was the themem for this summer concert, which was intended to replicate the sort of summer evening which may well have been enjoyed by our forebears a hundred years earlier! We were joined by Graham Tear as guest conductor in this lovely parish church, although disappointingly there were some repairs being undertaken which meant that the church could not be fully appreciated. (Not to mention that the organ was out of commission as a result, leading to a hurried swap of solo from the organ to piano!) However, the weather stayed fine and the idyllic atmosphere was a fitting setting for Parry's Lyrical Songs which created a rather dreamy feeling which we quickly dispelled with some rousing Gilbert and Sullivan. A refreshing change of musical tempo and a lovely trip out of Nothampton, with the opportunity to pick up some new followers along the way.



Voices from Heaven

Saturday 18th April 2015: at St Michael and All Angels Church, Northampton

A collection of classical pieces was selected for this concert, with Schubert's glorious Mass in G as the core of the concert, accompanied by pieces by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

The choir was joined for the Mass and choruses from The Creation by the following soloists from Northamptonshire's Music & Performing Arts Trust, which the choir supports via its membership of the the Northamptonshire Music Education Hub.

The choir also performed Mendelssohn's well known setting of "Hear my Prayer", with Deanna Linnell providing the soprano solo. We were ably supported throughout by Thomas Moore on the organ, and despite the unexpected early interval (whilst we persuaded the organ to stop playing a B), an enjoyable time was had by all. This was music which stayed with everyone for a long time after the concert was finished.




Messiah

Saturday 22nd November 2014: at St Matthew's Church

The choir was joined by the choristers and other members of St Matthew's Church Choir for this performance of Handel's Messiah.

We were also extremely grateful to have been able to call upon the talents of such wonderful soloists and a fantastic chamber orchestra. Much thanks goes to the following:

We were very pleased to have been able to perform a larger concert and provide an experience for the Church Choristers! Both audience and singers appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed the evening.




down by the green bushes...

Saturday 5th July 2014: at All Saint's Church, Earl's Barton

The choir very much enjoyed performing this lovely programme of folk music on a beautiful summer's evening in Earl's Barton.

Concert Programme



Chamber Chorale

Saturday 5th April 2014: at the church of St Michael and All Angels, Northampton.

An evening of Chamber music from the Renaissance to the Baroque, featuring Byrd, Tallis and Purcell

Returning to our roots as a Chamber Choir, this concert found us focusing on music purely from the Tudor and Jacobean eras. The Church of St Michael and All Angels proved an inspired choice in this regard, providing a beautifully intimate atmosphere surrounded by the rich colours of the church decorations.

The performance included the Byrd Mass for four voices, and Purcell's Funeral Sentences for Queen Mary. The choir was extremely pleased to be joined for this last piece by some brass players from the Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Trust, which the choir supports via its membership of the the Northamptonshire Music Education Hub. It was wonderful to have these fantastic young players supporting us on the night.




Lux Aeterna

Saturday 23rd November 2013: at St Matthew's Church, Northampton

Rutter's Requiem

With additional pieces by Howells, Charles Wood, Britten and Whitacre

The choir returned to St Matthew's for this stellar (!) performance of the Rutter Requiem, and were joined by several excellent musicians for the soprano solo and orchestra:

The evening went excellently well and over 150 people in the audience enjoyed the atmospheric performance of the Requiem.

Full details of the concert and more information about Rutter's Requiem can be found here: Lux Aeterna Concert Programme




Northampton Chamber Choir descends on Wakefield!

On the weekend of 20 - 21 July 2013 the choir packed its bags and headed to Wakefield to sing at the beautifully re-developed cathedral. Now with a significant amount of original wooden pews and decoration removed, the nave of the cathedral provides a much improved acoustic and the new stonework and chandeliers lend a touch of elegance to a cleaner and simpler space.

The choir was invited to provide the music for both Sunday morning Communion and Evensong later in the day. Both the choir and the cathedral were pleased with the quality of performance we were able to deliver, and the choir enjoyed re-familiarising itself with responses and psalms after a break from church services over the last few years.




