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VentiQuattro

Classical A Cappella Singing

Food For The Soul

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Beauty Performed!

24 is delighted to bring a wide range of a cappella highlights, from Tavener's Athene to Whitacre's Sleep, to life in this beautiful church.
All proceeds go to the Church, refreshments are included, and we promise you an entertaining and engaging evening of some of the a cappella repertoire's finest pieces.
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inspiration...
and some perspiration too as 24 tackles the Bach motets this year.
We started with those who inspired Bach, and finish with some of the most engaging motets ever written from Tavener to MacMillan as well as Bach's Singet and Komm.

Remember - with 24, under 18s are welcome free too when accompanied by an adult, not necessarily even a 'responsible' one.

inspiration

With Bach as the giant on whose shoulders all subsequent composers stand, we're bringing two of his most majestic pieces to life - Singet! and Komm - to life alongside some of the very best compositions since. Challenging pieces all, we're balancing some haunting and reverential pieces with some lighter ones too.

Harris may not be the most famous composer, but he was a student of Wood, and in turn teacher of composition to Howells and Britten. His most famous piece c 1925, Faire is the Heaven, allows us to show off the double choir techniques, and continue the theme of 'standing on the shoulders of giants'.

Tavener's elegiac Song for Athene was popularised at Diana's death, but it remains an anthem for all who die on the roads. Contrasting timeless orthodox chant with the frenetic pain and cost of modern travel speaks volumes.

Talent knows no bounds and Lauridsen in the US has in effect become the exemplar of a school of composition in its own right. His O Magnum is a complex interwoven piece, and when sung alongside Bach's 'Du bist der recht' in Komm shows two peaceful and reassuring treatments of warmth and resolution.

There is always an element of technical challenge in a '24' concert so we take a break from some of the more liturgically instructive pieces to look at folk influence and in particular Jonathan Willcock's intriguing setting of a favourite.

Our first run at MacMillan's Miserere resulted in a standing ovation, and the breadth of this piece is a delight to return to as our finale.

A few of the highlights

Bach

Bach's family life was singularly troubled and marked with the loss of many children in particular. He knew loss, and this plea from a weary soul for peace and support as the burdens keep piling up is timeless, and yet also optimistic towards the end.

Rusby

A superb 'cross-over' arrangement of a folk song by Kate Rusby, it echoed for us alongside many other pieces on a similar theme by composers like Gjeilo and Lauridsen. Not a sacred piece explicitly, tackling the issue of free will head on is impressive and gently done - it complements much of our other repertoire perfectly.

Tavener

Just as Cohen singing Hallelujah mournfully brings an added impact, putting the Alleluia text on its head and flattening echoes over a drone epitomises Tavener's artistry beautifully. The exclamation of praising God in the face of adversity builds to a fantastic reward finale, while also leaving us with the ear worm of pain that never really leaves the grieving.

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We Love This Too...

Some pieces we love from recent or coming performances that

can brighten the day or lift your heart

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Palestrina, the place, the man, the music:

'Ioannes Petrus Aloysius Praenestinus Musicae Princeps'

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Frank Martin's Mass

for Double Choir

The highlight of our second concert, Martin's Mass for double choir keeps growing on you.

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von Bingen

Ave generosa

a treat from our superb top line delivered with aplomb in '25 and inspired by Grace

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Rachmaninoff

Impossible to pick one movement from The Vigil/Vespers, but it was a magical concert we will repeat

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Big Mac's Mis

Didn't think Allegri could be topped? Well try this. We did, and proved it...

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The Road Home 

Our most popular encore and a big tug on anyone's heart strings

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