Experience Carefully Curated Choral Concerts
Revel in the Joy of Music
2017-2018 Season of Events
8 November 2017 | In Time of War
12 December 2017 | The CCC Christmas Concert
3 February 2018 | Choral workshop: Tomkins and Byrd Great Services
8 March 2018 | Sacré et Profane
15 May 2018 | 30th Anniversary Concert
10 July 2018 | A Little Jazz Mass
2017-18 Season of Events
In Time of War
7.00 pm Wednesday 8 November 2017
St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside EC2V 6AU
Kodaly Missa Brevis ¦ Schütz Geistliche Chormusik ¦ Britten Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard ¦ McDowall Standing as I do before God
In Time of War features music encompassing a kaleidoscope of emotions, forged during the heat of armed conflict. At the height of the siege of Budapest in 1945, Kodály had taken refuge in a cellar where he completed his dramatic and passionate Missa Brevis. Schütz wrote his collection of Geistliche Chormusik during the Thirty Years’ War as a legacy to future young composers, in the belief that his world was about to be utterly destroyed. In 1918, Howells’ turbulent Third Rhapsody for organ was written in a single night during a Zeppelin raid over York. Standing as I do before God by CCC President, Cecilia McDowall is, as the composer says, a reflection on the eve of Edith Cavell’s death, 12 October 1915. Britten’s scintillating Ballad of Little Musgrave was written for, and first performed by, British prisoners of war in Germany. There is much beauty and profundity to be experienced in this programme of music shaped and overshadowed by war.
Stephen Jones conductor ¦ Nicholas Freestone organ
The CCC Christmas Concert
6.30 pm Tuesday 12 December 2017
The Gresham Centre, St Anne and St Agnes Church, Gresham Street London EC2V 7BX
Stephen Jones conductor ¦ Ivan Linford organ
A varied programme to get you into the mood for Christmas. The wintry scene is set by Poulenc’s atmospheric Un Soir de Neige while Chilcott’s Christmas Day 1666 paints a cosy picture of domestic celebration. Two ‘firsts’ this year are a new piece by Composer in Residence Samuel Wilson and an arrangement of a favourite carol by Music Director Stephen Jones. As usual, there are some chances for the audience to join in with old favourites and also to meet the choir over a drink and a mince pie before and after the concert.
Programme includes:
Arr. Jones Silent Night
Britten Hymn to the Virgin
Chilcott Christmas Day 1666
Rose Carol of the Bells
Dean Mary’s Lullaby
Mathias Nativity Carol
McDowall A Heavenly Song
Fletcher Ring out Wild Bells
Poulenc Un Soir de Neige
Wilson I Heard the Bells (première)
Choral workshop
Tomkins and Byrd Great Services
Saturday 3 February 2018
Sacré et Profane
7.00 pm Thursday 8 March 2018
St Mary-at-Hill, Lovat Lane, Eastcheap, London EC3R 8EE
Masterpieces of French music by: Poulenc, Debussy, Milhaud, Ravel, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Canteloube, Duruflé and Lili Boulanger
Stephen Jones conductor ¦ Hélène Favre-Bulle piano
30th Anniversary Charity Concert
In support of Music for Open Ears
7.00 pm Tuesday 15 May 2018
St Paul’s Church Covent Garden (The Actors’ Church)
Stephen Jones conductor ¦ Fenella Humphreys violin
Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra
CCC celebrates 30 years of music-making with a concert closely aligned to some of the choir’s key themes over the years: 20th century British music, overlooked masterpieces and the commissioning of new music.
Music Director Stephen Jones writes: “For our 30th anniversary concert pride of place goes to Herbert Howells’ wonderful but rather neglected An English Mass dedicated to Harold Darke and the St Michaels Singers, another long established City of London choir. As a young composer Howells had been inspired by the music of Vaughan Williams, whose celebrated The Lark Ascending has in its turn inspired Cecilia McDowall’s The Descending Blue. We also première Spring, a setting of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem by our Composer in Residence Samuel Wilson.”
The choir is delighted to be working for the first time with Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra and renowned violinist Fenella Humphreys.
Tickets £15.00 (earlybird, until 15 April 2018); £18.00 (full price); £10.00 (under 18s and full time students only) online or at the door
A Little Jazz Mass
7.00 pm Tuesday 10 July 2017
The Gresham Centre, St Anne and St Agnes Church, Gresham Street London EC2V 7BX
Stephen Jones conductor | Joe Hill piano
Chilcott A Little Jazz Mass
Rutter Birthday Madrigals
With the première of a Clouds Away by Guildhall School of Music and Drama Composer in Association Katrina Toner
An attractive and uplifting programme of toe-tapping music from Bob Chilcott and John Rutter – two of the foremost choral composers of our day – plus a series of masterful arrangements of some well known jazz standards. We also give the first performance of Clouds Away by our Composer in Association Katrina Toner.
Tickets £15.00 (£10.00 under 18s and full time students only)
To receive details of our concerts and workshops, please subscribe to our mailing list: