Welcome to Weymouth Choral Society 

Autumn Concert

2012 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.  In celebration of this remarkable milestone, our next concert has a coronation theme. We will be featuring the works of Sir Hubert Parry,  Ralph Vaughan Williams, Samuel Wesley and of course, George Frideric Handel.

Purcell’s I was Glad was written for the coronation of James II in 1685, specifically for the new monarch’s entrance into Westminster Abbey.  It has been performed at every coronation until 1902 when Parry’s new setting of I was Glad was first performed for the coronation of Edward V11.  Parry’s composition retains its important role for each successive coronation.

Ralph Vaughan Williams studied composition under Parry at the Royal College of Music.  Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of Old Hundredth Psalm  for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 is a choral anthem with congregation  participation.

Samuel Wesley, grandson of Charles Wesley, was a gifted organist and choirmaster.  He began his musical career as a choir boy at the Chapel Royal and St Paul's Cathedral and at the age of sixteen became organist at three London churches and secured his first cathedral post at Hereford  in 1832.  It was during this time also that he began composing religious works.

Perhaps the most famous and recognised of Handel's anthems is Zadok the Priest, composed for the coronation of George II in 1727 and performed at every British coronation since. 

This is just a taster of what this concert has to offer. Helen Brind, our Musical Director, is the conductor for this special evening of music, accompanied by Alex Davies on the organ and Richard Hall on timpani.  Jenny Feathersone is our soprano soloist and we are delighted to be joined by Winston Leese and Simon Richards on trumpet.

The concert is on Saturday 10 November at 7.30 pm at Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth (Town Bridge)

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