The Jersey Festival Choir With The St Cecilia Orchestra

,Libera eas de ore leonis,ne absorbeat eas tartarus,ne cadant in obscurum.Sed signifer sanctus Michaelrepraesentet eas in lucem sanctam.Quam olim Abrahae promisistiet semini ejus.Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,liberate the souls of the faithful,lest they fall into darkness.Let the standard-bearer, holy Michael,bring them into holy light.Which was promised to Abrahamand his descendants.2. HostiasHostias et preces tibi, Domine,laudis offerimus.Tu sucipe pro animabus illis,quaram hodie memoriam facimus.Fac eas, Domine,de morte transire ad vitam,Quam olim Abrahae promisistiet semini ejus.Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord,we offer to You.Receive them in behalf of those soulswe commemorate today.And let them, Lord,pass from death to life,which was promised to Abrahamand his descendants.V. Agnus DeiAgnus Dei, qui tollispeccata mundi,dona eis requiem.Agnus Dei, qui tollispeccata mundi,dona eis requiem.Agnus Dei, qui tollispeccata mundi,dona eis requiem sempiternam.Lamb of God, who takes awaythe sins of the world,grant them eternal rest.Lamb of God, who takes awaythe sins of the world,Grant them eternal rest.Lamb of God, who takes awaythe sins of the world,grant them eternal rest forever.VI. Communion:Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,cum sanctis tuis in aeternum,quia pius es.Requiem aeternum dona eis, Domine,et Lux perpetua luceat eis,cum Sanctus tuis in aeternum,Let eternal light shine on them, Lord,as with Your saints in eternity,because You are merciful.Grant them eternal rest, Lord,and let perpetual light shine on them,as with Your saints in eternity,The front cover painting of Mozart with Papa Haydn sitting on his shoulderwas inspired by the recollections of the older man visiting Mozart.Painted by SHEENAGH ROCHE.Haydn's opinion of Mozart is summed up admirably in a letter firstpublished in 1798, in which Haydn wrote, ''. . . scarcely any mancan brook comparison with the great Mozart. . . If I could only impresson the soul of every friend of music, and on high personages in particular,how inimitable are Mozart's works, how profound, how musicallyintelligent, how extraordinarily sensitive! (for this is how I understand them,how I feel them) - why then the nations would vie with each other to8possess such a jewel within their frontiers.’’

Elizabeth Farnon - Jersey Festival Choir co-directorElizabeth can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a central part of her life, a naturalresult of growing up within the extended Lobb family and studying singing with Amy, and pianowith John. Choral singing with the Sunday School choir at Aquila Road Methodist Church and thenwith the family choir introduced her to other areas of music-making. Sharing a love of choralsinging with husband John has further nurtured this life-enriching pastime.When the opportunity presented itself to teach class music and choirs at Beaulieu ConventSchool Elizabeth seized the opportunity, resulting in competition success, including singing in aNational Choir contest on the BBC, a great incentive to continue promoting the joy of choralsinging in the island.In 2008 when cousin Sue de Gruchy retired from directing the Jersey Festival Choir,Elizabeth happily assumed responsibility as Chorus Mistress and has enjoyed working with thesingers on such pieces as the Faure Requiem, Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ and Puccini’s ‘Messa diGloria’ among other well-known and loved works. Our annual Christmas concert at St. Thomas’ isalways a favourite and Elizabeth enjoyed the challenge of arranging this concert, working withmany local groups to produce an exciting and uplifting evening of music. Since her own retirementfrom teaching in 2013, Sue has worked alongside Elizabeth and we have all (choir membersincluded) enjoyed this happy arrangement.2015 was a special year for Jersey, 70 years since the island’s Liberation. We knew we hadto put on something uplifting and by popular requestwe decided on Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and what asuccess it was too!Elizabeth also directs the local chamber choirthe Amity Singers.Sue de Gruchy - Jersey Festival Choir Co-directorHaving recently retired after a long career as aPrimary School Music Specialist, Sue is delighted tobe working with the Festival Choir again as coconductor. She conducted the choir for some 13years in the 1980’s and 90’s, introducing newrepertoire including Vaughan Williams’ “Dona NobisPacem” and “Requiem in Blue” by Harvey Brough, aswell as the more traditional choir works such asBrahms’ German Requiem, Mendelsohn’s “Elijah”and Handel’s “Messiah.”In their approach to choir work, Sue and Libby both focus on musical phrasing, good dictionand accuracy of pitch. The choir benefits from their combined enthusiasm in rehearsal andmembers often go home quite exhausted - but happy!This will be Sue’s last concert as co-conductor, family commitments have since increasedwith the birth of her first grand-daughter. She is delighted to be helping in the preparation ofMozart’s Requiem, a work in which she has often sung the alto solo, and anticipates a fineperformance from Festival choir, skilfully led by Jonathan Willcocks.9

