Future events
Leith Hill Music Festival Concert: Will Todd - Passion Music and Jazz Missa Brevis
A brilliant choral concert with the Leith Hill Music Festival choirs under the baton of our new Festival Conductor, Neil Ferris, featuring Will Todd’s Passion Music and Jazz Missa Brevis, accompanied by Will Todd and his band. We look forward to seeing you there!
Past events
Saturday 8th Feb - Coffee Morning
Join us from 10am-12noon on Saturday 8th February for our annual Coffee Morning at the Bookham Barn Hall. Entry is free and there will be a number of independent stall holders in attendance along with our usual raffle and refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday 17th Dec - Christmas Carols
Join us at 7:30pm on Tuesday 17th December for our annual Christmas Carol concert in St Nicolas Church, Bookham. There will be well known and less well known carols by the choir and seasonal favourites for all to join in. Tickets are £15 for adults and £5 for students & under 18s. Tickets include a glass of wine or soft drink and a mince pie.
Autumn Concert - Saturday 9th November
Our autumn concert featured performances from Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Purcell’s O Sing Unto the Lord’ Mozart’s Ave Verum and Jake Runestad’s The Hope of Loving’.
Summer Concert - Sunday 7th July
Our summer concert featured performances from George Shraring’s Songs and Sonnets and John Rutter’s Birthday Madrigals.
Leith Hill Music Fesitval
We be perfored alongside Beare Green & Newdigate, Buckland and Betchworth, Holmbury St. Mary, Horsley and Mickleham on Saturday 13th April as part of the Leith Hill Music Festival.
We were accompanied by a full professional orchestra and top soloists. The repertoire included:
Lauridsen – Lux aeterna
Puccini – Messa di Gloria
Tuesday 19th Dec - Christmas Carols
Join us at 7:30pm on Tuesday 19th December for our annual Christmas Carol concert in St Nicolas Church, Bookham. There will be well known and less well known carols by the choir and seasonal favourites for all to join in. Tickets at £15 will include wine, soft drinks and mince pies after the concert.
Saturday 11th November - Duruflé's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine
Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, Opus. 9," is a well-known composition in the choral and classical music repertoire. It is a setting of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. Duruflé, a French composer and organist, composed the work between 1947 and 1948 after the death of his father. The piece is considered one of his most significant and revered compositions.
Duruflé's Requiem is characterized by its lush harmonies, intricate choral writing, and expressive melodies. The work is deeply rooted in Gregorian chant, which Duruflé used as a source of inspiration. He blended these traditional elements with his own harmonic language, resulting in a composition that is both reverent and innovative. Duruflé's Requiem is sometimes compared to Gabriel Fauré's Requiem due to its gentle and peaceful character. Both works depart from the dramatic and fearful aspects often associated with the Requiem Mass, focusing instead on providing comfort and solace to the listener. Duruflé was a skilled organist, and the organ part in the Requiem is acknowledged to be extremely demanding.
The Requiem is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century choral and sacred music. It has been performed and recorded by numerous choirs, orchestras, and soloists around the world. Its introspective and meditative qualities have made it a favourite for memorial services and concerts commemorating the departed.
The Cantique de Jean Racine is a setting of words by the 17th century dramatist and poet Jean Racine. It was Faure’s first significant composition, written in 1865 whilst he was in his final year at the ‘Ecole de musique religieuse et classique’. He submitted the piece for the competition prize, and won, though it was only published eleven years later, with a full orchestral version following in 1906. Faure went on to write a good deal of religious music – most notably the Requiem, written in 1888 – but of the shorter sacred pieces it is the Cantique that has particularly captured the affections of choirs and audiences. - John Bawden
Saturday 25th November - Come and Sing
🎶 Christmas is coming! Join us on Saturday, November 25th, for an afternoon enjoying a selection of Christmas music at our Come and Sing event.
🎤 Whether you're a seasoned singer or just love to sing in the shower, this event is for you! No auditions, no pressure—just the joy of making music in the company of fellow enthusiasts.
What to Expect:
🌟 Expert Guidance: Our experienced choral director will lead you through an afternoon of familiar and unfamiliar music with a Christmas theme.
🎼 Diverse Repertoire: From classical choral gems to Christmas carols, the selection will ensure there's something for everyone.
👥 Inclusive Atmosphere: Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow singers whether you're a trained singer or simply love to sing: we welcome singers of all levels.
🎉 Performance: The day concludes with an informal performance, allowing you to invite friends and family to hear what has been achieved. This is free of charge.
🎟️ Reserve Your Spot! Tickets cost £15. To reserve your place visit bookhamchoralsociety@gmail.com.
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