This term Birmingham Festival Choral Society will be preparing thought-provoking works by Vaughan Williams and Howard Goodall to mark 100 years since the ending of the first World War. We will join with Ryton Chorale, David Wynne’s other choral society, for two concerts in November.

The theme of the concert is ‘Grant us Peace’.

Vaughan Williams produced his plea for peace, ‘Dona Nobis pacem’ at a time when there were fears of a second World War, so shortly after the first. His texts were taken from the Mass, the Bible, a political speech and three poems by Walt Whitman. The phrase Dona nobis pacem (“Give us peace”), in different settings, punctuates the entire piece.

‘Eternal Light’ by Howard Goodall uses phrases from the Latin Requiem in each movement, beside words from English poetry from across the last 500 years, in an attempt to provide some solace for the living who mourn those lost as a result of war.

GRANT US PEACE.

Reflective music to mark the ending of the First World War.

Saturday 10 November 2018, 7.30pm

Crossing Church and Centre, Newcastle Street, Worksop S80 2AT

Saturday 17 November 2018, 7.30pm

St George’s Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3DQ

Howard Goodall, Eternal Light

Vaughan Williams, Dona Nobis Pacem

Birmingham Festival Choral Society and Ryton Chorale.

Holly Teague, Soprano

Miles Taylor, Baritone

Kevin Gill Darren Hogg and Mitch Holland, Piano and organ.

Vera Khait, harp

Conductor: David Wynne

Poster image: Chris Fletcher.