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NOW... *world premiere of 'Thou wast present as on this day'*
BBC Radio 3 / In Tune (26 May)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio3_aod.shtml?radio3/intune_mon
(this link should point to the right In Tune for the next 24/48 hrs...)
Listen again or for the first time - about an hour or so into the
programme - to this motet for three pairs of voices by Antony Pitts,
commissioned and performed by The Clerks, director Edward Wickham,
plus interviews about current 'In memoria' tour (see below for up-to-
date details).
TONUS PEREGRINUS double at OPERA FRINGE...
SATURDAY 7 JUNE *The True Story - love & loss in 14th-century France*
SUNDAY 8 JUNE *Jerusalem - a new oratorio*
http://www.tonusperegrinus.co.uk/
http://www.operafringe.com/
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 7pm *The True Story - love & loss in 14th-century
France*
"The True Story of Guillaume de Machaut & Péronnelle d'Armentières"
Guillaume de Machaut: 'Le Voir Dit'
a lightly-staged performance in mediaeval French and modern English
venue: Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
TONUS PEREGRINUS
John Crook - Guillaume de Machaut
Joanna Forbes - soprano / Lady Hope
Rebecca Hickey - soprano / Guillemette
Kathryn Knight - alto / Péronne d'Armentières
Alexander L‚Estrange - countertenor / chief messenger
Matthew Long - tenor / Sir Desire
Alexander Hickey - tenor / the king who never lies
Francis Brett - bass / Morpheus
Antony Pitts - bass / director
A mediaeval love story charting the passionate affair between the 14th
century‚s most celebrated poet and composer, Guillaume de Machaut, and
a young fan known as Péronne. Their poetry, their letters, and
Machaut's extraordinary music come together in a unique multi-media
experience.
tickets: £10 from +44 (0)28 4461 0747
more info: http://shop.thewelcomestranger.org/june-2008-138-c.asp
SUNDAY 8 JUNE 7pm *Jerusalem - a new oratorio*
Antony Pitts: 'Jerusalem-Yerushalayim'
venue: Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
TONUS PEREGRINUS
Joanna Forbes, soprano - Gabriel
Rebecca Hickey, soprano - exile
Lisa Beckley, soprano - Jeremiah
Kathryn Knight, alto - Isaac, Ezekiel
Alexander L‚Estrange, countertenor - Daniel
Sian Price, alto - Nehemiah
Matthew Long, tenor - David
Alexander Hickey, tenor - Solomon
Mark Anderson, tenor - Melchizedek
Alexander Knight, bass - Abram/Abraham
Francis Brett, bass - Moses
Edward Price, bass - Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes
John Crook, narrator
Hannah Riddell, flute
Ben Palmer, trumpet
Cliona Doris, harp
Paul Ayres, organ
Jonny Gee, electric bass
Bernard Reilly, percussion
Antony Pitts, piano/director
"The eyes of the world are on Jerusalem. More than any other city,
Jerusalem has captured hearts and imaginations around the world and
continues to reflect the turbulent emotions of our troubled times.
Jerusalem - placed at the centre of the world on mediaeval maps - a
crossroads between Asia, Europe, and Africa. Jerusalem - occupied by
Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans, British
etc. Jerusalem - the scene of central events in Jewish history and in
the Christian gospel - and now home to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic
holy sites. While Jerusalem currently attracts media attention as
part of a divisive political agenda, the Bible tells an extraordinary
story with a much longer perspective - a story that begins in Genesis
with the wanderings of Abraham, and ends in incredible hope: a vision
of peace for all nations, starting in Jerusalem."
tickets: £10 from +44 (0)28 4461 0747
more info:
http://cd.tp/Jerusalem/
festival info:
http://www.operafringe.com/download/1/OperaFringeProg08.pdf
order vocal score beta version (currently only £0.01):
http://shop.thewelcomestranger.org/index.asp?function=CART&mode=ADD&productid=113
"In 2006 the composer Antony Pitts was inspired to begin sketching an
oratorio that would tell, simply but powerfully, the Biblical story of
Jerusalem - to audiences familiar with both great classical oratorios
and popular musicals, and regardless of denomination, cultural
perspective, or political viewpoint. The result is 'Jerusalem-
Yerushalayim', an oratorio-cantata with a libretto based on texts from
the Tanakh (Old Testament) laid out in a narrative order, and with the
ancient Hebrew names for familiar Biblical characters and places -
hence the double-barrelled title. Mirroring the four quarters of
Jerusalem's 'Old City', the oratorio is divided into four sections of
three movements each, with a coda looking forward to Isaiah's vision
of the wolf living together with the lamb.
