Friday 11th July
7.30pm, Cartmel Priory
Pro Nobis Singers, Stonebridge Quartet, Bob Talbot (organ), Andrew Leavett (harpsichord), Clive Walkley (conductor)
A concert of choral and instrumental music including Vaughan Williams' Three Shakespeare Songs and 2nd String Quartet, William Mathias' Missa Aedis Christi and Walter Leigh's Concertino for Harpsichord and Strings.
Pro Nobis Singers, Stonebridge Quartet, Bob Talbot (organ), Andrew Leavett (harpsichord), Clive Walkley (conductor)
A concert of choral and instrumental music including Vaughan Williams' Three Shakespeare Songs and 2nd String Quartet, William Mathias' Missa Aedis Christi and Walter Leigh's Concertino for Harpsichord and Strings.
Saturday 12th July
10.30am, Unitarian Chapel, Market Place, Kendal
The Consort of Four, Pieces of Eight
A recital of music from Tudor England for lute, cittern, viols, flute, recorder and voices performed by two groups specialising in chamber ensemble music.
12 noon, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
'Passion and Fierceness in RVW and Walton'
A buffet lunch followed by a talk by James Day about the response to the turbulent times of the 20th century in the music of Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries. James Day is the author of the Master Musicians book on Vaughan Williams and has lectured at the universities of Basle and Cambridge. Illustrations sung by John Lofthouse with Andrew Leavett (piano).
2pm - 5pm, Kendal Parish Church
Open rehearsal 2.30pm, meet at the Brewery Arts Centre
Guided walk round Kendal
Led by members of the Civic Society.
6pm, Kirkland Hall, Kendal
RVW in war and peace'
James Day introduced us to Dona Nobis Pacem.
7.30pm, Kendal Parish Church
Roland Fudge (violin), John Lofthouse (baritone), Julie Leavett (soprano), The New Millennium Chorus and Orchestra, Ian Jones (conductor)
A celebration of Vaughan Williams' life in music featuring VW's Dona Nobis Pacem and The Lark Ascending, plus Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and the first performance with orchestra of Gurney's The Trumpet.
The Consort of Four, Pieces of Eight
A recital of music from Tudor England for lute, cittern, viols, flute, recorder and voices performed by two groups specialising in chamber ensemble music.
12 noon, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
'Passion and Fierceness in RVW and Walton'
A buffet lunch followed by a talk by James Day about the response to the turbulent times of the 20th century in the music of Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries. James Day is the author of the Master Musicians book on Vaughan Williams and has lectured at the universities of Basle and Cambridge. Illustrations sung by John Lofthouse with Andrew Leavett (piano).
2pm - 5pm, Kendal Parish Church
Open rehearsal 2.30pm, meet at the Brewery Arts Centre
Guided walk round Kendal
Led by members of the Civic Society.
6pm, Kirkland Hall, Kendal
RVW in war and peace'
James Day introduced us to Dona Nobis Pacem.
7.30pm, Kendal Parish Church
Roland Fudge (violin), John Lofthouse (baritone), Julie Leavett (soprano), The New Millennium Chorus and Orchestra, Ian Jones (conductor)
A celebration of Vaughan Williams' life in music featuring VW's Dona Nobis Pacem and The Lark Ascending, plus Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and the first performance with orchestra of Gurney's The Trumpet.
Sunday 13th July
10.45am, Cartmel Priory
Festival Service
During the service Levens Choir sang Vaughan Williams' Mass in G Minor.
2.30pm, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
English Song
Rachel Little, Nicholas Hurndall Smith, Andrew Leavett and the Stonebridge Quartet joined to give a recital of English song including Vaughan Williams' On Wenlock Edge.
Festival Service
During the service Levens Choir sang Vaughan Williams' Mass in G Minor.
2.30pm, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
English Song
Rachel Little, Nicholas Hurndall Smith, Andrew Leavett and the Stonebridge Quartet joined to give a recital of English song including Vaughan Williams' On Wenlock Edge.
Westmorland Gazette Review
Brilliant VW Celebrations
More than 200 people were involved in a celebration of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and a huge number went along to listen.
The central events of the weekend were a concert in Kendal Parish Church on the Saturday evening, and a Festival Mass at Cartmel Priory on the Sunday.
