Saturday 30 June 2012, 7.30pm
Buckfast Abbey
By kind permission of the Abbot and Community.
Conductor: Nigel Perrin
Organist: Jonathan Watts
Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor
Brahms Warum ist das Licht gegeben?
Duruflé Requiem
Can there be many better ways to spend a lovely English summer evening? At 7.30pm on Saturday 30th June Exeter Festival Chorus will present a varied programme of European sacred music, in Buckfast Abbey, under the direction of Nigel Perrin. Mass in G minor for unaccompanied choir was written in 1921 by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Like the composer’s other music of this period, it is particularly English in style. Brahms wrote his short unaccompanied piece Warum ist das Licht gegeben? (Why is light given?) in 1877. The text is from the Bible and the writings of Martin Luther, and the music shows a mastery of style that many believe had not been seen since Bach. Maurice Duruflé’s musical output was not large because he was a perfectionist, frequently reworking his pieces. His Requiem of 1947 merges Duruflé’s strength in plainsong writing with the harmonic richness of the 20th century. For this work, the organ will be played by Jonathan Watts.
All seats are unreserved and cost just £12 (£10 for students and schoolchildren). Buy tickets on-line, by telephone from our ticket secretary on 0845 6005441, from Buckfast Abbey on 01364 645530 or by credit card from Exeter Phoenix on 01392 667080.
