2013 Concerts and Services

Click here to read about Choral Evensongs in 2013.

GOOD FRIDAY: Friday 29 March

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY: 4:00pm

St Matthew-in-the-City
Admission FREE: exit by donation (suggested amount $20 per person)

Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ
with Timothy Noon (organist)

Seven Last Words by Nigel Brown

This beautiful and reflective work, lasting just over an hour, was commissioned from Haydn in 1785 or 1786 for performance on Good Friday in Cadiz Cathedral, Spain. Originally for string quartet, the profound and moving music was later transformed into a choral version by Haydn himself.

Friday 17 May Sunday 23 June (note the change of date)

6:30pm 2:00pm

St Matthew-in-the-City
admission by programme $40

MISSA MEXICANA
Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla: Missa Ego flos campi
and other choral and instrumental music from Renaissance Mexico
with Ben Hoadley (dulcian), John Gluyas (sackbut), Jonathan Le Cocq (guitar), Timothy Noon (chamber organ) and Indra Hughes (harpsichord and conductor)

Padilla was born in Spain in about 1590, and after becoming organist of the cathedrals in Jerez de la Frontera (the home of sherry!) and Cadiz, emigrated to Mexico where he became organist of Puebla Cathedral. His eight-part Missa Ego flos campi is one of the most joyful and exuberant of all Renaissance Mass settings, full of jazzy and exciting syncopated rhythms. This wonderful music will come to life with the authentic accompaniments of dulcian, sackbut, organ and guitar, in an enjoyable programme alongside other richly elaborate choral and instrumental Mexican and Spanish pieces from the period.

Sunday 11 August

2:00pm

St Michael's, Remuera
admission by programme $40

BAX: Mater Ora Filium
BYRD: Mass for Five Voices
HOWELLS: Salve Regina
WOOD: Latin Nunc Dimittis in B flat
and other pieces inspired by the English Twentieth Century Tudor Revival

When Arnold Bax (1883–1953) heard a performance of William Byrd's masterly Mass for Five Voices he was inspired to write the monumental, virtuoso motet Mater Ora Filium, a lavishly complex and thrilling 15-minute piece for unaccompanied double choir. We'll sing both works in this concert, alongside some other pieces inspired by the early twentieth century revival of interest in music of the Tudor period, all of which were commissioned for Westminster Cathedral by the legendary Sir Richard Terry.

Saturday 26 October
7:30pm
Napier Cathedral

MUSICA SACRA IN CONCERT IN NAPIER
with Timothy Noon (organist)

The organ of Napier Cathedral has undergone a major rebuilding and extension project by the South Island Organ Company of Timaru, including the addition of new Positive and Solo divisions. The organ is to be re-opened by Olivier Latry in April. Musica Sacra will return to Napier—we last visited in 2004—to sing in a concert specially designed to feature both the new organ and the cathedral's generous acoustics.

The choir can also be heard singing at the Cathedral's Eucharist at 10:00am the following day, Sunday 27 October.

Friday 22 November (Saint Cecilia's Day)
8:00pm
Holy Trinity Cathedral

THE BENJAMIN BRITTEN CENTENARY CONCERT
Purcell: Ode to Saint Cecilia ("Hail, bright Cecilia")
Handel: Organ Concerto
Britten: Jubilate in E flat; Hymn to Saint Cecilia, Rejoice in the Lamb
with Musica Sacra and Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir
orchestra and vocal soloists to be announced
Timothy Noon and Indra Hughes, organists and conductors

In one of the most significant musical events of 2013, Musica Sacra and Holy Trinity cathedral Choir, under their respective directors Indra Hughes and Timothy Noon, combine to celebrate the 100th anniversary—to the day—of the birth of Benjamin Britten, one of choral music's most important figures. The fact that the day falls on the feast of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music, provides the ideal opportunity to present one of Purcell's finest works—and Britten's admiration for Purcell is well known, making for a strong programming link between the two great composers. This concert is part of "britten100", a worldwide celebration of this important centenary.

Saturday 21 December
8:00pm
Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall
with Timothy Noon (organist)

Musica Sacra's annual Christmas Concert has become an established fixture in Auckland's musical scene. The choir will sing joyful and beautiful Christmas music, Timothy Noon will play thrilling and impressive solos on the magnificent Town Hall organ, and there will be opportunities for the audience to join in the singing of traditional favourite Christmas carols.

Tickets will be on sale through The Edge in November.

The choir sings traditional Choral Evensong at 5:00pm on the last Sunday of each month (February to November inclusive but, in 2013, not in March or October). These services take place at the beautiful church of St Matthew-in-the-City in central Auckland (except in November 2013, when the service will be at Holy Trinity Cathedral). The services follow the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: they are short, fully choral with music from the Anglican Cathedral tradition, and there is no sermon. Free parking on Sundays is available in the church parking building immediately adjacent to the church, on the south side of the building (NB not on the forecourt).

Evensongs in 2013:
at St Matthew-in-the-City: Feb 24; Apr 28; May 26; Jun 30; Jul 28; Aug 25; Sep 29
at Holy Trinity Cathedral: Nov 24

Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2006.

Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2007.

Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2008.

Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2009.
Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2010.
Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2011.
Click here to read the archive of our performances in 2012.

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