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Music for Lent

From St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, Martin Handley presents the 大象传媒 Singers in a concert for Lent. Including music by Alain, Tucapsky, Messiaen, Poulenc, Ropek and Rutter.

RADIO 3 LIVE IN CONCERT: MUSIC FOR LENT

Live from St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge

Presented by Martin Handley

FRANCIS POULENC: Quatre motets pour un temps de p茅nitence

JEHAN ALAIN: Postlude pour l'Office de complies

ANTONIN TU膶APSK脻: Five Lenten Motets

OLIVIER MESSIAEN: J茅sus accepte la souffrance

FRANCIS POULENC: Litanies a la vierge noire

-INTERVAL -

JI艠脥 ROPEK: Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes

JOHN RUTTER: Requiem

大象传媒 Singers
Stephen Farr (organ)
David Hill (conductor)

Live from St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, Martin Handley presents a concert of music for one of the most solemn periods of the church year: the forty days of Lent. For Christians, this is a season of spiritual reflection and self-examination, and tonight's concert includes works in that penitential vein by French and Czech composers. Poulenc's four motets have become a classic of the choral repertoire - as has his simple and heart-felt setting of prayers to the Black Virgin of Rocamadour, a work which marked the recovery of his lapsed Catholic faith after a spiritual crisis.

Lenten motets by the Czech-born composer Antonin Tu膷apsk媒, who has lived in Britain since 1975, are paired with a set of variations for organ by the distinguished Czech organist Ji艡铆 Ropek. These are based on the Easter plainchant "Victimae Paschali Laudes" - a melody also quoted by John Rutter in his Requiem, a work which juxtaposes the age-old words of the Latin Mass for the Dead with scriptural texts to create a work of quiet reflection, profound beauty and immense consolation.

And continuing the Czech theme in tonight's concert, the interval explores chamber music by a selection of modern Czech composers.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • 大象传媒 Singers

    • Francis Poulenc

      4 Motets pour un temps de p茅nitence

      Conductor: David HILL Performer: 大象传媒 Singers

    • Jehan Alain

      Postlude pour l'office de Complies

      Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ

    • Antonin Tucapsky

      5 Lenten Motets

      Conductor: David HILL Performer: 大象传媒 Singers

    • Olivier Messiaen

      La Nativit茅 du Seigneur; Jesus accepte la souffrance

      Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ

    • Francis Poulenc

      Litanies 脿 la vierge noire

      Conductor: David HILL Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ Performer: 大象传媒 SINGERS women's voices

  • Music Interval: Czech chamber music

  • V铆tezslav Nov谩k

    Bagatelles Op.5 for piano [c.1894, rev.1899]; Scherzino, Serenata

    Performer: Niel IMMELMAN - Piano

    • Meridian.
    • CDE84555 [1].
    • -2.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Pohadka [Fairy tale] for cello and piano

    Performer: Mats RONDIN - Cello Performer: Roland PONTINEN - Piano

    • BIS.
    • BIS CD-663/664 [2].
    • -3.
  • Petr Eben

    Trio for piano and strings; Agitato

    Performer: Florestan Piano Trio

    • Hyperion.
    • CDA67730.
    • -12.
  • 大象传媒 Singers

    • Jiri Ropek

      Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes

      Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ

    • John Rutter

      Requiem [1985]

      Conductor: David HILL Performer: Gareth HULSE - Oboe Performer: Graham BRADSHAW - Cello Performer: Ileana RUHEMANN - Flute Performer: James Bower - Timpani Performer: Karen Hutt - Glockenspiel Performer: Manon MORRIS - Harp Performer: Olivia ROBINSON - Soprano Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ Performer: 大象传媒 Singers

Broadcast

  • Wed 14 Mar 2012 19:30

New Music on Radio 3

New Music on Radio 3

A chance to listen to recent broadcasts of new music - including premieres - on Radio 3.