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| 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
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 6th 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 28th
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)
