Newsletter: Lent Term 2015

St John’s College Choir Choir Association

Earliest known piece of polyphony discovered The piece (pictured left) was discovered by Giovanni Varelli, a PhD student from St John’s College, while he was working on an internship at the British Library. He discovered the manuscript by chance, and was struck by the unusual form of the notation. Varelli specialises in early musical notation, and realised that the two vocal parts he could identify were to be sung simultaneously. The manuscript has also been obscured by a library stamp, which could have contributed to the piece not having

previously been found. The inscription is believed to date back to the start of the 10th century and is a setting of a short prayer to Boniface, patron Saint of Germany. The piece was written using an early form of notation that predates the invention of the stave. It was copied into the space at the end of a manuscript of the life of Bishop Maternianus of Reims. Treatises which lay out the theoretical basis for music with two independent vocal parts survive from the early Middle Ages, but until now the earliest known examples of a piece written specifically for more than one voice came from a collection known as “The Winchester Troper” which dates back to the year 1000. Varelli’s research suggests that the author of the newly-found piece – a short antiphon – was writing around the year 900. Read more about the story here.

Choral Scholars Quintin Beer and John Clapham brought the manuscript to life in the performance featured in a YouTube video that has surpassed 80,000 views. The ITV National News also covered the story on the News at Ten bulletin. Quintin is in his final year studying Music at St John’s College Cambridge. Having been a Chorister in the College Choir until 2006, Quintin returned as a Baritone in 2012. John Clapham is currently a Lay Clerk in the Choir having been a Choral Scholar for the previous three years.

WelcomeIt was a busy start to 2015 for the Choir Association - the AGM was held in the Divinity School on Saturday 17 January. The meeting featured an update on the Association’s finances, a presentation of the Choir’s activities and a review of Choir Association social events. In addition, Nan Guest requested information about the history of the Choir School. Nan would welcome contributions from Members about their memories of the Choir School. Please contact Emma Crothers on 01223 768176.

Donations and renewal of annual Choir Association subscription fees can now be accepted online:www.sjcchoir.co.uk/choir-association/join

Renew your membership online

Interview with Michael Finnissy Singing seven services a week during term time, the Choir works through an extensive body of repertoire. Over the years, many great composers have written works for the Choir, and this pioneering spirit continues, through exciting commissioning. Last year Michael Finnissy was commissioned by the College to write a piece for the Advent Carol Service 2014.

When Michael visited College to rehearse the piece with the Choir, Andrew Nethsingha took the opportunity to speak to him about his composition, entitled ‘John the Baptist’.

Sponsor a ‘Minute of Music’ for £100! Later this year the Choir will record the work of the distinguished composer Jonathan Harvey, who was both a Scholar, and many years later, an Honorary Fellow of the College. This will be the first CD of his music to focus on his choral works, several of which have never been recorded before – Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis with organ, The Annunciation and Praise ye the Lord. The College will be producing and marketing the disc on the St John’s Record label, and we are seeking potential sponsors at the level of £100 per minute.

Donations can be made by cheque to ‘St John’s College’ c/o The Choir Office or directly through the Choir donations page. (Please select ‘other’ from the drop down box marked designation, and state ‘Harvey disc’). UK taxpayers can enhance their donation by use of Gift Aid, either by ticking the box on the on-line form or contacting the Choir Office for a paper copy. All supporters will be acknowledged in the CD booklet. If you would like to contribute to this Fund or would like to support the Choir in another way, please contact The Rev’d Duncan Dormor (01223 338633).

Jonathan Harvey Recording

How did you decide which text to use for your piece? “There’s not much text about John the Baptist, therefore I spent a long time trying to find something suitable. I decided to use a very dramatic text taken from the York Mystery Plays.”

