Choral concert celebration of Christmas
In its 99th year, the Palmerston North Choral Society will be performing a Christmas concert of works from two different composers.
Choir member Sheila Jolley says you ‘‘can’t get much more contrasting than what we have on offer’’.
Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols is first up. Britten was a 20th century English composer who set eleven poems from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to music.
‘‘It’s written in old-world speech and is a well-known Christmas favourite.’’
And then there is Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, who wrote Stella Natalis just nine years ago. It’s a work in 12 movements celebrating different aspects of the Christmas season.
‘‘His music can be very modern and it is absolutely wonderful. He’s pulled out all sorts of things and, at one stage, we have Hindu gods and African chant. It’s a very exciting piece of work.’’
The choir is 60 strong and it has worked on the concert pieces for about three months. Jolley said the combination of strong voices and the ‘‘fantastic acoustics’’ of St Peter’s Church ‘‘are just amazing’’.
‘‘It’s very moving. When we get it just spot on, it is stunning. It is really highly precise and it is exciting working on that and getting it right.’’
Harpist Helen Webby will be accompanying the choir with soprano Rebecca Woodmere, trumpet player Clyde Dixon and organ player Jonathan Berkhan. Alison Stewart is the choir’s musical director.
The choir has started to work towards its centenary celebrations for next year with funding from The Earle Creativity Trust.
The Palmerston North Choral Society’s Heavenly Music concert is this Saturday at St Peter’s Church.