IN THE run-up to Easter, Weymouth Choral Society will present a performance of Stainer’s renowned work The Crucifixion: a Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer on April 5 at Holy Trinity Church.
The Crucifixion was never intended as an oratorio like those of Handel or Bach’s Passions. It was a Meditation designed to form an integral part of an Anglican service, using the standard available resources of choir and organ and, significantly, inviting the congregation to participate by singing with the choir in the five hymns that form part of the work.
The libretto alternates Biblical prose narrative with original verses, expressing a Christian’s response to the events as they unfold. The work features two soloists – the tenor providing the narrative and the bass as the voice of Jesus.
To compliment the main work of the evening the choral society will also sing a selection of anthems and pieces by British composers. These will include two of Vaughan Williams’ settings from his Five Mystical Songs – the baritone solo with chorus Easter and the rousing setting of Let all the world in every corner sing known as Antiphon.
They will also sing Charles Wood’s uplifting and exuberant anthem O thou, the central orb, the poignant setting of Ave verum corpus by Edward Elgar and from Howard Goodall the ever-popular Psalm 23 and the haunting Lacrymosa from Eternal Light: a Requiem, which sets the poem Do not stand at my grave and weep.
Sir John Stainer was organist of St Paul’s Cathedral and a professor of music at Oxford, but he always aimed to provide compositions that would be accessible to the average amateur musician.
He published a large number of anthems, chants and hymn tunes which form a great legacy for parish choirs and choral societies.
Weymouth Choral Society will be joined by professional soloists Richard Monk and Gareth Long, organist Alex Davies and, providing an instrumental interlude, Alison Young on soprano saxophone.
The concert will begin at 7.30pm, conducted by the society’s musical director Helen Brind.
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