Sloane Square Choral Society – Christmas Concert 2025 – 6pm

Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms was commissioned by Chichester Cathedral's then Dean, Walter Hussey, for the Southern Choirs Festival held in the cathedral in 1965 with singers from Salisbury, Chichester and Winchester Cathedrals. He has taken extracts from Psalms 2, 23, 100, 108, 131 & 133, retained the text in Hebrew, and wrapped his typical vibrant, rhythmic, spiritual style around it, incorporating echoes of West Side Story. It has become a unique work for peace and unity.

POETRY IN MOTION

Poetry in motion brings together choral works that blend poetry, rhythm and melody in unexpected ways. From Gjeilo’s The Rose which shimmers with luminous harmonies to Shearing’s setting of Shakespeare’s words in a joyful jazz-infused style to the electrifying Misatango, where the traditional Latin Mass meets the passion and pulse of Argentine tango. A vibrant, uplifting evening not to be missed!

Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang, Op. 52) is a large-scale choral symphony composed in 1840 by Mendelssohn to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. It is one of Mendelssohn’s most ambitious choral works which helped to revive interest in large, sacred choral music in the 19th century. Interestingly, he was inspired partly by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Fit for midsummer, this piece is a bright, triumphant and deeply spiritual choral work.