Repertoire

A typical concert programme will have been selected with certain objectives in mind. The music must be enjoyable for both choir and audience, and whilst there will be familiar items, there will also be less familiar ones to challenge the singers and offer something different to the listener. Sacred music will scan a broad historical period, with a bias towards Tudor music. The secular part of a programme will be a mixture of madrigals, folk song arrangements (often with a regional flavour) and other original songs.

Amongst other items, a programme might include:-

Sacred music -

O Quam Gloriosum est Regnum - Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)

Ave Verum Corpus - William Byrd (c.1542-1623)

Almighty and Everlasting God - Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

Come Holy Ghost - Thomas Campion (1567-1620)

O nata Lux - Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585)

Jesu Meine Freude - JS Bach (1685-1750)

Sanctus from German Mass in F - Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Justorum Anime - CV Stanford (1852–1924)

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree - Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)

Secular music -

Now, o now, I needs must part - John Dowland (1563-1626)

Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis - John Wilbye (1574-1638)

Weep, O mine eyes - John Bennet (1570-1615)

I love my love - Trad. arr. Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

The Sailor and Young Nancy - Trad. arr. EJ Moeran (1894-1950)

The Water of Tyne - Trad. arr. WG Whittaker (1876-1944)

The Springtime of the Year - Trad. arr. R Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

The Bluebird - CV Stanford (1852–1924)

Chillingham - CV Stanford (1852–1924)

Linden Lea - R Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

For certain venues and occasions a more specific programme may be offered, for example entirely sacred music or entirely secular; and of course concerts of carols at Christmas.