Members of the Jersey FestivalChoirLadiesRachel AndrewsJan GorvelLaura PittmanPolly Ashton-BarnettJanine GrahamJudith PountneyJill BartholomewAileen GreadyHelen Purcell-JonesCatherine BaudainsJeane GruchySheila RenaultMarnie BaudainsPam HainsworthJane SilvesterScilla BeckJoy BellShinobu HareBarbara SmaleAlison BishopAngela HodnettEmily SnellGeraldine BreeMargaret HuelinTherese TabbMaureen BourniquelJacqui JohnsonAlison TaylorChristine CharmanAngela Le SueurJean TrelevenJeanette CollinsJudith LeightonClare Twiston DaviesChristine DaviesLiz ListerPatricia VibertElizabeth DavisJenny Lort-PhillipsNicole WallsEdna DawsonRachel LucasSheila WillettsSue de GruchyMarie LuscombeVal WillisOonagh de Ste CroixPat MacdonaldSusan WrightRosemary FairhurstJo MaclachlanElizabeth KneeElizabeth FarnonMargaret MarquisHazel LakemanCarolyn FergusonPauline MintonRosemarie LangloisAudrey FilsellYvonne NormanSally Le BrocqJo ForrestLois OnestiKate Le QuesneIris FritzPauline PaintinLiz MorinCharlotte GemMichele PayneKelly WatsonMargaret GoffRuth Pilkington10

GentlemenBob BarnsleyPhilip Le BrocqRoy PicotRobert CasalisReg Le SueurGary Purcell-JonesTerry Le SueurBarry RocheMark GodelRuben MarieIan SimpsonRowland HeavenKaelan MelvilleJohn SlackStephen HigginsonWilliam MillowRic TaylorAndrew JelleyNick O’HareIvor VibertStephen KempAndrew PicotPeter WoodallLance KiddieJonathan Pollardde PuryHonorary MembersMary DevenportSue de GruchyRowland HeavenPauline de St CroixJohn Le RicheAudrey LobbRose MillowRoy PicotJill Sear11

Chris George (Pianist)Lawrence’s ‘Piano Concerto in D flat’with the Jersey Festival Orchestra.Alongside his wife EmmanuelleDumas, they have together initiatedvarious musical activities on the island,including three tours from the youngprofessional Emfeb orchestra(2004-2006), the establishment of thesummer music course Musique etAventure (2007-present), the formationof the Jersey Chamber Orchestra andMusic In Action alongside a committee oflike-minded musicians (2007-present),and the establishment of the JerseyAcademy of Music (2009-present).Through their teaching they haveguided young musicians toconservatoire-level entry, with formerstudents currently studying at the RoyalCollege of Music, Guildhall School ofMusic and Drama, Trinity College ofMusic, and Chetham’s School of Music.The establishment of the JerseyAcademy of Music at Chateau Vermontprovides the island with a music centreof excellence for children of all ages.The academy runs after-school andweekend music tuition with a team oftwelve teaching staff, and the successfulInfant Department runs morning andafternoon classes for children as youngas two years of age. Each term variousprojects take place, linking the academywith overseas musical institutionsincluding the Escola Das Artes(Madeira), Lilla Akademien (Sweden),Ecole de Musique de Coutances(France), Chetham’s School of Music,and the Royal College of Music JuniorDepartment.Born in Jersey in 1980, ChrisGeorge returned to the island in2004 following completion of hisundergraduate and postgraduatemusical studies at the GuildhallSchool of Music and Drama.During his years of study, hisplaying was recognised through variouscompetition successes: Winner of theEYO Young Soloists Competition (2003)a n d t h e Wo r s h i p f u l C o m p a n y o fMusicians’ Carnwath Scholarship (2003),Equal First Prize in the Marlow OpenPiano Concerto Competition (2004),Third Prize in the Watford Festival Award(2004), Semi-Finalist in the GuildhallGold Medal Competition (2004).Chris has performed concertoswith the West Forest Sinfonia, EalingYouth Orchestra, Jersey ChamberOrchestra, Slaithwaite PhilharmonicOrchestra, Emfeb Symphonic WindEnsemble, Jersey Symphony Orchestra,Channel Islands Youth Orchestra,Guildhall Symphonic Wind Ensemble,and Emfeb Symphony Orchestra, amongothers. In 2006 he had a piano concertowritten for him by Owen Bourne, one ofthe leading young composers in thecountry, entitled ‘Brine - A JerseyConcerto’, and in 2012 gave the premierperformance of local composer DerekChris and Emmanuelle weredelighted to welcome their new littledaughter Emilie into the world on 29thFebruary this year.12

