Members of Hull Choral Union are excited to be planning our first live concert since December 2019. Scheduled for Armistice Day, and just a few days before Remembrance Sunday, and in the imposing and spacious surroundings of Hull Minster, we will be thinking not just of those who died in wars, but of all those we have lost around the world to Covid 19. As we emerge somewhat uncertainly from the pandemic, we will be performing two well-known and fitting pieces, Requiem by Gabriel Fauré and The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, plus a new piece composed by our composer in residence Dominic Wright.
The Fauré Requiem needs little introduction, with its wonderful soaring melodies and the beautiful Pie Jesu solo with the appropriate words “dona eis requiem sempiternam requiem” (give them rest, eternal rest).
The Armed Man-a Mass for Peace was originally written in dedication to the victims of the Kosovo tragedy and was premièred a day before the September 11th attacks in 2001. It has since become one of the most performed choral works of the 21st century. It concludes with the words “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death”.
During lockdown the choir performed two virtual concerts in December 2020 and April 2021. Ian McMillan (Radio 3’s The Verb) was commissioned to compère and write a poem for the Spring concert. His poem “Waves of Song” connects Hull’s maritime history and the power of singing. He compares the choir to a boat transporting us safely to “somewhere bright where hope is growing”. Dominic Wright has composed a brand new 15-minute piece for choir and orchestra using the words of the poem.
This promises to be a varied, uplifting and emotional concert which we hope you will attend.
