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Saturday November 7th, 2020. 2:30pm Otumoetai Baptist Church, Otumoetai Road, Tauranga A selection of short pieces in a variety of styles, including some jazz, spirituals, folk songs, Beatles, and Coronation anthems - something for everyone. It was great to perform once again - and to a full house - after a year of uncertainty and Covid restrictions. |
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December 2019 - Christmas carols
We had a change from our usual carol concert at the Tauranga Art Gallery.
Instead of singing at the Tauranga Art Gallery, as we have done in past years, we sang at
The Crossing Shopping Centre, at The Lakes, Tauriko.
Sunday 29th September 2019, 2:30pm
Otumoetai Baptist Church, 241 Otumoetai Road, Tauranga
RESOUNDINGLY RUTTER
MAGNIFICAT
and other pieces
by John Rutter
Otumoetai Baptist Church, 241 Otumoetai Road, Tauranga
RESOUNDINGLY RUTTER
MAGNIFICAT
and other pieces
by John Rutter
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FAURÉ : REQUIEM
and other pieces by Fauré, Franck, Gounod and Duruflé. Saturday 29th June 2019 7:30 pm |
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Sunday 14th April 2019 2:30 pm Otumoetai Baptist Church, 241 Otumoetai Road, Tauranga. A smorgasbord of rousing choruses and beautiful quieter pieces, along with magnificent singing from our guest soloists. |
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Sunday 9th December 2018: 2:30 pm
at Tauranga Art Gallery
Christmas carols, old and new.
During the carol concert, and as a result of our Kiwi Armistice event, we were thrilled to present a cheque for almost $26,000 to a representative from
Waipuna Hospice.
at Tauranga Art Gallery
Christmas carols, old and new.
During the carol concert, and as a result of our Kiwi Armistice event, we were thrilled to present a cheque for almost $26,000 to a representative from
Waipuna Hospice.
Sunday 11th November 2018: 100 years: A Kiwi Armistice
A packed house of over 800 people enjoyed this evening, commemorating such a significant event in our history. The programme featured various aspects of the war years, and the music ranged from music-hall songs, to hymns, to soldiers’ ditties and marching songs, to gritty songs that reveal the awfulness of war, to songs of hope for a brighter future, finishing with Sir Harry Lauder's evergreen "Keep Right On To The End Of The Road", written after his son had been killed in action.
Taking part with us were Philip Smith on organ, and Leon Gray on piano; Tauranga City Brass, and Elaine Wogan, soprano. Tom Bradley and Elizabeth Price provided narration, with a montage of still shots covering various aspects, such as pre-war New Zealand, soldiers leaving for war, wartime scenes, and volunteer work.
Proceeds from the event were donated to Waipuna Hospice to support the wonderful work they do in our community.
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SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2018 3:00 pm We were delighted to welcome back Chor-Farmer, the highly-acclaimed male voice choir from Tokyo, on their 21st Australia and New Zealand Goodwill Tour, and enjoyed presenting a few of our G and S songs as part of the concert. Venue: Wesley Church, 13th Avenue, Tauranga. Proceeds went to the earthquake strengthening fund for Wesley Church hall. |
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Sunday 26th August, 2018. 3 pm A Bit of G and S At St Paul's Church, Cnr Main Road and Mulgan Street, Katikati. An informal afternoon of innocent merriment: a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan favourites from The Mikado, Yeomen of the Guard, Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers, Patience, and HMS Pinafore, performed to a full house and appreciative audience. |
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MAY 26th 2018, 7:30 pm, St Peter's church in Tauranga.
A German Requiem, to Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 (German: Ein Deutsches Requiem, nach Worten der heiligen Schrift) by Johannes Brahms is a large-scale work for chorus, orchestra, a soprano and baritone soloist. It was composed at a difficult time in his life between 1865 and 1868. Brahms' mother died in February 1865, a loss that caused him much grief and may well have inspired Ein Deutsches Requiem. Brahms' lingering feelings over his close friend and fellow composer Robert Schumann’s death in July 1856 may also have been a motivation to complete the work.
The first performance of the original six movements (movements 1 – IV and VI – VII) premiered in Bremen Cathedral on Good Friday, 10 April 1868, with Brahms conducting. The performance was a great success and marked a turning point in Brahms' career. Brahms added another movement, what is now the 5th movement, shortly after, and the Requiem has become a much-admired choral concert piece.
