We are once again looking forward to our particpation in York Minster's services over Lent and Holy Week. Our regular involvement in Holy Week Compline date back to the choir's early years when we performed Charpentier's Lecons de Tenebres and Le Reniement de St Pierre in 1996 with the then Precentor Canon Paul Ferguson, and since then our involvement has grown, notably with the introuduction of Stainer's The Crucifixion in 2002, encouraged by Canon Glyn Webster (now Bishop of Beverley) and organ scholar Robert Poyser (now organist, Beverley Minster).
This year's programme of music has been developed with Canon Peter Moger (Precentor). On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, we complement the simple act of worship with a musical reflection on the Passion story. J. S. Bach's motet Jesu meine freude, with its commentary on Jesus Christ freeing man from sin and death, provides the backdrop on Monday 21 March (also Bach's birthday, marked by European Early Music Day), and Charpentier's vivid depiction of St Peter's three-time denial of Jesus in his oratorio Le Reniement de St Pierre can be heard on Tuesday 22 March. For our performance of The Crucifixion on Wednesday 23 March, we welcome back two alumni of the choir as soloists, Jason Darnell and John Holland-Avery. On Maundy Thursday we follow the 7.30pm Eucharist with the service of Tenebrae as part of the Vigil of the Holy Sacrament, with Victoria's powerful Tenebrae Responsories and Lamentations.
Entry to all services is free. We hope you can join us!
Thursday 10 March
9pm Compline
Music to include Victoria Eram quasi agnus; Tallis O nata lux; Parsons Ave Maria
Thursday 17 March
9pm Compline
Music to include Byrd Lumen ad revelationem Victoria O vos omnes Rachmaninov Bogorodiste Devo
Monday 21 March 7.30pm
Compline and J. S. Bach Jesu meine freude
Tuesday 22 March 7.30pm
Compline and Marc-Antoine Charpentier Le Reniement de St Pierre (The Betrayal by St Peter)
Wednesday 23 March
7.30pm Stainer the Crucifixion tenor: Jason Darnell; bass: John Holland-Avery
9pm Compline
Thursday 24 March
9.30pm Tenebrae
Music to include Victoria Tenebrae Responsories, Lamentations