Louth Choral Society to give premiere performance of Canticle of St Mary
Have you ever wondered what Mary really thought when the angel Gabriel announced she was to bear the Son of God?
Composer Alison Willis has and it is this, along with some little known medieval carol texts that forms the basis of her new piece for choir, soprano solo and organ, The Canticle of Mary.
The piece will be premiered by Louth Choral Society conducted by the composer, with soprano soloist Olivia Thomas and organist Graham Eccles in Louth’s stunning St James’ Church on Advent Sunday, November 30 at 7pm. The concert also features Britten’s magnificent ‘Ceremony of Carols’ accompanied by acclaimed harpist Eira Lynn Jones and a selection of other Advent themed music.
Alison explains: “I am passionate about choral music. I love writing Christmas carols, particularly when they involve setting medieval texts and I also thrive on allowing women’s voices to be heard telling their, (often overlooked) stories. The Canticle of Mary combines these three things, new choral music, medieval carol texts and a well-known story told from the female perspective, specifically that of Mary.”
The Canticle of Mary is a substantial 40 minute work for choir and organ or piano with soprano soloist. It combines a selection of Marian carols from a little known medieval text, thought to have originated in East Anglia in the 15 century, with a new poem by America’s top lyric poet Charles Anthony Silvestri, sung by the soprano soloist telling the story of the Nativity from Mary’s perspective.
Alison says: “It may seem an odd decision to choose a poem by a non-female writer given my commitment to forgotten women writers and the intensely female narrative I wanted to portray but Tony is a medievalist with an extensive knowledge of Marian iconography and immediately captured the point of the proposed poem, interweaving the stanzas seamlessly into the carol texts. The central tenet is that Mary, a young virgin being told she is to bear the son of God would surely would have had questions… as would her husband!”
After its premiere it will be published by Composers Edition and will make an excellent addition to the Christmas choral repertoire.
The concert also features Britten’s Ceremony of Carols accompanied by acclaimed harpist Eira Lynn Jones and a selection of other Advent themed music.Tickets are available from Beaumont’s, 11 Bridge Street, Louth, LN12 0UR, online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/louthchoral and choir members. Reserved £18, unreserved £12, accompanied u18 £10, u18 free.
For further information visit www.louthchoral.co.uk