The music is new, but has strong historical echoes including familiar
Western musical references such as Tallis's 'Lamentations', Purcell's
'My Beloved spake', Handel's 'Zadok the Priest', and Parry's 'I was
glad' - as well as various resonances from way outside the classical
canon. In terms of practicality and approachability, 'Jerusalem-
Yerushalayim' is modelled on Handel's 'Messiah', and designed for
widespread use - by either professional vocal ensembles or amateur
choirs, with SATB soloists, and flexible accompaniment. Unusually,
the first part of the oratorio to be completed was the conclusion -
the choral coda entitled 'The Peace of Jerusalem'. It was premiered
by the Choir of London, conductor Jeremy Summerly, in Israel last
year, and recorded by TONUS PEREGRINUS for the Hyperion album 'Alpha
and Omega' (CDA67668)."
http://cd.tp/Jerusalem/
STOP PRESS: IN MEMORIA TOUR BEGINS A DAY LATE...
FRIDAY 30 MAY *National Coal Mining Museum* !cancelled/postponed!
SATURDAY 31 MAY *In memoria @ Engines Pumping Station* 7pm
FRIDAY 6 JUNE *In memoria @ Victoria Baths, Manchester* 8pm
SATURDAY 7 JUNE *In memoria @ Kempton Great Engines* 7pm
'In memoria' evokes a dialogue between our own synthetic age and the
deep music of memory represented by the greatest late-mediaeval/early-
Renaissance composers. Ockeghem, Dufay, Obrecht, and Josquin each
wrote motets to memorialize themselves and their colleagues. These
loved voices will be presented as part of a living concert ritual as
well as through an electronic prism; fragments of anecdote, reflection
and reminiscence, drawn from a diverse range of sources, culminate in
a new motet by Antony Pitts for three pairs of two voices where the
past, present, and eternity itself are celebrated and mourned together.
SATURDAY 31 MAY 7pm Crossness Engines Pumping Station, London
The Crossness Engines Trust, The Old Works, Crossness S.T.W.,
Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9AQ
Tel: 020 8311 3711
Website: www.crossness.org.uk
Tickets: £15 available from 01954 210 810 or Buy Online
The ticket price includes an exclusive opportunity to view the Beam
Engine and Boiler Houses from 6.00 pm, and the restored beam engine
"Prince Consort" will be steamed before the concert.
TRAVEL: for those using public transport, a bus will be provided from
Abbey Wood BR Station (direct links from Charing Cross and Cannon
Street); please book your place when you book your tickets online - we
will inform you of the departure time by e-mail/phone
FRIDAY 6 JUNE 8pm Victoria Baths, Manchester
Hathersage Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 OFE
Tel: 0161 224 2020
Website: www.victoriabaths.org.uk
Tickets: £15 (includes a guided tour before the concert at 7.00 pm;
please arrive by 18:45) available from 01954 210 810 or Buy Online
SATURDAY 7 JUNE 7pm Kempton Great Engines
Kempton Park Water Works, Snakey Lane, Hanworth, Middlesex, TW13 6XH
Tel.: 01932 765 328
Website: www.kemptonsteam.org
Tickets: £15 available from 01954 210 810 or Buy Online
Exclusive opportunity to view the steam engines from 6.00 pm
TRAVEL: for those using public transport, a bus will be provided from
Sunbury Station (direct link from London Waterloo); please book your
place when you book your tickets online - we will inform you of the
departure time by e-mail/phone.
Concert duration: one hour; because of the unusual nature of the
venues, and the way in which the spaces will be used, only limited
seating can be provided. It is recommended that tickets are purchased
in advance. Refreshments are available at most venues (please contact
us for specific information). More information on the 'In memoria'
tour:
http://www.theclerks.co.uk/In_Memoria.html
Thank you for listening,
Antony Pitts
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