Choir to present classic program

IT is four hundred years since two well-known English Renaissance composers passed, and Bendigo Chamber Choir will be performing a selection of their music to commemorate the occasion.

Both William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes also composed music for the harpsicord, organ, and small ensemble instruments, and John Tungyep will be performing some of the organ pieces.

“They were extraordinary composers of their time of music for the church and also secular music, both composing many popular madrigals,” said the choir’s conductor and director of music Michael Bottomley.

The program will include Byrd’s four-part mass, as well as his motets Ave Verum Corpus and Sing Joyfully.

The choir will also sing the motets When David Heard that Absolom Died and Hosanna to the Son of David by Thomas Weelkes.

“Thomas Weelkes was a bit of a mischievous man, he loved the alcohol and a bit of gambling which eventually brought his life to an end fairly early,” said Bottomley.

“Whereas William Byrd lived a fairly long life.”

In fact, Weelkes lived to 47, and Byrd, 83, and while the former is especially known for his madrigals, songs designed for several voices, Byrd is particularly remembered for his liturgical music in Latin.

Bottomley said he was looking forward to the choir’s second to last performance before Christmas.

“It’s great to have such an enthusiastic group of singers to explore the range of music that we cover over the course of the year,” said Bottomley.

The concert will be at 3pm on Sunday 15 October at St Paul’s Cathedral Bendigo.