Counterpoint Choir: Buckfast Abbey Saturday 6 July A message from Musical Director David Acres

A singer first and foremost:
Counter-Tenor David Acres
Musical Director of the Counterpoint Choir
singing Giovanni da Palestrina's
"Missa Papae Marcelli"
with Matt Cann's Antiphon Choir
Buckfast Abbey 20 April 2013

 

Good Morning

 

The Buckfast Abbey concert looms large

and I would urge you to come and hear

some of the most beautiful

modern choral music

you are likely to hear live in concert this year

with a fabulous string ensemble.

 

All of the works are gorgeously scored

to enrich and lift the soul

and the composers include

 

Ola Gjeilo

 

Morten Lauridsen

 

Eric Whitacre

 

Karl Jenkins

 

Graham Keitch

 

The other reason to come along

and hear the choir sing

is because this is a special occasion,

not only because all the profit from the concert

will be going to

the Counterpoint Bursary Fund

for Girl & Boy Choristers at Exeter Cathedral

but also because it will be the last concert

to feature the large choir for some time.

 

I have decided to pursue a more active role

in my singing career

– what’s left of it! –

and, because of this,

the big thematic concerts

that I have been prone

to stage 3-4 times a year

will cease for the foreseeable future.

 

The concerts take many months to plan

and this has impinged on

my travelling and singing

– something that has always been dear to my heart.

 

However, it is my intention that Counterpoint

will be going from strength to strength

and will continue to stage 5-6 concerts a year,

with a minimum of three of them

taking place at BuckfastAbbey,

as they have for the past 25 years

The differences will mainly be visible

in the size of the choir for each event –

 a smaller choir of no more than 20 voices

will require less rehearsal

but will still deliver choral music

at the highest levels.

My aim is to take the choir

back to its founding roots

when we became known for performing

a cappella Renaissance and Medieval works

with as much word-painting

and passionate delivery as we could muster.

 

It brought the choir instant recognition

and reviews like this:

 

'As we’ve come to expect,

Counterpoint exceeded all our expectations.

If Paradise exists,

Counterpoint will surely

be performing at the entrance ...'

(Le Telegramme, Brittany)

 

…’a vocal group of great cohesion

and wonderful sensitivity.’

(OuestFrance)

 

…’Compulsive listening from start tofinish.’

(Express & Echo, Exeter)

 

 Thank you all for your wonderful support

over the past 25 years

and here’sto the next 25

– may they be just as rewarding

and full of glorious music-making.

 

The attached poster can be used

to gain maximum attention

or it could be forwarded on in an email

to anyone that you think

might be interested in coming.

 

Tickets are priced at £14.00

if bought before the day

or £16.00 on the door.

Cheques should be made payable to Counterpoint

and sent to

Counterpoint, Westbrook Farmhouse, Higher Metcombe,

Ottery St Mary, Devon. EX11 1SR

together with an A5 SAE included.

 

If you have any questions or queries,

please do not hesitate to contact me on

 

07876 560 474

 

davidacres2@aol.com

 

Warmest wishes

 

David

 

 

Including the South West premier of:

Sunrise Mass – Ola Gjeilo

O magnum mysterium & O nata Lux – Lauridsen

Sanctus – Ola Gjeilo

And the South West premiere of:

 I will lift up mine eyes – John A Thomas

In memoriam Ricardus Rex – Graham Keitch

Buckfast Abbey

Saturday 6^th July 2013 @ 7.30pm

Tickets available by post:

Counterpoint, Westbrook Farmhouse,

Higher Metcombe, Ottery St. Mary. EX11 1SR

 - enclose a stamp addressed A5 envelope –

Cheques made payable to ‘Counterpoint’

Tel: 07876 560 474

Also available from Buckfast Abbey Gift Shop

in person from Thursday 28^th March 2013

Early booking strongly advised

- Tickets: £14.00 in advance

or £16.00 on the door (if available)

www.counterpoint.org.uk

www.facebook.com/CounterpointUK

That Counterpoint Programme in full:

O nata lux – Lauridsen
Lux aurumque – Whitacre
Sanctus – Ola Gjelio
Palladio – Karl Jenkins (for string ensemble)
O magnum mysterium – Lauridsen
 
INTERVAL

In Memoriam - Ricardus Rex – Graham Keitch
Psalom - Part (for string ensemble)
Sunrise Mass – Ola Gjeilo
i.  The Spheres (Kyrie)
ii.  Sunrise (Gloria)
iii. The City (Credo)
iv.  Identity & The Ground
       (Sanctus,Benedictus & Agnus Dei)