While Brahms, at the invitation of his publisher, provided a piano reduction of the orchestral score, we are delighted to have Douglas Mews adapt this for organ, with the addition of the original percussion (timpani) score.
TUESDAY 27 MARCH, 2018: 7:00 pm, at Mount Maunganui College
A joint relaxed concert with some students from the college. The programme consisted of a variety of short pieces, from Brahms to jazz, both vocal and instrumental, and we appreciated hearing some of our local talented young people.
A joint relaxed concert with some students from the college. The programme consisted of a variety of short pieces, from Brahms to jazz, both vocal and instrumental, and we appreciated hearing some of our local talented young people.
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What better way to begin celebrations of the Christmas season than with music from Bach's Christmas Oratorio? We were expertly accompanied by the chamber orchestra, organist, trumpeter, and timpanist, and our soloists were wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed participating in this concert, and judging by comments from some of the audience, it was appreciated by those who listened. |
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We had a wonderful afternoon in Hamilton - St Peter's Cathedral was a superb venue, and we enjoyed singing great music to an appreciative audience. Our programme consisted of 10 short pieces, ranging from Bach, Brahms and Mozart, to well-known folk songs, and we were privileged to present 2 pieces arranged by our Musical Director, Nigel Williams - Skye Boat Song, and Amazing Grace. The latter incorporated the Last Post, played by Bill Stoneham on trumpet. Bill and Nigel also combined to entertain us with some organ and trumpet music. |
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CELEBRATING CREATION – August 2017
The programme included some short well-known pieces such as Loch Lomond and Shenandoah, and featured Andrew Carter's Benedicite. Andrew Carter says of his music, ‘Benedicite is simply the Latin title for All the world, praise the Lord. The English Prayer Book takes thirty-three verses to say so; I chose a few of the old verses and added a sprinkling of new verses to make ... eleven movements'.
We were joined by St Peter's Cathedral Junior Choir from Hamilton.
The programme included some short well-known pieces such as Loch Lomond and Shenandoah, and featured Andrew Carter's Benedicite. Andrew Carter says of his music, ‘Benedicite is simply the Latin title for All the world, praise the Lord. The English Prayer Book takes thirty-three verses to say so; I chose a few of the old verses and added a sprinkling of new verses to make ... eleven movements'.
We were joined by St Peter's Cathedral Junior Choir from Hamilton.
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On 1 April, the Tauranga Civic Choir presented its first concert of 2017. The programme included Haydn's master work, the Lord Nelson Mass (also known as the Imperial), and 2 shorter works – Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, Brahms’ How Lovely are Thy Dwellings. Douglas Mews, our accompanist for the concert played 2 organ preludes.
We had 4 outstanding soloists joining us for this concert. Elaine Wogan, soprano; Jessica Wells, alto; Koli Jayatunge, tenor; Ian Campbell, bass; plus renowned organist, Douglas Mews. This is also the first official concert conducted by our new Musical Director, Nigel Williams. Nigel has both sung in and conducted the choir on many occasions. |
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ELIJAH an Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
This remarkable work, composed by Felix Mendelssohn, as we usually know him, has been acclaimed as on a par with Handel's Messiah and Bach's St Matthew's Passion. When it debuted in the Birmingham Town Hall on 26 August 1846, as a specially commissioned work for the Birmingham Festival of Music, conducted by Mendelssohn himself, The Times reporting on the thunderous applause of the lengthy standing ovation from the 2000 present said, “Never has there been a more thorough and speedy recognition of a great work of art.” In fact, 8 sections of the Oratorio were encored. Something that is unprecedented. For the record, there were 125 musicians in the orchestra and 271 singers in the choir, plus the soloists. Quite a show!!
The Oratorio ELIJAH draws on the accounts in the Old Testament of the exploits of the prophet Elijah in his epic battle with the prophets of Baal, King Ahab, and wicked Queen Jezebel. It also highlights other aspects of Elijah's story. Mendelssohn's Jewish heritage clearly drew him to dramatise musically, this part of his nation's history. We are told that he spent at least 10 years considering how to do this, before the Birmingham invitation spurred him into action. |
