colchester chamber choirDirector Roderick Earle

TENEBRAEBY CANDLELIGHT

programme

£1.50

Claudio Claudio Monteverdi was probably the most renowned maestro di cappella of St. Mark's, Venice. His Christe, adoramus te and Cantate Domino were probably composed for the feast days of the Holy Cross. They were published in 1620. He, too, wrote many madrigals and several operas in addition to a large amount of music for the church.

Carlo Gesualdo is famous for murdering his wife and her lover ‘in flagrante delicto’. Possibly because of his guilt and fear of vendetta he spent the latter part of his life in self-imposed isolation, suffering from depression. He wrote many madrigals and motets, all in a dissonant and chromatic style that was taken up by few of his contemporaries; in fact his music was largely forgotten until the twentieth century when its true beauty and drama was recognised. The Responsories for Holy Saturday were published in 1611. They are written in a madrigal style with much vivid word painting.

Antonio Lotti spent most of his life in Venice, where he was first a singer, then organist and finally maestro di cappella at St. Mark's Basilica. His celebrated 8-part Crucifixus dates from around 1718 and was written during a short term of employment at the court in Dresden. He wrote some thirty operas and his works were admired by both Bach and Handel.

sopranos

Jenny Cockett

Liz Curry

Anita Filer

Julia King

Eleanor Loaring

altos

Lehla Abbott

Eleanor Campbell

Patsy Cosgrove

Tessa Freebairn

Lynne McKay

Meg Prolingheuer

tenors

Terry Blunden

Paul Burt

Andrew Marsden

Sean Moriarty

basses

Dennis Bowen

John Campbell

Peter Newton

Paul Torrington

Jill Newton

Lesley Orrock

Linda Pearsall

Hilary Sellers

Colchester Chamber Choir gave its first concert in January 2010, and has gained a reputation for performances of unusual quality, musicality, drama and imagination.

Currently, there are twenty-three auditioned singers drawn from a wide area around Colchester who rehearse intensively in the weeks leading up to each concert.

The choir presents varied programmes of works written for the smaller choir that explore the more challenging and less well known repertoire particularly from the pre-baroque and 19th and 20th centuries and, where possible, in the original language.

Michael Roderick Earle, the choir’s director and founder, studied as a choral scholar in the renowned St. John’s College Choir, Cambridge and sang with the BBC Singers and Monteverdi Choir before embarking on a career in opera. A principal baritone with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for twenty-one years singing over sixty solo roles, he has sung in opera and concerts all over the world and is a singing professor at The Royal College of Music.

Peter Humphrey is the choir's rehearsal pianist and plays organ continuo at this concert.

Tenebrae, sung at the climax of Holy Week, and complimenting the main Liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday inspired many composers to write much fine music, none more so than Allegri’s famous Miserere and the Responsories of Gesualdo, Victoria and Lassus.

tenebrae

Tenebrae (meaning ‘shadows’) is the name given to the combined Office of Matins and Lauds on the last three days of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Originally this took place early in the morning, but by the end of the Middle Ages it was anticipated in the evening of the previous day. The first part of the service (Matins) was divided into three Nocturns, and each Nocturn was divided into three parts, each part ending with one of nine Responsories, and after which the Benedictus (Dominus Deus Israel) was sung. The second part (Lauds) consisted of five psalms and ended with Christus factus est and the Miserere. At the end of each Nocturn and psalm, one of 15 candles was extinguished leaving a solitary candle hidden in the shadows (tenebrae) for the final Miserere. The service ended with the Strepitus, a loud noise, symbolising the earthquake at Christ’s death, after which the hidden candle was returned to a prominent position to symbolise the promise of Christ’s resurrection. All then departed in silence.

Claudio Claudio Monteverdi was probably the most renowned maestro di cappella of St. Mark's, Venice. His Christe, adoramus te and Cantate Domino were probably composed for the feast days of the Holy Cross. They were published in 1620. He, too, wrote many madrigals and several operas in addition to a large amount of music for the church.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina wrote a vast amount of church music (over 100 masses and 300 motets) and his compositions are considered to be the pinnacle of late Renaissance church composition, displaying a mellifluous and extremely consonant style of polyphony. Exultate Deo is not absolutely typical of his style, displaying an extrovert exuberance. Tu es Petrus, much used at Papal occasions to this day, was published in 1572 and Palestrina later used it

as the basis for a mass for three choirs.

