PROGRAMME

~ English Motets ~

Te lucis ante terminum Thomas Tallis (1505 – 1585)

Ave verum corpus William Byrd (c.1540-1623)

When David heard Thomas Tomkins (1572 – 1656)

~ Fading ~

O Little Rose, O Dark Rose Gerda Blok-Wilson (b.1955)

O Ecclesia Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179)

Phos hilaron Owain Park (b.1993)

~ Music for a windy day ~

The Wind’s Warning Alison Willis (b.1971)

My heart is like a singing bird Sarah Rimkus (b.1990)

Put out into the deep David Bednall (b.1979)

~ Italian sacred & secular ~

Tristis est anima mea Carlo Gesualdo (1566 – 1613)

Potrò viver io più se senza luce Luca Marenzio (c.1553 – 1599)

Io son ferito, ahi lasso Giovanni P. da Palestrina (c.1525 – 1594)

~ The lighter side ~

Bushes and Briars arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)

Viens par le pré arr. Bob Chilcott (b.1955)

Over the Rainbow E.Y. Harburg/Harold Arlen arr. Martin Pickard (b.1955)

We have organised this impromptu performance as, owing to the disruption caused by Storm Ciara, we have been unable to travel to Malvern Priory to perform today. We are presenting a selection of music, five sets of three pieces which include works from our English Motets and Fading recordings. Thank you for tuning in!

“Weavers of rich and plangent aural tapestries, The Gesualdo Six meld style and substance with beguiling sure-footedness.” – BBC Music Magazine The Gesualdo Six is a vocal consort comprised of some of the UK’s finest young consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Formed in March 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s ‘Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday’ in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, the group went on to give over 150 performances around the United Kingdom and abroad in its first five years. During this time, The Gesualdo Six further strengthened a passion for ensemble singing that for many of them stemmed from formative years as choristers in churches and cathedrals around the country. The Gesualdo Six regularly performs at festivals around Europe, with debut tours to the USA and Australia this season. The ensemble often incorporates educational work into its activities, holding workshops for choirs and composers and giving concerts alongside local performers. The Gesualdo Six has curated two Composition Competitions, with the 2019 edition attracting entries from over three hundred composers around the world. The ensemble released their debut recording ‘English Motets’ on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by a festive album of seasonal favourites in late 2019, ‘Christmas’. ‘Fading’, an album of music inspired by the ancient service of compline, will be released in March 2020. www.thegesualdosix.co.uk

Performers Guy James, Andrew Leslie Cooper, countertenor

Joseph Wicks & Josh Cooter, tenor Michael Craddock, baritone | Sam Mitchell & Owain Park, bass

Directed by Owain ParkThe Gesualdo Six | Live Video from St Andrew’s Alexandra Park | Sunday 9 February 2020 at 3pm

TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM Thee, Lord, before the close of day, Maker of all things, Thee we pray For Thy dear loving kindness' sake To guard and guide us in Thy way.

Banish the dreams that terrify, And night's fantastic company: Keep us from Satan's tyranny: Defend us from unchastity.

Protect us, Father, God adored, Thou too, co-equal Son and Lord, Thou, Holy Ghost, our Advocate, Whose reign can know nor bound nor date. Amen.

AVE VERUM CORPUS Hail the true body, born of the Virgin Mary: You who truly suffered and were sacrificed on the cross for the sake of man. From whose pierced flank flowed water and blood: Be a foretaste for us in the trial of death. O sweet, O merciful, O Jesus, Son of Mary. Have mercy on me. Amen.

O ECCLESIA O Ecclesia, your eyes are like sapphire: your ears the mount of Bethel, your nose like a mountain of myrrh and incense, and your mouth is like the sound of many waters.

TRISTIS EST ANIMA MEA My soul is sorrowful unto death. Stay here, and keep watch with me. Soon you will see a mob surround me. You will flee, and I will go to be sacrificed for you.

POTRÒ VIVER IO PIÙ SE SENZA LUCE Would I be able to live any longer if I were left without light, and the shining light of my beautiful sun were to shine elsewhere? Ah, let it not be true, but cover the day with dark clouds, and the dear light of this life will be forever bitter to me, until one day a more serene light will open my eyes to the real light.

IO SON FERITO, AHI LASSO I am wounded, alas, and I desire to accuse her who gave it to me, but I have no proof; without evidence of evil, no-one will believe it; nor does my new wound pour forth blood. I shiver and die – the blow cannot be seen. My enemy is armed. What good would it do to return to her – cruel happening – because only she who wounded me can heal me.

VIENS PAR LE PRÉ Come by the meadow, my beautiful one, I will come by the wood. You can wait for me if you like! We shall speak together; it’s your love that makes me happy.

2020 HIGHLIGHTS

~ AUSTRALIA TOUR 10-19 February ~

LONDON 14th March at 7.00pm [CD Launch]

BURY ST EDMUNDS 2nd April at 8.00pm

CAMBRIDGE 3rd April at 8.00pm

EXETER 4th April at 7.30pm

TRURO 5th April at 6.00pm

BRIDGWATER 7th April at 7.30pm

BRISTOL 8th April at 7.30pm

DUBLIN 9th April

KILKENNY 10th April

WELLS 1st May

STOCKBRIDGE 8th May

PENZANCE 14th May

BATH 20th May

LONDON 21st May

ALDEBURGH 26th June

~ CANADA TOUR 4-15 July ~

~ USA, MEXICO & CANADA TOUR October ~

Tickets available at thegesualdosix.co.uk

info@thegesualdosix.co.uk | www.thegesualdosix.co.uk | @thegesualdosix