Choir’s spring concert is this weekend!

OAKFIELD Choir, directed by Neil Moore, presents their Spring Concert on Saturday 30th April in Holy Trinity Church, at 7.30pm.  

The choir says, “On the billing are J S Bach’s wonderfully uplifting Magnificat in D as well as Haydn’s Paukenmesse. The Magnificat, also known as the Song of Mary is taken from the Gospel of Luke where it is spoken by Mary upon the occasion of her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. 

“In the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, the latter moves within Elizabeth’s womb. Bach’s Magnificat in D is divided into several movements for chorus and soloists.  

“Josef Haydn’s Paukenmesse, or Missa in tempore belli (English: Mass in Time of War) was composed in 1796. Known as the Paukenmesse due to the dramatic use of timpani, it is one of the most popular of his 14 mass settings. Composed at Eisenstadt, where Haydn was based for most of his life, at the time of Austria’s general mobilisation into war. Four years into the European war that followed the French Revolution, Austrian troops were doing badly against the French in Italy and Germany, and Austria feared invasion. Reflecting the troubled mood of his time, Haydn integrated references to battle in the some of the movements. 

“Oakfield Choir, directed by Neil Moore, together with international organist and composer David Bednall and a renowned lineup of soloists Amy Carson soprano, Marie Elliott alto, Oliver Chubb tenor and William Drakett bass perform Bach’s Magnificat and Haydn’s Paukenmesse.” 

Tickets at £12.50 may be purchased from www.ticketsource/ocf, or Hunting Raven Bookshop, Cheap Street, or on the door.