Music for Lent
From St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, Martin Handley presents the BBC Singers in a concert for Lent. Including music by Alain, Tucapsky, Messiaen, Poulenc, Ropek and Rutter.
RADIO 3 LIVE IN CONCERT: MUSIC FOR LENT
Live from St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge
Presented by Martin Handley
FRANCIS POULENC: Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence
JEHAN ALAIN: Postlude pour l'Office de complies
ANTONIN TUČAPSKÝ: Five Lenten Motets
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Jésus accepte la souffrance
FRANCIS POULENC: Litanies a la vierge noire
-INTERVAL -
JIŘÍ ROPEK: Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes
JOHN RUTTER: Requiem
BBC Singers
Stephen Farr (organ)
David Hill (conductor)
Live from St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, Martin Handley presents a concert of music for one of the most solemn periods of the church year: the forty days of Lent. For Christians, this is a season of spiritual reflection and self-examination, and tonight's concert includes works in that penitential vein by French and Czech composers. Poulenc's four motets have become a classic of the choral repertoire - as has his simple and heart-felt setting of prayers to the Black Virgin of Rocamadour, a work which marked the recovery of his lapsed Catholic faith after a spiritual crisis.
Lenten motets by the Czech-born composer Antonin Tučapský, who has lived in Britain since 1975, are paired with a set of variations for organ by the distinguished Czech organist Jiří Ropek. These are based on the Easter plainchant "Victimae Paschali Laudes" - a melody also quoted by John Rutter in his Requiem, a work which juxtaposes the age-old words of the Latin Mass for the Dead with scriptural texts to create a work of quiet reflection, profound beauty and immense consolation.
And continuing the Czech theme in tonight's concert, the interval explores chamber music by a selection of modern Czech composers.
Last on
Music Played
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BBC Singers
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Francis Poulenc
4 Motets pour un temps de pénitence
Conductor: David HILL Performer: BBC Singers
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Jehan Alain
Postlude pour l'office de Complies
Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ
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Antonin Tucapsky
5 Lenten Motets
Conductor: David HILL Performer: BBC Singers
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Olivier Messiaen
La Nativité du Seigneur; Jesus accepte la souffrance
Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ
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Francis Poulenc
Litanies à la vierge noire
Conductor: David HILL Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ Performer: BBC SINGERS women's voices
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Music Interval: Czech chamber music
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Vítezslav Novák
Bagatelles Op.5 for piano [c.1894, rev.1899]; Scherzino, Serenata
Performer: Niel IMMELMAN - Piano
- Meridian.
- CDE84555 [1].
- -2.
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Leos Janáček
Pohadka [Fairy tale] for cello and piano
Performer: Mats RONDIN - Cello Performer: Roland PONTINEN - Piano
- BIS.
- BIS CD-663/664 [2].
- -3.
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Petr Eben
Trio for piano and strings; Agitato
Performer: Florestan Piano Trio
- Hyperion.
- CDA67730.
- -12.
BBC Singers
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Jiri Ropek
Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes
Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ
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John Rutter
Requiem [1985]
Conductor: David HILL Performer: Gareth HULSE - Oboe Performer: Graham BRADSHAW - Cello Performer: Ileana RUHEMANN - Flute Performer: James Bower - Timpani Performer: Karen Hutt - Glockenspiel Performer: Manon MORRIS - Harp Performer: Olivia ROBINSON - Soprano Performer: Stephen FARR - Organ Performer: BBC Singers
Broadcast
- Wed 14 Mar 2012 19:30BBC Radio 3
New Music on Radio 3
A chance to listen to recent broadcasts of new music - including premieres - on Radio 3.
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