Rochester Choral Society Autumn Concert

For their Autumn Concert the Rochester Choral Society  will be performing at St. George’s Centre, Chatham Maritime on Saturday 2nd November.  The venue is located on the right-hand side just through the gate to the entrance to the Universities Medway Campus.

They will perform a varied programme of 20th century music appropriate to the season of Remembrance.  Ralph Vaughan Williams lived through both World Wars and this former naval chapel, full of memorials to Medway ships and crews lost in these conflicts, makes a perfect venue for two of his choral song-cycles, written before and after his battlefield experience during World War I.  His colourful varied and uplifting “Five Mystical Songs” (composed in 1911) are settings of George Herbert’s 17th century poems on theological themes of love, sacrifice and ultimate redemption, whilst his “Six Choral Songs to be sung in the time of War” (composed in 1914) set Shelley’s Allegorical verses about endurance, love and loss to resolute marching tunes, with a twist of longing for a future free from destructive cycles of war.  Maurice Durufle’s timelessly poignant Requiem, completed shortly after the end of World War II, reiterates the theme of salvation from death.  Rich harmonies and insistent rhythms transform these prayers for the dead into an impassioned plea for universal redemption and peace.

The choir will  be conducted by their new Musical Director, John Mountford.

Tickets are £15 (unreserved seating).  Full-time Students £5.  To purchase tickets go to their website.