Gregorio Allegri’s famous setting of the Miserere was written for the Sistine Chapel in the 1630’s. Jealously guarded under pain of excommunication, Allegri’s setting was famously written down by ear by the 14 year old Mozart, who was then handsomely rewarded by the Pope. The version we know today is in fact a conflation with additions by Tommaso Bai and others.

Carlo Gesualdo is famous for murdering his wife and her lover ‘in flagrante delicto’. Possibly because of his guilt and fear of vendetta he spent the latter part of his life in self-imposed isolation, suffering from depression. He wrote many madrigals and motets, all in a dissonant and chromatic style that was taken up by few of his contemporaries; in fact his music was largely forgotten until the twentieth century when its true beauty and drama was recognised. The Responsories for Holy Saturday were published in 1611. They are written in a madrigal style with much vivid word painting.

Antonio Lotti spent most of his life in Venice, where he was first a singer, then organist and finally maestro di cappella at St. Mark's Basilica. His celebrated 8-part Crucifixus dates from around 1718 and was written during a short term of employment at the court in Dresden. He wrote some thirty operas and his works were admired by both Bach and Handel.

basses

Dennis Bowen

John Campbell

Peter Newton

Paul Torrington

Colchester Chamber Choir gave its first concert in January 2010, and has gained a reputation for performances of unusual quality, musicality, drama and imagination.

Currently, there are twenty-three auditioned singers drawn from a wide area around Colchester who rehearse intensively in the weeks leading up to each concert.

The choir presents varied programmes of works written for the smaller choir that explore the more challenging and less well known repertoire particularly from the pre-baroque and 19th and 20th centuries and, where possible, in the original language.

Michael Roderick Earle, the choir’s director and founder, studied as a choral scholar in the renowned St. John’s College Choir, Cambridge and sang with the BBC Singers and Monteverdi Choir before embarking on a career in opera. A principal baritone with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for twenty-one years singing over sixty solo roles, he has sung in opera and concerts all over the world and is a singing professor at The Royal College of Music.

Peter Humphrey is the choir's rehearsal pianist and plays organ continuo at this concert.

Tenebrae, sung at the climax of Holy Week, and complimenting the main Liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday inspired many composers to write much fine music, none more so than Allegri’s famous Miserere and the Responsories of Gesualdo, Victoria and Lassus.

tenebrae

Tenebrae (meaning ‘shadows’) is the name given to the combined Office of Matins and Lauds on the last three days of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Originally this took place early in the morning, but by the end of the Middle Ages it was anticipated in the evening of the previous day. The first part of the service (Matins) was divided into three Nocturns, and each Nocturn was divided into three parts, each part ending with one of nine Responsories, and after which the Benedictus (Dominus Deus Israel) was sung. The second part (Lauds) consisted of five psalms and ended with Christus factus est and the Miserere. At the end of each Nocturn and psalm, one of 15 candles was extinguished leaving a solitary candle hidden in the shadows (tenebrae) for the final Miserere. The service ended with the Strepitus, a loud noise, symbolising the earthquake at Christ’s death, after which the hidden candle was returned to a prominent position to symbolise the promise of Christ’s resurrection. All then departed in silence.

Felice Anerio was a priest as well as a composer, like his brother Giovanni. In 1594 he followed Palestrina as composer to the papal choir. Christus factus est is his best known work.

programme

Crucifixus a 8 Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Responsoria Sabbato Sancto Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613)

1st Nocturn Sicut ovis ad occisionem

Jerusalem, surge

Plange quasi virgo

2nd Nocturn Recessit pastor noster

O vos omnes

Ecce quomodo moritur justus

3rd Nocturn Astiterunt reges terrae

Aestimatus sum

Sepulto Domino

intervalComplimentary refreshments are available in the church hall during the interval of the Colchester concert. The Narthex bar will be open before the concert and during the interval at St. John's Cathedral, Norwich.

