Three world premieres to take place at St John's
“It is very important for each generation of church musicians to keep refreshing and adding to the repertoire”
Acclaimed composer Jonathan Dove has written a new service for The Choir of St John's in memory of the College's late Master, Professor Sir Christopher Dobson.
The new setting of the evening canticles will become an important addition to the repertoire the Choir performs in their evensong services.
The St John's service is ones of three world premieres taking place at St John's this term and was commissioned by Dr Kamal Anuja and Anna Ahuja. Sir Christopher died of cancer in September 2019, he was a prolific and innovative chemist who led the College for 12 years.
Dove joins an eminent list of composers who have also composed services for St John’s, including Herbert Howells, Judith Weir, Michael Tippett and Julian Anderson.
The Choir will also premiere a new work, Nova! Nova!, by composer and former St John’s Organ Scholar Iain Farrington in their famous Advent Carol Services this November. Farrington’s work has been featured at both the First and Last Night of the Proms, as well as the recent Earth Prom, and he’s also known for performing piano with Rowan Atkinson and the London Symphony Orchestra in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. The service on Sunday 27 November will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
The first premiere this term will take place on Friday 7 October and is oh pristine example by composer David Nunn, written for choir and electronic sound. This is not the first time Nunn has written for the Choir, and also not the first time incorporating electronic sound – his piece Sitivit anima mea was premiered by the Choir in 2018 whilst David was still a Cambridge undergraduate.
Andrew Nethsingha, Director of The Choir of St John's, said: “It is very important for each generation of church musicians to keep refreshing and adding to the repertoire. This term’s new commissions will also be recorded for future album releases, including a disc of 21st century anthems. We are privileged to have so many outstanding composers writing for us, and I am immensely grateful to all those whose financial generosity has enabled these projects to come to fruition.”
The choir also perform previous commissions this term, including Judith Weir’s St John’s Service [8 October], Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s Lo! The desert depths are stirr’d [20 October] and Philip Moore’s St John’s Service [12 November]. Former BBC Young Musician finalist and Cambridge alumna Sophie Westbrooke also joins the Choir to play recorder for performances of her piece Quiet Stream, commissioned by the choir in 2020 [12 October & 9 November]. Outside of Cambridge, the Choir will also perform festive favourites at Birmingham Symphony Hall with organist Thomas Trotter [5 December].
Details of services can be found on the Choir of St John’s website; services are also available to listen to online via webcast.
Published 07/10/2022