Portsmouth Baroque Choir - Times & Seasons

The concert opens with some well-known madrigals and one part song. Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year dates from 2000 and is fast becoming a modern classic, having been recorded three times already, most notably by Voces 8 with the composer at the piano. The pianist for our concert is Peter Rhodes.

John Rutter’s Five Childhood Lyrics are arrangements of (mostly) well-known nursery rhymes. They date from 1973, early in his career, but sound as fresh and dynamic as ever.

Mendelssohn’s Sechs Lieder (Six songs), Op. 59, ‘To be sung outdoors’ take up most of the second half of our concert. It is not certain whether the subtitle is strictly prescriptive or if it just encourages us to get out more to appreciate the charms of Nature. Celebrating the unity between people and their natural surroundings was one of the hallmarks of early Romanticism, echoing across to our own times.

Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music needs little introduction. Originally written for sixteen solo singers and orchestra, it will be performed in a version for four soloists (drawn from the choir) and piano accompaniment along with some instrumental colour.

Dove – The Passing of the Year
Weelkes – To shorten Winter’s sadness
Morley – April is in my mistress’ face
Morley – This sweet and merry month of May
Elgar – As Torrents in summer
Bridge – The Bee
Rutter – Five Childhood Lyrics
Mendelssohn – Sechs Lieder im Freien zu singen, Op. 59
Vaughan Williams – Serenade to Music