The Great Hall will resound to the sounds 'Tudurs' would have known and loved, but we'll also look at how we play nowadays with similar themes and passions.

​

We'll not be the first to contrast Taverner with Tavener, but putting Taverner's (the one appointed by Cardinal Wolsey) setting of Easter Sunday Matins and Mary finding the tomb empty alongside the orthodox inspired Tavener piece lamenting the death of a young cyclist is revealing. Both have deep sound wells, both move from desolation to joy. 

 

If you've ever marvelled at the Pieta by Michelangelo, in song it has inspired many. Byrd's Ave is a simple wonder. Roderick Williams was commissioned by ORA to reimagine this complex text, and his take on it is superb. Set for a trinity of choirs it will lift us from C16th reverie to todays challenges. 

 

We'll take a simpler light hearted look at some madrigals too - how the Tudors had fun - and how we can do the same today, with a stunning setting of Blackbird. I doubt Macca had madrigals in mind when composing that, but it has much in common with the genre, and maybe a lass called Phyllis can teach us that all you need is love even now.

​

You'll be crossing the marvellous moat on entering Broughton, and making an essential nod to the seafaring tradition that made the Tudor's great, we'll compare Campion's weather beaten sails to Bob Chilcott's lovely setting of Raleigh's final poem; perhaps remembering too that the navy, probably especially back in those days, actually ran on rum. 

​

As dusk settles we'll explore three pieces on the theme of light. Tallis' O Nata Lux is juxtaposed with Kerensa Briggs' Lead Kindly Light - a commission from The Sixteen based on Newman's plea to come through adversity. Sampling Dives and Lazarus, Briggs gives us a 6th folk song variant that RVW would have been proud of.

​

There's something for everyone here as we hope to enable more people to experience the enrichment and life-enhancing benefits of classical and contemporary a cappella singing. Join us to see how music old and new helps people grow and thrive through singing, enjoying superb acoustics, and being creative. It's what One Voice is all about.