Celebrate!

Saturday 6th July 2013: at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney

Chilcott's A Little Jazz Mass, along with well known music by Purcell, Elgar and Brahms.

The choir broadened its horizons a little this summer both musically and in terms of concert location with the choice of A Little Jazz Mass at Olney. Considering the beautiful weather we had a good turn out and plenty of people who had not heard the choir perform before.

Unfortunately, The Sax Pistols were unable to join us at the last minute due to unforseen circumstances but Mark Pescott ably assisted on the organ along with Ben Druet on clarinet. Both also provided excellent solo pieces - Mark's played purely with his feet! The jazz went fantastically well and was enjoyed by the audience, with complement of shorter secular pieces making up the remainder of the programme. All in all, a great summer evening out.




O my people

Choral Music for Good Friday

Saturday 16th December 2013 - St Matthew's Church, Northampton

Stainer's 'The Crucifixion', Williamson's 'Procession of Palms' and 'The Reproaches' by John Sanders.

The first half of the programme consisted of several shorter pieces, including the rarely performed Procession of Palms by Williamson, and Sanders' beautiful and haunting Reproaches. Many thanks go to Tom Moore who came down from Wakefield again to provide excellent accompaniment throughout.

This set the tone wonderfully for the second half performance of Stainer's 'The Crucifixion'. The choir was joined by Tenor Stephen George and Bass James Wallace who gave us superb solo performances. The atmosphere in St. Matthew's was intense and several of the audience commented that the choir's singing had a great depth of emotion. I know that we all really enjoyed bringing this well loved piece to life.




O Come Emmanuel! - Music from All Souls to Advent

Saturday 8th December 2012 at the Church of St Peter and St Paul - "The Church in the Park", Abington Park, Northampton

This concert was a well-received musical journey from St.Cecila's day through All Souls and All Saints days and onto Advent. The choir particularly enjoyed singing Samuel Sebastian Wesley's mini-oratorio "The Wilderness" with its several long solo sections, allowing us to feature soloists from the choir in all parts.

The programme included:

Thanks also to Mark Pescott who joined us as Organist for this concert and did a brilliant job, as always.




Summer Serenade

Saturday 14th July 2012: Church of St Mary the Virgin, Gayton

Lighter summer music by Elgar, Rutter and others.

Our summer concert this year was a relaxed affair, with the audience indulging in a glass (or two!) of wine whilst enjoying a mixture of well-known madrigals and folk songs. Stephen's choice of Elgar's "As Torrents In Summer" elicted a few wry smiles in one of the wettest summers on record, but luckily the evening of the concert remained fine. The late evening sunlight shining in through the church's beautiful stained glass windows added to a lovely summer atmosphere.




Chorus Angelorum - Saturday 31st March 2012 - Duruflé Requiem

The choir was joined by Thomas Moore as organist for the Spring concert this year, at St Matthew’s Church.

The first half of the concert contained a mixture of pieces from the Victorian era, including Fauré's Messe Basse for female voices only. Our Director, Stephen Moore also performed the Prélude from Suite Op.5 by Duruflé. The second half was devoted to the Requiem, with excellent solos from James Wallace and Jennifer Dean.




Christmas Concert - Thursday 15th December

Our Christmas concert was held on Thursday December 15th, at St Peter’s Church, Marefair, Northampton, at 7.30pm.

This was a festive occasion in an historic building, with the choir singing for the firs time under the direction of our new conductor, Stephen Moore.




On Saturday March 20th 2010 the Northampton Chamber Choir and Instrumental Ensemble presented:

Voces Angelorum

Conductor:Stephen Lloyd Meakins

Programme:

  • Monteverdi: Beatus Vir
  • Stephen Lloyd Meakins: Requiem (First performance)
  • Vivaldi: Gloria



Nowell

Thursday December 17th 2009: Christmas Concert, United Reform Church, Abington Avenue

A festive programme of Christmas music including The First Nowell by Vaughan Williams, featuring:

Stephen Meakins rehearses choir ladies and ensemble
at Abington Avenue URC




Cori, Corni and Clarions

Saturday 11th July 2009 - St Giles Church

Programme featuring a brass ensemble:




Saturday 14th March 2009 7:30pm "Musical Morphs"

A programme of choral arrangements of well loved music originally scored for orchestra, solo voice, pop group etc.