Christus factus est Felice Anerio (c.1560-1614))

Miserere mei Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Soli (choir 2) - Hilary Sellers, Anita Filer, Lehla Abbott and Sean Moriarty

Exultate Deo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Tu es Petrus I

Quodcumque ligaveris II

Christe, adoramus te Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Cantate Domino

Crucifixus a 8 Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, For our sake he was crucified

sub Pontio Pilato: under Pontius Pilate:

passus et sepultus est. He suffered death and was buried.

from the Nicene Creed

programme

Crucifixus a 8 Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Responsoria Sabbato Sancto Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613)

1st Nocturn Sicut ovis ad occisionem

Jerusalem, surge

Plange quasi virgo

2nd Nocturn Recessit pastor noster

O vos omnes

Ecce quomodo moritur justus

3rd Nocturn Astiterunt reges terrae

Aestimatus sum

Sepulto Domino

intervalComplimentary refreshments are available in the church hall during the interval of the Colchester concert. The Narthex bar will be open before the concert and during the interval at St. John's Cathedral, Norwich.

Christus factus est Felice Anerio (c.1560-1614))

Miserere mei Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Soli (choir 2) - Hilary Sellers, Anita Filer, Lehla Abbott and Sean Moriarty

Exultate Deo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Tu es Petrus I

Quodcumque ligaveris II

Christe, adoramus te Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Cantate Domino

Crucifixus a 8 Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, For our sake he was crucified

sub Pontio Pilato: under Pontius Pilate:

passus et sepultus est. He suffered death and was buried.

from the Nicene Creed

Tenebrae Reponsories for Holy Saturday Carlo Gesualdo (1561 -1613)

1. Sicut ovis

Sicut ovis ad occisionem ductus est, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

et dum male tractaretur, and while they treated him ill,

non aperuit os suum: he opened not his mouth:

traditus est ad mortem: he was led to his death,

Ut vivificaret populum suum. that his people might live.

Tradidit in mortem animam suam, He gave up his soul to death,

et inter iniquos reputatus est. and was counted among the wrong-doers.

2. Jersusalem, surge

Jerusalm, surge, Jersulalem arise,

et exue te vestibus jucunditatis: and cast off thy garments of rejoicing:

induere te cinere et cilicio: with sack-cloth and ashes cover thyself:

Quia in te occisus est Salvator, for in thee was put to death

Salvator Israel. the Redeemer of Israel.

Deduc quasi torrentem lacrimas Let thy tears fall like a flood

per diem et noctem, day and night,

et non taceat pupilla oculi tui. and let not thine eyes be dried.

3. Plange quasi virgo

Plange quasi virgo, plebs mea: Weep like a maiden, my people;

ululate, pastores, in cinere et cilicio: wail, ye shepherds, in your sack-cloth and ashes:

Quia veniet dies Domini magna, for the great day of the Lord cometh,

et amara valde. a day full of bitterness.

Accingite vos, sacerdotes, Lament, O ye priests

et plangite, ministri altaris, and weep, ye ministers of the altars,

aspergite vos cinere. pour ashes upon yourselves.

4. Recessit pastor noster

Recessit pastor noster, fons aquae vivae, Our shepherd hath gone, the fount of living water;

ad cujus transitum sol obscuratus est: and at his passing the sun is darkened:

Nam et ille captus est, for now is taken

qui captivum tenebat primum hominem: he who held the first man captive:

hodie portas mortis et sera pariter this day our Saviour hath breached

Salvator noster disrupit. the locked gates of death.

Destruxit quidem claustra inferni, He hath destroyed the gates of hell,

et subvertit potentias diaboli. and undermined the devil's power.

5. O vos omnes

O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam, O all ye who pass by on the road,

attendite et videte: Stay, and see

Si est dolor similis, sicut dolor meus. if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Attendite, universi populi, Stay, all ye peoples of the world,

et videte dolorem meum. and behold my sorrow.

6. Ecce quomodi moritur justus

Ecce quomodo moritur justus, Behold how the righteous dieth,

et nemo percipit corde: and none is touched to the heart:

et viri justi tolluntur, the righteous are taken away:

et nemo considerat: and none regardeth it:

a facie iniquitatis sublatus est justus: the just man is taken from the sight of the wicked:

Et erit in pace, in pace memoria ejus. and his memory shall be at peace.

Tamquam agnus coram tondente Like unto a lamb at the shearing

se obmutuit, he held his tongue,

et non aperuit os suum: and he opened not his mouth:

de angustia, et de judicio from his trouble and from his sentence,

sublatus est. he was delivered.

