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. |
A real Japanese treat! 6 September 2016
Once again Tauranga was treated to the superb singing of Japanese male voices with the visit in September of Chor-Farmer for Tokyo.
This year they undertook their 20th concert tour of Australia and New Zealand having first toured in 1977. Led by inspirational conductor Hiroshi Masumoto the choir, comprising 26 voices, presented a concert with a wide genre ranging from classical, pop and folk music. Their outstanding regular piano accompanist Masako Yuyama accompanied them and also performed piano solos.
Chor-Farmer was formed in 1967 at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and next year will mark their 50th Anniversary. They have been 4 time winners of Tokyo Choral Competitions and have been the guest choir at many choral festivals.
We do hope to see them back in Tauranga in 2018.
The visiting choir members were billeted by our choir members and friends of the choir. Many had built long and lasting friendships over many years. Language barriers were broken down and replaced by camaraderie and a mutual love of singing and music. In all, it was a memorable experience, particularly for those of us who billeted for the first time. Chor-Farmer are welcome to come back any time - soon!
This year they undertook their 20th concert tour of Australia and New Zealand having first toured in 1977. Led by inspirational conductor Hiroshi Masumoto the choir, comprising 26 voices, presented a concert with a wide genre ranging from classical, pop and folk music. Their outstanding regular piano accompanist Masako Yuyama accompanied them and also performed piano solos.
Chor-Farmer was formed in 1967 at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and next year will mark their 50th Anniversary. They have been 4 time winners of Tokyo Choral Competitions and have been the guest choir at many choral festivals.
We do hope to see them back in Tauranga in 2018.
The visiting choir members were billeted by our choir members and friends of the choir. Many had built long and lasting friendships over many years. Language barriers were broken down and replaced by camaraderie and a mutual love of singing and music. In all, it was a memorable experience, particularly for those of us who billeted for the first time. Chor-Farmer are welcome to come back any time - soon!
Jazz in June & Mass in Blue
On Sunday 19 June an enthusiastic audience got in the groove at Baycourt. First to the smooth sounds of the Julie Mason Trio and Stephen Morton Jones on Saxophone. Then to a virtuoso performance by Phil Broadhurst MNZM, New Zealand's foremost jazz pianist, well known for his composing, arrangements and long term broadcasting career. This mixture of jazz standards and new compositions was refreshing and rewarding.
The Choir then presented Mass in Blue by Will Todd. We are not sure whether it has been performed before in NZ, but certainly this could have been its premiere. Magnificently accompanied by the Julie Mason Trio, with alto saxophone solos by Stephen Morton Jones, B.Mus.(Hon.) from Massey University, the Mass was presented in all its drama, pathos and triumph by a slightly smaller choir than usual, in the jazz idiom. Our soloist, ex Tauranga girl and one of the semi finalists for this year's Lexus Song Quest, Imogen Thirlwall, soared over the choir and trio, often engaged in counterpoint with the saxophone, thrilling the audience with the clarity, power and beauty of her voice. Her command of the jazz idiom, despite her classical training was breathtaking and was a credit to her musicality and versatility. We wish her well in the Lexus. The choir successfully worked through the demanding and unusual (for us) score. The driving rhythms, challenging harmonies and dramatic changes in tempo and rhythm had a profound effect on many in the audience who confessed to “welling up” in some of the more poignant passages. In every way, Jazz in June has been a success. A multi-taste audience experienced jazz and choral music mixed in what proved to be both a moving and dramatic way. The choir was jolted out of it's comfort zone, and many new lessons were learned. Congratulations to Musical Director, Jeremy Whimster, for choosing this challenging work. On an afternoon full of virtuoso performances, regardless of the musical genre, a few in the audience left at the interval and didn’t return. They don’t know that they missed hearing a work which is destined to be an iconic example of cross genre composition. As the current century evolves, the mixing of the various strands in the music world is becoming a strong and accepted trend embraced by many acclaimed composers. I happen to be getting quite ancient, and therefore could be entitled to be picky about the music I listen to. Fortunately, when I was young, a very wise musician taught me to appreciate all that the music world has to offer, and to applaud the virtuosity and skill of those composing and playing music of all types. Mass in Blue is a major work of our time. Those who left missed a unique musical experience, and are poorer for it! |
Imogen Thirlwall
Will Todd
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WORLD PREMIERE!
We had the thrill of presenting music written especially for us by Nigel Williams, who was educated in Auckland, graduating from Auckland University with MMus in Composition. Since then, he has composed over 30 works. Nigel is a music teacher by profession, having taught at Westlake Girls High School, St Paul's Collegiate, Scots College, Marsden School for Girls, and Mill Hill School in London. After a time in the UK, Nigel returned home and settled in Tauranga where a happy association has developed with Tauranga Civic Choir. Upon receiving the commission from TCC, Nigel traveled to the Auckland War Memorial Museum and researched letters and diary entries by soldiers who fought in WW1. One of these was Nigel's great uncle (Bright Williams) who happened to be, at 105, the last surviving veteran from the Great War. The resultant work was entitled "Letters from our Boys". It was poignant, dramatically expressive and very moving. NZ COMPOSERS To complete our repertoire of local music, we presented works by Helen Caskie, David N Childs, Diane Cooper, David Hamilton, Douglas Mews, Phillip Norman and John Wells. There was a mix of humour, nonsense, sea shanties, sacred music and a Maori lullaby! |
2015 Concerts
April - The Armed Man
July - Baroque_Ah!
November - The English Connection
July - Baroque_Ah!
November - The English Connection
