Renaissance Choir offers Remembrance concert
In Memoriam
The Emsworth-based Renaissance Choir presents its In Memoriam concert on Saturday, October 31 at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Petersfield, GU32 3HS (conductor: Catherine Olver; organ: Mark Dancer).
Simon O’Hea, publicity manager, said: “Come and join the Renaissance Choir in Petersfield to hear choral music which evokes the hardships and sacrifices endured by those fighting in the two world wars.
“Douglas Guest’s For the Fallen perfectly encapsulates this idea in a miniature form, whilst Lux Aeterna vocalises the expressive lines of Sir Edward Elgar’s Nimrod, a piece which is often associated with British Remembrance.
“However, the concert programme extends beyond this theme, taking the listener on a journey of inner peace and contemplation, combining music from over four centuries ago with that written by contemporary composers.
“Sit back and enjoy the lush harmonies of Edward Bairstow’s Let all mortal flesh keep silence and Eric Whitacre’s Sleep alongside the intricate polyphony of works by Renaissance masters Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Tomás Luis de Victoria.
“The concert culminates in Gerald Finzi’s narrative-driven Lo, the full, final sacrifice which perfectly encapsulates the themes of sacrifice and conflict.”
Tickets are available from TicketSource via www.renaissancechoir.org.uk, via One Tree Books in Petersfield or on the door.
“The Renaissance Choir is one of Hampshire's most accomplished chamber choirs, known for its purity of sound and beautiful blend of voices,” Simon added.
“We’re a group of around 30 singers from West Sussex and Hampshire who enjoy the challenge and fun of singing a cappella though some of our singing is accompanied. We also like to split our singers into separate choirs so to achieve additional effects.
“Although we put music of the Renaissance period at the heart of our repertoire, we also generally try to perform lesser-known music or to premiere new works or arrangements, some of which we’ve commissioned. This includes the acclaimed Songs of Hope piece written for our 50th anniversary and premiered in March 2026.”