Tenebrae Reponsories for Holy Saturday Carlo Gesualdo (1561 -1613)

1. Sicut ovis

Sicut ovis ad occisionem ductus est, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

et dum male tractaretur, and while they treated him ill,

non aperuit os suum: he opened not his mouth:

traditus est ad mortem: he was led to his death,

Ut vivificaret populum suum. that his people might live.

Tradidit in mortem animam suam, He gave up his soul to death,

et inter iniquos reputatus est. and was counted among the wrong-doers.

2. Jersusalem, surge

Jerusalm, surge, Jersulalem arise,

et exue te vestibus jucunditatis: and cast off thy garments of rejoicing:

induere te cinere et cilicio: with sack-cloth and ashes cover thyself:

Quia in te occisus est Salvator, for in thee was put to death

Salvator Israel. the Redeemer of Israel.

Deduc quasi torrentem lacrimas Let thy tears fall like a flood

per diem et noctem, day and night,

et non taceat pupilla oculi tui. and let not thine eyes be dried.

3. Plange quasi virgo

Plange quasi virgo, plebs mea: Weep like a maiden, my people;

ululate, pastores, in cinere et cilicio: wail, ye shepherds, in your sack-cloth and ashes:

Quia veniet dies Domini magna, for the great day of the Lord cometh,

et amara valde. a day full of bitterness.

Accingite vos, sacerdotes, Lament, O ye priests

et plangite, ministri altaris, and weep, ye ministers of the altars,

aspergite vos cinere. pour ashes upon yourselves.

4. Recessit pastor noster

Recessit pastor noster, fons aquae vivae, Our shepherd hath gone, the fount of living water;

ad cujus transitum sol obscuratus est: and at his passing the sun is darkened:

Nam et ille captus est, for now is taken

qui captivum tenebat primum hominem: he who held the first man captive:

hodie portas mortis et sera pariter this day our Saviour hath breached

Salvator noster disrupit. the locked gates of death.

Destruxit quidem claustra inferni, He hath destroyed the gates of hell,

et subvertit potentias diaboli. and undermined the devil's power.

5. O vos omnes

O vos omnes, qui transitis per viam, O all ye who pass by on the road,

attendite et videte: Stay, and see

Si est dolor similis, sicut dolor meus. if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Attendite, universi populi, Stay, all ye peoples of the world,

et videte dolorem meum. and behold my sorrow.

6. Ecce quomodi moritur justus

Ecce quomodo moritur justus, Behold how the righteous dieth,

et nemo percipit corde: and none is touched to the heart:

et viri justi tolluntur, the righteous are taken away:

et nemo considerat: and none regardeth it:

a facie iniquitatis sublatus est justus: the just man is taken from the sight of the wicked:

Et erit in pace, in pace memoria ejus. and his memory shall be at peace.

Tamquam agnus coram tondente Like unto a lamb at the shearing

se obmutuit, he held his tongue,

et non aperuit os suum: and he opened not his mouth:

de angustia, et de judicio from his trouble and from his sentence,

sublatus est. he was delivered.

7. Astiterunt reges terrae

Astiterunt reges terrae, The kings of the earth rise up,

et principes convenerunt in unum: and the rulers take counsel together

Adversus Dominum, against the Lord

et adversus Christum ejus. and against his Annointed.

Quare fremuerunt gentes, Why do the nations so furiously rage together,

et populi meditati sunt inania? and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

8. Aestimatus sum

Aestimatus sum cum I have been counted among

descendentibus in lacum: those that go down to the pit.

Factus sum sicut homo sine adjutorio, I am made like unto a man without succour;

inter mortuos, liber. yet I am a free man among the dead.

Posuerunt me in lacu inferiori, They cast me into the lowest pit,

in tenebrosis et umbra mortis. into darkness, and into the shadow of death.

9. Sepulto Domino

Sepulto Domino, signatum est monumentum, A sepulchre was appointed for the Lord,

volventes lapidem and a great stone was rolled

ad ostium monumenti: to the door of the tomb;

Ponentes milites, qui custodirent illum. and they placed soldiers there to guard it.

Accedentes principes sacerdotum ad Pilatum, The chief priests came unto Pilate,

petierunt, illum. and petitioned him.