Venue: St Matthew's Church, Northampton

Conductor: Stephen L Meakins

Organist: Mark Pescott


Programme




Saturday 28th February 2009 7:30pm - Fauré Requiem and other works

Venue: St Alban's Church, Broadmead Avenue

Conductor: Stephen L Meakins

Organist: Mark Pescott

Programme:




"The Armed Man" fills Christchurch

'The Armed Man'a Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins proved to be a very popular concert for both the choir and the audience.



Visions of Christ in words, music and pictures

March 29th 2008 saw the choir present an unusual concert of music from each of the significant events in the life of Christ, illustrated with projected images of relevant scenes and expanded with occasional narrative.

The Church of St Michael & All Angels was full to capacity and the audience was treated to some rousing, stirring and moving performances of a variety of works

The programme comprised:

Event Performance
John the Baptist Vox Dicentis - Edward Naylor
Ave Maria - Rachmaninov
Nativity O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen
There is no Rose - Joubert
Childhood Crown of Roses - Tchaikovsky
Baptism Wash me Throughly - S.S.Wesley
Come Holy Ghost - Thomas Arnwood
Teachings Amazing Grace - arr John Bertalot
Forty Days and Forty Nights The Wilderness - S.S.Wesley
Palm Sunday Hosanna to the Son of David - Thomas Weekles
Last Supper Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face - Percy Whitlock
The Betrayal This is the Record of John - Orlando Gibbons
Crucifixion Popule meus - Victoria
Crucifixus - Lotti
Easter This Glorious Eastertide - arr Charles Wood
Ascension God is Gone Up - Gerald Finzi

Musical Director Stephen Meakins comments: "Whether inspired by the Muses or touched by the hand of God many composers and artists have produced some of their best works when dealing with religious subjects. I conceived the idea of "Visions of Christ" being a multi-media experience with narrative, song and images. It is hoped that for a short time this presentation will lift the participant out of the daily stresses of modern life to engage in a brief journey of spirituality."




A feast of Handel to celebrate the 'Power of Music'

On Saturday 21st July 2007, the Northampton Chamber Choir and a chamber orchestra, assembled specially for the occasion from the finest musical talent in Northamptonshire, performed Handel's "Alexander's Feast" under the direction of Robert Walker, conductor and musical director of the choir.

The featured soloists were soprano Charlotte Shipley, Nicholas Moodie and ex All Saints' Northampton tenor Daniel Turner, currently undertaking postgraduate singing studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Robert Walker conducts the orchestral rehearsal



At St George's 2

Northamptonshire Musical Talent at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

The Northampton Chamber Choir, under the direction of their conductor and musical director, Robert Walker, recently took the opportunity of showcasing Northamptonshire musical talent, when they were asked to perform at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

A challenging and varied selection of music for the Matins, Eucharist and Evensong services was performed by the choir over the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April to reflect the age of the royal chapel, from the 16th Century to the present day. Robert Walker's own composition, "Te Deum" represented the present day, and the magnificent St.George's organ accompanied the choir, played by one of the finest young church organists, Northampton born and bred, Richard Pinell.

At St George's 1


Worcester Cathedral Evensong

Saturday 2nd September 2006 saw the choir at Worcester Cathedral for Choral Evensong.

This was the first evensong under Robert Walker's direction and the music included Robert's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis 'The St. Paul's Service'. This work was commissioned by the Friends of St Paul's Cathedral and was first performed there early in 2006.

Daniel Tuner

Daniel Turner at the Organ

It is a challenging work, but the choir and our organist, Daniel Turner, rose to the occasion and filled the Cathedral with the glorious sounds Robert intended

The introit was Ambrosian Prayer by Judge, and the anthem was Faire is the Heaven by Harris

Choir at Worcester

In the Quadrangle at Worcester Cathedral