Saturday 6th February 2010, 7.30 pm

The Life and Times of Queen Elizabeth of York, wife to King Henry VII (1466-1503)

Programme

Kyrie - Antoine Brumel (c.1460-c.1520) from Missa Et ecce terrae motus (the Earthquake Mass)
Gloria - Antoine Brumel (c.1460-1520) from Missa Et ecce terrae motus (the Earthquake Mass)
Ah, Robyn - William Cornysh (1465-1523)
Virgo prudentissima - Heinrich Isaac (c.1450-1517)
Je ne puis vivre ainsy - Antoine Busnois (1430-1492)
Pourquoi non - Pierre de la Rue (1469-1518)

Interval

Tota pulchra es - John Plummer (c.1410-1484)
Sanctus and Benedictus - Antoine Brumel (c.1460-c.1520) from Missa Et ecce terrae motus (the Earthquake Mass)
Parce mihi - Jacob Obrecht (1450-1505)
Kyrie from Missa L'homme armé - Johannes Ockeghem (1420-1497)
Ave Maria Mater Dei - William Cornysh (1465-1523)
Agnus Dei - Antoine Brumel (c.1460-1520) from Missa Et ecce terrae motus (the Earthquake Mass)

Saturday 15th May 2010, 7.30 pm

Exeter Cathedral

The Coronation of King George II, 1727

A staged reconstruction

with

The Counterpoint Brass Ensemble and Drums

Andrew Millington (organ)

Narration by Canon Kenneth Parry

Concert in aid of the Counterpoint Bursary fund for Exeter Cathedral Boy and Girl Choristers

Music:

William Child - O Lord, grant the king a long life
George Frideric Handel - A Grand Instrumental Procession
Henry Purcell - I was glad when they said unto me
George Frideric Handel - Coronation Anthem: Let thy hand be strengthened, HWV259
Thomas Tallis - The Five-Part Litany
John Farmer - Come Holy Ghost
George Frideric Handel - Coronation Anthem: Zadok the Priest, HWV258
John Blow - Behold, O God our defender
George Frideric Handel - Coronation Anthem: The King Shall Rejoice, HWV260
Orlando Gibbons - Te deum, from The Short Service
George Frideric Handel - Coronation Anthem: My heart is inditing, HWV261

Counterpoint's annual concert in aid of the Counterpoint Bursary Fund for Boy and Girl Choristers was a reconstruction of the Coronation of King George II that was held in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 4th October 1727. The reconstruction included trumpets and drums, together with processions and a spoken narrative.

In the month of May every year Counterpoint stages a concert in Exeter Cathedral to raise money for a bursary fund that the choir set up 4 years ago to offer financial assistance to chorister parents who may experience difficulties from time to time during the time that their children are singing in the choir. All profits are given to the Choir School, who then manages the fund.

Saturday 26th June 2010, 7.30 pm

Buckfast Abbey

Requiem for Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)

Commemorating the centenary of Florence Nightingale's death

Featuring Fauré's Requiem

with

Paul Morgan (organ)

Music:

Fauré - Requiem
Bruckner - Os Justi
Wesley - The Wilderness
Parry - I was Glad
Pearsall - Tu es Petrus
Mendelssohn - Hear My Prayer

Saturday 3rd July 2010, 7.30 pm

Exeter Cathedral

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (2nd June, 1953)

A reconstruction of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

with

Exeter Cathedral Choir

Direction by Andrew Millington, Stephen Tanner and David Acres

Paul Morgan (organ)

An Exeter Festival concert

In 1953, Great Britain was still recovering from the effects of the Second World War. Rationing was still in force and there was much poverty. The untimely death of King George VI came as a further blow to the nation.

The coronation of the young Elizabeth II ignited a new optimism throughout the country. Musicians, poets, authors and playwrights were inspired to create fresh new works.

Music:

Parry - I was Glad (combined choirs)
Howells - Behold O God our Defender (Counterpoint)
Harris - Let my Prayer come up (cathedral choir, boys and men)
Handel - Zadok the Priest (combined choirs)
Dyson - Confortare (Be strong and of good courage) (Counterpoint)
Redford/Anon - Rejoice in the Lord Always (cathedral choir, girls and men)
Wesley - Thou will keep Him in Perfect Peace (cathedral choir, girls and men)
Byrd - I will not Leave you Comfortless (cathedral choir)
Gibbons - O Clap Your Hands (cathedral choir, boys and men)
Vaughan Williams - All People that on Earth do Dwell (combined choirs)
Vaughan Williams - Creed from the Mass in G Minor (Counterpoint)
Vaughan Williams - Sanctus from the Mass in G Minor (cathedral choir, boys and men)
Vaughan Williams - O Tase and See (cathedral choir, girls and men)
Stanford - Coronation Gloria (cathedral choir)
Walton - Coronation Te Deum (combined choirs)