Christus factus est Felice Anerio (c. 1560 -1614)

Christus factus est pro nobis Christ became obedient for us unto death,

obediens usque ad mortem, even the death of the cross.

mortem autem crucis.

Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, Wherefore God also hath exalted him,

et dedit illi nomen, and hath given him a name

quod est super omne nomen. which is above every name.

Gradual for Maundy Thursday

Philippians 2 vv. 8-9

7. Astiterunt reges terrae

Astiterunt reges terrae, The kings of the earth rise up,

et principes convenerunt in unum: and the rulers take counsel together

Adversus Dominum, against the Lord

et adversus Christum ejus. and against his Annointed.

Quare fremuerunt gentes, Why do the nations so furiously rage together,

et populi meditati sunt inania? and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

8. Aestimatus sum

Aestimatus sum cum I have been counted among

descendentibus in lacum: those that go down to the pit.

Factus sum sicut homo sine adjutorio, I am made like unto a man without succour;

inter mortuos, liber. yet I am a free man among the dead.

Posuerunt me in lacu inferiori, They cast me into the lowest pit,

in tenebrosis et umbra mortis. into darkness, and into the shadow of death.

9. Sepulto Domino

Sepulto Domino, signatum est monumentum, A sepulchre was appointed for the Lord,

volventes lapidem and a great stone was rolled

ad ostium monumenti: to the door of the tomb;

Ponentes milites, qui custodirent illum. and they placed soldiers there to guard it.

Accedentes principes sacerdotum ad Pilatum, The chief priests came unto Pilate,

petierunt, illum. and petitioned him.

Christus factus est Felice Anerio (c. 1560 -1614)

Christus factus est pro nobis Christ became obedient for us unto death,

obediens usque ad mortem, even the death of the cross.

mortem autem crucis.

Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, Wherefore God also hath exalted him,

et dedit illi nomen, and hath given him a name

quod est super omne nomen. which is above every name.

Gradual for Maundy Thursday

Philippians 2 vv. 8-9

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.

Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.

Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.

Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.

Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.

Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.

Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.

Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.

Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.

Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.

Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.

Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.

Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.

Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.

Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.

Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem.

Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae,oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness

According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.

For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.

O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,with burnt offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young calves upon Thine altar.

Psalm 51 (50)

Miserere mei Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.

Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.

Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.

Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.

Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.

Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.

Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.

Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.

Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.

Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.

Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.

Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.

Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.

Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.

Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.

Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem.

Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae,oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness

According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.

For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.

O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,with burnt offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young calves upon Thine altar.

Psalm 51 (50)

Exsultate Deo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Exsultate Deo, adjutori nostro: Sing we merrily unto God our strength

jubilate Deo Jacob. make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Sumite psalmum et date tympanum: Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret:

psalterium jucundum cum cithara. the merry harp with the lute.

Buccinate in Neomenia tuba: Blow up the trumpet in the new moon,

insigni die solemnitatis vestrae. even in the time appointed, and upon our

solemn feast day.

Psalm 81 (80) vv. 1-3

Tu es Petrus I

Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram

ædificabo Ecclesiam meam;

et portæ inferi non prævalebunt

adversus eam.

Et tibi dabo claves regni cælorum.

Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will

build my church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail

against it.

And to thee I will give the keys to the

kingdom of heaven.

Christe, adoramus te Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Christe, adoramus te et benedicimus tibi, Christ, we worship and bless thee

quia per sanctam crucem tuam, because by thy holy Cross

redemisti mundum. thou hast redeemed the world.

Domine, miserere nobis. Oh Lord, have mercy on us.

Antiphon of Feasts of the Holy Cross

Cantate Domino

Cantate Domino canticum novum, Sing unto the Lord a new song,

cantate et benedicite nomini ejus. sing and praise his name,

Quia mirabilia fecit. for he hath done marvellous things.

Cantate et exultate et psallite. Sing, rejoice and give thanks.

Psalite in cythara et voce psalmi, Praise him with the lute and the voice of singing:

Quia mirabilia fecit. for he hath done marvellous things.

from Psalm 96 (95) and Psalm 98 (97)

Quodcumque ligaveris II

Quodcumque ligaveris super terram,

erit ligatum et in caelis;

et quodcumque solveris super terram

erit solutum et in caelis.

Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum.

Whatever thou hast bound on earth,

it shall also be bound in the heavens;

and whatever thou hast freed on earth

it shall also be freed in the heavens.

