Now May We Singen
On Saturday 9 May, Vox Anima Chamber Choir spent an incredible day in London at Holy Trinity Sloane Square, as one of four choirs presenting a special gala concert, celebrating the music of Cecilia McDowall in her 75th birthday year!
Hosted by London Oriana Choir, and joined by Addison Singers Chamber Choir and City Chamber Choir, the concert featured a collection of Cecilia’s most loved compositions - from the beautiful soaring lines of Adoro te Devote, the sacred Ave Maris Stella, and Regina Caeli, to the characterful and energetic Here Hum the Bees, the joyful Now May We Singen, and the moving narrative of Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo - her scope and talent was showcased beautifully by all four choirs.
Programme:
Addison Singers Chamber Choir:Ave Maris Stella - Love's Philosophy - Regina Caeli (with London Oriana Choir, and Matthew Hough) | Conductor - Thomas Morgan
City Chamber Choir: Good News from New England (with Fenella Humphreys)| Conductor - Stephen Jones
London Oriana Choir:Now May We Singen - Standing as I do before God | Conductor - Dominic Elis-Peckham
Vox Anima Chamber Choir: Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo (with Richard Hammond-Hall and Fenella Humphreys) | Conductor - James Meaders
London Oriana Choir:Here Hum the Bees - Adoro te devote - God is Light - The Tree Is A Song | Conductor – Dominic Ellis-Peckham
Combined Choirs: O Oriens | Conductor – Dominic Ellis-Peckham
Vox Anima Chamber Choir was joined by collaborative artists Fenella Humphreys on violin, and Richard Hammond-Hall on piano, whose passionate and emotive playing brought great depth of character to the inspiring story of Nujeen Mustafa. The Chamber Choir performed The Girl from Aleppo with an emotional intensity that truly brought the audience along on Nujeen’s journey.
Throughout the evening, the choirs’ directors had an opportunity to speak to Cecilia McDowall about her work, and she spoke eloquently about her inspirations, collaborations, and the joy she finds in composing music for such a vast variety of talented choirs and organisations world-wide. Vox Anima Chamber Choir feels incredibly lucky to have the support and patronage of such a wonderful, kind, and inspiring composer!
The concert culminated in an impressive collaborative performance of O Oriens, with all four choirs singing in mixed formation, conducted by Dominic Ellis-Peckham, musical director of London Oriana Choir. A celebratory “Happy Birthday” followed, with a presentation of flowers to Cecilia, and a wonderful photo opportunity - capturing all in attendance at this truly memorable event!
Cecilia wrote to congratulate Vox Anima Chamber Choir on its performance:
“I really can't thank you enough for the most touching, beautiful performance of The Girl from Aleppo last night. It was perfect in every way and moved me enormously. Fenella’s playing was fantastic, so passionate and stylish, and Richard was an absolute star… It was ravishing!”
Photography by Andrew Keeping
