Cantamus Choir Bournemouth

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

St. Katharine's Church, Southbourne A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS Saturday 19th. December 2009, 6 pm

On Saturday 19th December 2009, Cantamus Choir and St Katharine's Church Choir joined together to present a Traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols. The choirs were directed by Malcolm Wood, who also accompanied the Congregational Carols on the organ. The order of service can be seen below. After the service choir and congregation joined together to enjoy Christmas drinks and mince pies.

St. Katharine's Church, Southbourne

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

Saturday 19th. December 2009, 6 pm

Processional Hymn 1 Once in Royal David’s city (Choir only verses 1 and 2)

Bidding Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

First Lesson Genesis 3: 8-15

God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent’s head

Choir People look East arr. Stainer
Hymn 2 O come O come Emmanuel

Second Lesson Genesis 22: 15-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed

Choir Ding dong merrily on high

Third Lesson Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7

Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah

Hymn 3 O come all ye faithful (vv 1,2,6)
Cantamus In dulci jubilo arr. Pearsall

Fourth Lesson Micah 5: 2-4
The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem

Hymn 4 O little town of Bethlehem

Fifth Lesson St. Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary

Choir The Angel Gabriel

Sixth Lesson St. Matthew 1: 18-23
St. Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus

Choir O Little one sweet (harmonised J.S Bach)
Hymn 5 Away in a manger (Choir verse 1)

Seventh Lesson St. Luke 2: 8-16
The shepherds go to the manger

Hymn 6 While shepherd’s watched their flocks
Choir Past three o’clock

Eighth Lesson St. Matthew 2: 1-11
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus

Choir We three kings
Hymn 7 As with gladness men of old

Ninth Lesson
St. John 1: 1-14
St. John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation

Recessional Hymn 8 Hark the Herald Angels sing

Christmas Carols in Westbourne Arcade Saturday 12th Dec 09

On Saturday 12th December 2009 members of Cantamus choir sang carols in Westbourne Arcade from 2 -4 pm. We sang a varied programme of carols, including a number at the request of passers by. The weather was clear and cold which brought the Christmas shoppers out in strength. As usual, we will be making a donation from this event to support the work of Michaels.

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Evensong for All Saints Day, Sunday 1st November

On Sunday 1st November 2009 Cantamus choir was invited to sing a Festal Choral Evensong for All Saints Day at St Katherines Church Southbourne, Bournemouth.

The music included:

Responses by Ayleward
Canticles by Walmisley

Anthems:
Tye -Hail Glorious Spirits
Parry -My Soul There is a Country

The service was very well attended and well received.

The church very kindly thanked the choir by providing a wonderful tea for us afterwards which we very much enjoyed!

Cantamus Choir information

Cantamus was founded 18years ago by Malcolm Wood who is still its Musical Director. It is a friendly chamber choir that specialises in liturgical music of all periods. We rehearse weekly and either perform a concert or sing a special service in a church in the area about once a month. We sing music from throughout the church and cathedral repertoire, pieces sung by the choir include music written by Palestrina, Tallis, Bruckner,Purcell, Tye, Elgar, Sumsion, Stanford, Bairstow, Vaughan Williams and others; more major works have included: the Faure Requiem, the Cantique de Jean Racine, the Messe Basse, the Vivaldi Gloria and the Haydn Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo. Solo parts are sung by members from within the choir.

We are a non denominational choir - many members attend churches throughout the conurbation. Concerts are usually either on a Saturday or Sunday evening or on Tuesday evening, which is practise night; we do not perform on a Sunday morning so that choir members can also sing in a church choir if they wish to.

We have members of all ages. Children and adults are equally welcome to join. Singing in the choir gives musical youngsters the opportunity to gain experience of singing in four or more parts. Children who play musical instruments find that singing regularly, not only develops their voice but also helps improve their aural skills and increases their knowledge of music of all periods. They also have the opportunity to play pieces during our concerts.

University students, also, are very welcome to join during their time in Bournemouth. Our rehearsals take place about twenty minutes walk from the Wallisdown campus.

Our performance venues have included: churches throughout the area such as Wimborne Minster, St Peter's Bournemouth and Christchurch Priory. We also like to sing in country churches and in churches that do not have their own choirs. At Christmas we have sung in places such as: Stapehill Abbey, shopping Arcades; golf clubs, evening functions, restaurants etc. We have performed concerts together with Bournemouth School for Girls choirs and with Bournemouth youth handbell team.

From 2001 to 2008 we combined with St Luke's Church, Winton choir (then run by Cantamus's Musical Director Malcolm Wood) to sing a traditional festival of nine lessons and carols at Christmas time, and also combined with them at other times for special services and concert. In December 2009 we joined together with the choir of St Katharine's Church Southbourne to lead their Traditional Festival Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Members are highly committed and are expected to attend all practises and events unless they are unwell.

We are available to sing at weddings by arrangement; and can also provide soloist(s) if required. We are experienced and provide a high standard of music at very reasonable fees. Fees are paid directly into our choir funds which we use to purchase more music.

We plan our engagements at the start of the calendar year so it is advisable to contact us as early as is possible.If you would like further details please contact us on our email address below.

If you would like to come for an informal audition please contact us on our email address . Adults and children are very welcome to join us; we are a very friendly choir of all ages united by a love of singing. If you would like to see and hear us before joining you are welcome to come to any of our concerts or special services, please contact us for details of these:

stephie.wood@gmail.com

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