And to thee I will give the keys to the

kingdom of heaven.

Antiphon of Feast of Saint Peter and St Paul

Matthew 16 vv. 18-19

Exsultate Deo Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Exsultate Deo, adjutori nostro: Sing we merrily unto God our strength

jubilate Deo Jacob. make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Sumite psalmum et date tympanum: Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret:

psalterium jucundum cum cithara. the merry harp with the lute.

Buccinate in Neomenia tuba: Blow up the trumpet in the new moon,

insigni die solemnitatis vestrae. even in the time appointed, and upon our

solemn feast day.

Psalm 81 (80) vv. 1-3

Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will

build my church;

and the gates of hell shall not prevail

against it.

And to thee I will give the keys to the

kingdom of heaven.

Christe, adoramus te Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Christe, adoramus te et benedicimus tibi, Christ, we worship and bless thee

quia per sanctam crucem tuam, because by thy holy Cross

redemisti mundum. thou hast redeemed the world.

Domine, miserere nobis. Oh Lord, have mercy on us.

Antiphon of Feasts of the Holy Cross

Cantate Domino

Cantate Domino canticum novum, Sing unto the Lord a new song,

cantate et benedicite nomini ejus. sing and praise his name,

Quia mirabilia fecit. for he hath done marvellous things.

Cantate et exultate et psallite. Sing, rejoice and give thanks.

Psalite in cythara et voce psalmi, Praise him with the lute and the voice of singing:

Quia mirabilia fecit. for he hath done marvellous things.

from Psalm 96 (95) and Psalm 98 (97)

Whatever thou hast bound on earth,

it shall also be bound in the heavens;

and whatever thou hast freed on earth

it shall also be freed in the heavens.

And to thee I will give the keys to the

kingdom of heaven.

Antiphon of Feast of Saint Peter and St Paul

Matthew 16 vv. 18-19

colchester chamber choirDirector Roderick Earle

Schein, Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Wolf and Reger

saturday 19 may 2012 7.30pmst teresa’s church,16 Clairmont Road, Colchester CO3 9BE

bach and beyond

Help the choir by giving us your financial support

Each year, Colchester Chamber Choir performs to around 1,000 highly discerning audience members both in Colchester and the wider area of East Anglia. Hundreds buy our programmes, visit our website and thousands read our posters.

Thank you for coming to this concert. Would you like to help or support us further? Any sponsorship can make a difference, helping us to sustain and develop our work. You might like to consider sponsoring a piece of music, an instrumentalist from the Royal College of Music, our information leaflets or our posters which would then carry your logo. You might like to place an advertisement in one of our programmes.

Colchester Chamber Choir is available to perform at festivals or other public events. This year we are performing at The Harwich Festival. To discuss this or other ways of supporting and sponsoring the choir please contact the Choir Chairman Peter Newton on 01206 572883 or email peter_newton3@yahoo.co.uk.

Find out more?

For more information about our future programmes, how to buy tickets or join our mailing list,

please visit our website www.colchesterchamberchoir.orgemail: colchesterchamberchoir@gmail.com or telephone Choir Chairman Peter Newton on 01206 572883.

colchester chamber choirDirector Roderick Earle

Schein, Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Wolf and Reger

Help the choir by giving us your financial support

Each year, Colchester Chamber Choir performs to around 1,000 highly discerning audience members both in Colchester and the wider area of East Anglia. Hundreds buy our programmes, visit our website and thousands read our posters.

Thank you for coming to this concert. Would you like to help or support us further? Any sponsorship can make a difference, helping us to sustain and develop our work. You might like to consider sponsoring a piece of music, an instrumentalist from the Royal College of Music, our information leaflets or our posters which would then carry your logo. You might like to place an advertisement in one of our programmes.

Colchester Chamber Choir is available to perform at festivals or other public events. This year we are performing at The Harwich Festival. To discuss this or other ways of supporting and sponsoring the choir please contact the Choir Chairman Peter Newton on 01206 572883 or email peter_newton3@yahoo.co.uk.

Find out more?

For more information about our future programmes, how to buy tickets or join our mailing list,

please visit our website www.colchesterchamberchoir.orgemail: colchesterchamberchoir@gmail.com or telephone Choir Chairman Peter Newton on 01206 572883.