15 June 2011

Chant in Cambridge 22-23rd June

Wednesday 22 June - Thursday 23 June, 2011

St Catharine's College, Main Court and Chapel

THE HOURS: A 24-Hour Celebration of World Sacred Music

with Sound Installation by Jonathan Green and Edward Wickham

about THE HOURS:

The Hours is a 24-hour collage of sound and live performance devised by Jonathan Green and Edward Wickham, in association with award-winning vocal ensemble The Clerks.

The Hours celebrates the impulse to pray and to praise; an impulse shared by the faithful of all the world religions, and one which has inspired the finest art, literature and music.
Drawing on the universal poetry of the Psalms, The Hours presents multifarious sounds, voices and music in a tapestry which is at times abstract, and at times intensely direct and human.

The sound installation provides the backdrop for live performances by Cambridge-based groups; including a ‘Come and Sing’ event open to singers of all ages, ability and experience. In the final hour, the diverse elements of the collage coalesce into a live performance featuring Taverner’s sumptuous Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas, whose dense, polyphonic lines have previously been heard fragmentarily.

“one of the most inventive early music groups around” Musical Opinion

“a new side of early music'” Daily Telegraph

Main Events
• The Hours sound installation will run continuously in Main Court throughout the 24 hours.
• Performances by Chela/Buska (Georgian choir); Harmonia Alcorani (Muslim choir); chant from Jewish and Hindu traditions: details to be confirmed

Wednesday 22 June
1900-1930: The Hours launches with the office of Luminaria
sung by the St Catharine’s Girls’ Choir and Egyptian soprano Merit Ariane Stephanos;
featuring the World Premiere of a new work melding Western and Middle Eastern chant by Jonathan Green.

2100: Performance by Kol Echad (Jewish Community Choir)

2130: Performance by Chela (Georgian Choir)

2200-2245: Compline for the eve of Corpus Christi (Gregorian chant)

Thursday 23 June
0200-0330: Matins for Corpus Christi (Gregorian chant)

0700-0730: Lauds for Corpus Christi (Gregorian chant)

1630-1715: Global Harmony: a ‘Come and Sing’ session of sacred songs from different traditions
led by Rowena Whitehead and Talking in Tune Singers
Everyone is welcome, whatever your previous singing experience to add your voice to the rich and inspiring harmonies.

1800-1900: Final concert: Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas by John Taverner
sung by award-winning vocal ensemble The Clerks


Ticket information

Admission to all aspects of The Hours is free.
You can register your interest in the Come and Sing event in advance by contacting music@caths.cam.ac.uk;
you can also simply join in on the day.
Tickets for the final performance (limited) can be reserved by contacting music@caths.cam.ac.uk.


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