Harp and Choir Concert

Rutter Dancing Day                                                                                         

Three Carols

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella – arr. R. Isaac Boulter  
Ecce, quod natura – anonymous, MS Arch. Selden B. 26
The Cherry Tree Carol – arr. R. Isaac Boulter

Britten A Ceremony of Carols

R. Isaac Boulter conductor 
Stien De Neef harp
Women’s choir from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Come along and celebrate Christmas (very) early this year with an exciting programme for women’s choir accompanied on harp. 

Benjamin Britten was the first composer to write a work for upper voices with harp accompaniment, known by the name “A Ceremony of Carols”. Harp accompaniment was rather unusual at the time, yet the work became a magnificent success with performances following all over the country. It has now become part of the harpists’ vital repertoire.  

Three Carols features the French carol “Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella,” the medieval carol “Ecce quod natura,” and the Appalachian Cherry Tree Carol. The sincere joy of the first, the meditative reflection of the second, and the graceful simplicity of the third together portray the intersection of the wonder of a newborn infant, the miracle of the Birth of Christ, and the humanity of the Holy Family.  

Approximately thirty years after Britten’s famous “A Ceremony of Carols”, John Rutter wrote “Dancing Day” for the same ensemble. This cycle of eight traditional carols opens with a Prelude for harp solo, which leads the choir into the first carol “Angelus ad virginem”.

Please note this is a postponed Christmas Concert.