Britain's What's On Event Guide
Choral and Orchestral Concert featuring Brahms’ German Requiem
In this concert, the South London Singers will join with the South London Sinfonia. Happily both SLS groups are now directed by Christopher Braime and we will perform together for our main work: the much-loved German Requiem by Brahms which is Brahms’ longest composition.
He chose the words himself from the German Lutheran Bible with a focus on consolation, comfort and reassurance for those left behind when someone dies. It has many varied musical highlights in orchestration and in features such as the three fugues. He chose to use a baritone and a soprano soloist but, unlike some requiems, their contributions are beautifully woven in amongst the choral writing rather than in separate movements of their own.
In addition, each ensemble will perform a piece on its own. Appropriately, the SLSingers will reprise Salt Water Songs, written by local composer, the late Geoffrey Lawrence. Geoff was both a member of the SLSingers, for whom he wrote this group of three songs setting the words of ‘Cargoes’ and ‘Trade Winds’ by John Masefield and ‘A Sea Song’ by Allan Cunningham and of the congregation at St. John’s.
The SLSinfonia will give us a piece, also appropriately, by another local composer: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. He lived a large proportion of his short life in Croydon and wrote a large amount of varied music including the Ballade in A minor which we will hear.
Coleridge-Taylor, the son of a British mother and a creole father, was highly admired during his lifetime by many eminent musicians. In the U.S.A. he was nicknamed ‘the American Mahler’. Elgar recommended him to the Three Choirs festival where this Ballade was premiered. Some of his works have remained in the repertoire throughout. The anniversaries of his death in 2012 and birth in 2025 have encouraged recordings of other pieces. He wrote in most genres of classical music from a Symphony to an Opera (recently rediscovered) and many pieces of chamber music for different ensembles including this Ballade.
He chose the words himself from the German Lutheran Bible with a focus on consolation, comfort and reassurance for those left behind when someone dies. It has many varied musical highlights in orchestration and in features such as the three fugues. He chose to use a baritone and a soprano soloist but, unlike some requiems, their contributions are beautifully woven in amongst the choral writing rather than in separate movements of their own.
In addition, each ensemble will perform a piece on its own. Appropriately, the SLSingers will reprise Salt Water Songs, written by local composer, the late Geoffrey Lawrence. Geoff was both a member of the SLSingers, for whom he wrote this group of three songs setting the words of ‘Cargoes’ and ‘Trade Winds’ by John Masefield and ‘A Sea Song’ by Allan Cunningham and of the congregation at St. John’s.
The SLSinfonia will give us a piece, also appropriately, by another local composer: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. He lived a large proportion of his short life in Croydon and wrote a large amount of varied music including the Ballade in A minor which we will hear.
Coleridge-Taylor, the son of a British mother and a creole father, was highly admired during his lifetime by many eminent musicians. In the U.S.A. he was nicknamed ‘the American Mahler’. Elgar recommended him to the Three Choirs festival where this Ballade was premiered. Some of his works have remained in the repertoire throughout. The anniversaries of his death in 2012 and birth in 2025 have encouraged recordings of other pieces. He wrote in most genres of classical music from a Symphony to an Opera (recently rediscovered) and many pieces of chamber music for different ensembles including this Ballade.
Saturday 28 March
St John the Evangelist Church, Sylvan Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19 2RX
Doors open 18:30, Concert 19:00 to about 21:00.Standard ticket £15, under 18s free.
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