St Cecilia OrchestraViolinsAnna CaveyPauline SnareyJulius BannisterHolly Rayne BennettAngela MaindonaldKeith FoxJane CullisKathryn le RuezPat WoodsfordJulie RileyDominic RileySuzanne JacksonViolasJayne BrowneVanessa MooreMary SamuelJohn AspletCellosDan BurrowsGraeme BoxallElizabeth KeenanDouble BassesHugh MorsheadMark SlaterFluteHelen ReidOboesSarah le FondreJean HallClarinetsMim PoingdestrePhilippa le FeuvreBassoonSarah le FeuvreMark RisbyHornsRoy CorbishleyKatherine OwenTrumpetsAndrew ThompsonNatasha RonayneTrombonesGraham CoxDavid ManningDavid Le SueurTimpaniWilliam MatthewsIn conversation with Jonathan Willcocksto the ‘Lacrimosa’ of which thefirst 8 bars are clearly in his hand.It is thought hedid not writebeyond thatexcept insketches. It washowever, scoredfor instrumentparts, but thechorus and solo’sWhat were the circumstances forthe writing of these works?“The MozartRequiem is a verylate work, andone of thefascinations of it,is that it is anincomplete workby Mozart, in asmuch that justthe first part, up13

were mainly drawn up in the formof rough ideas. It is clear fromthese sketches what Mozartintended.Before this section it was genuineMozart, but there is the addedcomplication that Süssmayr’shandwriting is remarkably similarto Mozart’s, so there is stillconsiderable debate as to exactlywhich notes are in Mozart's handand which are not.”“Franz Xaver Süssmayr was hispupil at the time of its compositionand Süssmayr took on the role ofcompleting it, which makes thisRequiem increasingly fascinating,as we can only conjecture what itwould have been if completed byMozart. That is part of the musicalexperience.”had written, he actually made itquite clear how much it had meantto him. We know, for instance,from one of the singers who sangby his bedside, he actually addedthe Timpani part just before theFugue by vocalising the ‘tom, tom,to-tom, tom-tom’ on his deathbedas part of the ensemble gatheredthere to sing.”How do the circumstances differ forHaydn?“While Haydn was an utterlydifferent personality from Mozart,he was much more adept atmaking himself useful, acquiringjobs and getting patronage thatenabled him to live a comfortablelife, while also devoting himself tocomposition.He was a prolific composer, havingto complete works weekly to keepup with the demand from hisbenefactors.”What are the ‘deathbed’ referenceswe have heard about?“The making of a piece of musicfrom the raw ingredients, and thefact that we have rather barerbones with this piece of work doesnot make it any lesser. History hasproved what a wonderfullyemotional piece of work this is,especially as we know Mozart waswriting this at the time of hisdeath. He gathered singers aroundhis bedside to perform the bits he“Te Deum for the Empress MarieTherese is indicative of the workthat Haydn had to do to maintainpatronage, to ingratiate himselfand be on good terms with thenobility.A relationship which Mozart neverachieved.”14

FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL CHOIR March 2016Sir Philip and LadyBailhacheMr D. BarlowMr R. H. BarnsleyMr E. BastimanSir Michael and LadyBirtMr G. BoxallMrs J. CarterMiss A.J. ChamierMr & Jurat Mrs M.H.ClaphamMiss M. DartMr H. de la HayeMr & Mrs J.D. DelapMiss P. De Ste CroixMiss M. EvansMonsignor N. FranceMrs C. GartonMrs A. GemMrs J. GirlingMr & Mrs J. GreadyMr & Mrs D. HouillebecqMrs Iris Le FeuvreMrs B. JessonJurat & Mrs J. Le BretonMrs M. Le BrocqMrs A. Le CornuMr & Mrs R. N. LePlongeonMr & Mrs T.A. Le SueurMr & Mrs N. LewisMr & Mrs P. MimmackMr & Mrs E. Munz-JonesMiss C.M. NewcombeMisses N. & S. NicolleAdvocate & Mrs A.J.OlsenMr & Mrs R.A. PicotMr R.S. PicotMr J.S. RoutierMrs E. SatchwellCapt. A.B. TannerMrs E. TroyMr & Mrs I. WheelerMr & Mrs P. B Woodhall“Mozart was like a brilliant shooting starand Haydn inspired the young Mozartand then likewise,Haydn later drew from the remarkable writingof the younger man,particularly in the orchestration and the use of clarinets.”Jonathan Willcocks15

The Jersey Festival Choir extend their sincere thanks to thefollowing for their help during the past year:Mr Justin Donovan, Director of EducationMrs Gill Grieve, Head Teacher, JCG Preparatory SchoolAngela Luce and Holmchase SingersRosemary Millow for help with the orchestraThe Reverend Tony Morling and the St Helier MethodistCentreMgr Nicholas France and St Thomas’ Catholic ChurchThe Jersey Evening PostBBC Radio JerseyChannel TVThe Jersey Arts Centre for ticketing assistanceDerek Lawrence, Concert Manager and assistance with theOrchestraThe choir is also very grateful to those who host oursoloists and guest players16

pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen. That day of tears and mourning, when from the ashes shall arise, all humanity to be judged. Spare us by your mercy, Lord, gentle Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest. Amen IV. Offertory I. Domine Jesu Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, li