Imogen and Gustav

The pieces I have chosen for this day are ones which I love and think are really powerful, sublime, moving. Most have also been requested by singers who have done one of the previous days.

My choice of music for this programme started when I heard the Agnus Dei from Imogen Holst’s Mass in A minor on the radio. It is lovely and I already had her father’s Nunc Dimittis on the list of requests. The idea of father and daughter as composers really appealed to me and Imogen had strong links with the college I went to – Dartington (indeed I remember a choral workshop with her, such a wonderful woman, graceful and full of vitality, just like her music).

The idea of more Palestrina in this, his very big birthday year, appealed so we will do his wonderful Nigra Sum.

Gesualdo’s beautiful Ave Dulcissima Maria was ‘left over’ from the last choral day. As I said then: ‘Gesualdo is famous for some quite remarkable madrigals and sacred music, pieces which pushed tonality to the brink which composers didn’t return to until some of those who followed Wagner. His gorgeous Ave Dulcissima Maria is less extreme but, as I say, simply gorgeous.’

Finally, I knew we needed a contrast to all this sublime music so I chose William Byrd’s Sing Joyfully as a lively and joyous contrast

I do hope this all appeals to you.

Martin