Future concerts

The Voice of Melody

7.30pm, Saturday 7 June 2008 - St Mary’s Church, Platt

We all like a good tune, as the Classic FM charts testify. Melodies, new or well known to us, take us by the hand and help us hear and feel the narrative in music with increased clarity. Many would associate long, memorable tunes with the Romantic composers of the 19th century, but in this concert “The voice of melody” the Cantate choir will explore and demonstrate that melodic music is very much a part of contemporary musical language.

Central to the programme are four pieces by the celebrated and increasingly popular Nimrod Borenstein, who continues to create engaging and beautiful music, with long melodic lines a strong feature. His three Psalm Settings, recently performed in Cambridge and the USA, are joined by a setting of Shakespeare’s words “To be or not to be”, which will receive its World Premiere in this concert in the composer’s presence. Music by other living composers include works by Arvo Pärt and Finn Jyrki Linjama, whose setting of the ancient hymn “Salve Regina” shows his very different use of melody alongside other vocal techniques.

The programme is not wholly comprised of newly written music; well known and loved music includes “Faire is the Heaven” by William Harris, Benjamin Britten’s setting of the Jubilate, and music by Charles Wood, John Rutter and Arnold Bax.

All in all this concert will be a feast of melody, beautiful harmony, and choral singing to sit back and enjoy.

Tickets, priced £10 (including refreshments) will be on sale from the beginning of May and available from available from the Sevenoaks Bookshop or Cantate Box Office 01892 515363.