John the Baptist is a dance-like, fast moving piece, which is unlike the majority of carols and music for Advent. What was your inspiration for the composition? “I was interested in putting local colour into the composition. The story is set in the North African desert, near the River Jordan and therefore it seemed appropriate to use melodies derived from folk music of that region to evoke the atmosphere of what life was like for John the Baptist.” Describe the compositional process that you go through to evoke such imagery from the text.“I like the idea of juxtaposing two different styles of music; the more reverential tone when the Choir refers to Jesus contrasts with the Arabic-influenced style of music.’

Tour to the Far EastDuring the Easter vacation, the Choir will be embarking on a ten day tour to Singapore and Hong Kong. The tour will include public concerts at the Singapore Esplanade on Tuesday 24 March and at the Hong Kong City Hall on Monday 30 March. The Choir will also participate in Workshops at the National University of Singapore and Hong Kong University, and Development Office events in both countries.

Last year you attended an Epiphany Carol Service - did that experience influence your compositional style?“I like the European sound of the Choir and the throatiness which makes it sound like real people. The piece requires that edgy colour and narrative because in this text, interestingly, John the Baptist questions why Jesus needs to be baptised.”

Michael, you compose in a variety of genres - how does that affect your compositions? “Whether I’m composing for a string quartet or a choir I don’t think of them as being different. They’re obviously different textures but I’m interested in pitch and rhythm and those are my materials. Like a potter working with clay, I’m endlessly interested in the clay. To a certain extent, I’m not concerned with whether I’m making a cup or a plate - I’m more interested in the malleability of the materials. Instead, I explore different

For further information on the concerts at Singapore Esplanade and Hong Kong City Hall, please click here.

Please keep in touch with the Choir on tour via Facebook, Twitter (@SJCCHOIR) and www.sjcchoir.co.uk/latest.

aspects of tonality; for example, John the Baptist uses heavily chromatac Arabic folk music, modal chants and ostanati. This piece was a great opportunity to explore lots of different channels.”

Listen again to Michael Finnissy’s ‘John the Baptist’ in our Advent Carol Service webcast here.

Dates for your Diary

A Meditation on the Passion of Christ Saturday 8 March – 6.00pm

A service of readings with music by J.S. Bach, Bárdos, Handel, Harvey, Lotti and Wesley

Ticket applications for this Service are now open.

For the full service list please click here.

Congratulations!

If you would like to notify the Association of any future events or news regarding Members, please email: choir@joh.cam.ac.uk

John Granville Walker ended his long association with the Dortmund Opera in Germany as Chorus Master and Conductor with two Gala Concerts, and the world première of his setting for chorus and orchestra, “Die Zeit des Singens”, of texts from the Song of Songs. He will continue in Dortmund as the Musical Director of the Philharmonischer Musikverein, which, together with the Dortmunder Philharmoniker, gives regular concerts in the Konzerthaus Dortmund and the surrounding area. His “retirement” will be enriched by an increased involvement in chamber music, and further commissions as a composer.

John Granville Walker

Ash WednesdayWednesday 18 February – 3.30pm

Allegri Miserere mei, Deus Weelkes Sixth ServiceByrd Afflicti pro peccatis nostris

The congregation is requested to be seated by 3.15pm.

This service will be broadcast live by BBC Radio 3.

Congratulations to Graham (Chorister 1986-1991, Choral Scholar 1996-1999) and Sarah Houghton Walker on the arrival of their third child, Elinor Alice.

Members News

Choir Association Events Saturday 30 May 2015 – Choir Association Garden Party and Evensong Invitations for the Garden Party will be sent out in March.

Bach Cantata Evensong On Saturday 31 January at 6.30pm it is Bach Cantata Evensong with the St John’s Sinfonia. The Choir will be singing Bach’s Cantata no.22 ‘Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe’. Our first Bach Cantata Evensong took place in Michaelmas Term 2009 and since then the Choir has performed a Bach Cantata each term during Evensong. The services are a great opportunity for the Choir to perform alongside a period instrument ensemble and to showcase the Choral Students’ solo singing abilities. The Cantata evensongs feature the College’s period instrument ensemble, the St John’s Sinfonia, led by Margaret Faultless. Tickets are not required for this service and admission is free. This service will end at approximately 7.45pm.