Con Anima Chamber Choir
Part of St Andrew's Cathedral at Noon Recital Series
The St Andrews Cathedral at Noon Recital Series runs every week, 52 weeks of the year. The recitals are free and short, and today's performance will be followed by a strawberry tea. Donations to the Cathedral funds are gratefully received.
Today's programme
George Shearing the famous jazz pianist wrote this collection featuring texts by William Shakespeare. We are singing 3 from the seven settings, some a cappella, some with piano and string bass, are fresh, exciting and very accessible.
Johannes Brahms composed his Fünf Gesänge Op 104 in 1888, as a 55-year old bachelor. At this age in his composing career, the themes for his music were reflective and nostalgic. For this five-song cycle for mixed chorus a cappella, Brahms chose texts that centre on lost youth, summer turning into fall and, ultimately, man's mortality. The sombre nature of the texts coupled with intense soaring melodies and complex harmonies make it quite a demanding work for any choir.
Con Anima Chamber Choir
Con Anima Chamber Choir has been performing in Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland for just over 20 years. Its repertoire spans sacred and secular music from six centuries, including well-loved classics such as Händel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.
The choir also enjoys performing choral music by contemporary European and American composers and has given world premières of many new works, particularly by composers associated with The University of Aberdeen Music Department.
Con Anima is a “self-managing” group of singers who over the years have enjoyed working with many conductors for different projects, most recently with Ralph Jamieson.