The Kendal concert featured the New Millennium Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Ian Jones.
It began with a very successful first performance of Ivor Gurney's The Trumpet, in the version orchestrated by Philip Lancaster.
Then came William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, a story set at the time of the Israelites' exile in Babylon, telling of the downfall of Belshazzar.
A thrilling performance was given.
In The Lark Ascending, the soloist was Roland Fudge, whose performance was given a rousing reception by audience and orchestra alike.
The final choral item was VW's Dona Nobis Pacem, which was given a commanding performance, ending on a note of hope: "Peace, goodwill to men... Dona Nobis Pacem."
Soloists in this concert were Julie Leavett and John Lofthouse.
The conductor, Ian Jones, clearly knew his scores throughout, and knew what he wanted from them.
One can only admire the skill and organisation necessary to rehearse the choir in three different major works, and to bring them together with the orchestra for this occasion.
Meanwhile, the music at the Eucharist, at Cartmel, was led by Levens Choir singing VW's G minor Mass, where a large congregation was moved and uplifted by the service.
The weekend had begun in Cartmel Priory with a concert of choral music, sung by the Pro Nobis Singers, conducted by Clive Walkley, and instrumental music from the Stonebridge String Quartet, led by Julian Cann.
Pro Nobis sang with great energy and enthusiasm throughout and the quartet gave a stunning performance of VW's 2nd String Quartet.
The Saturday morning found us in the intimate and simple setting of Kendal Unitarian Chapel for a fascinating performance of Early English music, given by Pieces of Eight and the Consort of Four, local groups of singers and players.
On the Sunday afternoon, to round off the weekend, we heard a recital of English Song, given by Rachel Little and Nicholas Hurndall Smith. The Stonebridge String Quartet, with Andrew Leavett on the piano, offered sensitive and supportive accompaniment.
The whole weekend was devised, organised and produced by Cumbria Choral Initiative, led by Ian Jones.
CCI is to be congratulated for a triumphant project. We look forward to the next!
More than 200 people were involved in a celebration of the life and music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and a huge number went along to listen.
The central events of the weekend were a concert in Kendal Parish Church on the Saturday evening, and a Festival Mass at Cartmel Priory on the Sunday.
The Kendal concert featured the New Millennium Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Ian Jones.
It began with a very successful first performance of Ivor Gurney's The Trumpet, in the version orchestrated by Philip Lancaster.
Then came William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, a story set at the time of the Israelites' exile in Babylon, telling of the downfall of Belshazzar.
A thrilling performance was given.
In The Lark Ascending, the soloist was Roland Fudge, whose performance was given a rousing reception by audience and orchestra alike.
The final choral item was VW's Dona Nobis Pacem, which was given a commanding performance, ending on a note of hope: "Peace, goodwill to men... Dona Nobis Pacem."
Soloists in this concert were Julie Leavett and John Lofthouse.
The conductor, Ian Jones, clearly knew his scores throughout, and knew what he wanted from them.
One can only admire the skill and organisation necessary to rehearse the choir in three different major works, and to bring them together with the orchestra for this occasion.
Meanwhile, the music at the Eucharist, at Cartmel, was led by Levens Choir singing VW's G minor Mass, where a large congregation was moved and uplifted by the service.
The weekend had begun in Cartmel Priory with a concert of choral music, sung by the Pro Nobis Singers, conducted by Clive Walkley, and instrumental music from the Stonebridge String Quartet, led by Julian Cann.
Pro Nobis sang with great energy and enthusiasm throughout and the quartet gave a stunning performance of VW's 2nd String Quartet.
The Saturday morning found us in the intimate and simple setting of Kendal Unitarian Chapel for a fascinating performance of Early English music, given by Pieces of Eight and the Consort of Four, local groups of singers and players.
On the Sunday afternoon, to round off the weekend, we heard a recital of English Song, given by Rachel Little and Nicholas Hurndall Smith. The Stonebridge String Quartet, with Andrew Leavett on the piano, offered sensitive and supportive accompaniment.
The whole weekend was devised, organised and produced by Cumbria Choral Initiative, led by Ian Jones.
CCI is to be congratulated for a triumphant project. We look forward to the next!