Rediscovering Tallis with ORA Singers

Saturday 2nd October 2021

Online score study afternoon
1 - 6.15pm, Zoom

Join ORA Singers, their Artistic Director and founder Suzi Digby, composers Richard Allain, Ken Burton and Kerry Andrew, and Tallis scholar Professor Owen Rees, for a fascinating series of discussions about Thomas Tallis and ORA Singers' specially commissioned works from today's top composers reflecting Tallis's work.

ORA Singers' recording Many are the Wonders includes works by Tallis threaded with contemporary works. Six of those pieces were commissioned by ORA, who asked the composers to write their own reflections on works by Tallis, including Ken Burton's Many are the Wonders, Richard Allain's Videte miraculum and Kerry Andrew's Archbishop Parker's Psalme 150.

Videos and recordings by ORA Singers from their most recent album will be shared on the day. This is an unmissable opportunity to hear the latest thinking about Tallis and his writing, and how he has influenced today's composers, as well as discovering new repertoire for chamber choirs.

Numbers are limited to allow for detailed discussion, so early booking is advised!

About our presenters

ORA Singers continues the centuries-long living tradition of choral singing in Britain. The group is recognised for its modern approach and is one of the world's foremost commissioners of contemporary choral music, which it performs alongside Renaissance masterpieces in its celebrated concerts and recordings.

The group has a primary aim of 100 new commissions by 100 contemporary composers within 10 years, seeking out the world's most talented composers to write 21st Century 'Reflections' on early masterpieces.

Suzi Digby is an internationally renowned choral conductor and music educator. She has trail-blazed the revival of singing in UK schools and the community over three decades. Suzi founded the following pioneering National Arts/education organisations: The Voices Foundation; Voce Chamber Choir; Vocal Futures; Singing4Success and London Youth Choir. She founded ORA Singers in 2016. Suzi is a visiting Professor at University of Southern California (Choral Studies).

Professor Owen Rees is a Reader in the Faculty of Music at the University of Oxford, Fellow, Tutor and Organist of The Queen's College, and Senior Research Fellow of Somerville College. He is active as both scholar and performer, and these two areas of his work inform one another. His research is concerned principally with music from 1450 to 1650, particularly in Spain and Portugal, and in England.

Richard Allain's works encompass a wide range of styles, including music theatre, sacred choral music, song-writing and works for children. His music has appeared at the BBC Proms, and his work is regularly performed in the UK and throughout the world. Choral music is at the heart of his output and he has worked with many of this country's leading choirs and musicians.

Ken Burton is a music creator, director, performer, educator, and judge. His music is performed around the globe on stage and screen. He is known for his breadth of music experience and bringing different musical worlds together. His most common output is in the field of sacred music; he is a regular face on BBC1's Songs Of Praise, for which he has contributed hundreds of works as an arranger, conductor and performer.

Kerry Andrew is a composer, performer and writer based in London. She was Handel House Museum's Composer in Residence in 2010-12, has created large-scale community-based pieces for the likes of Art On The Underground, the Landmark Trust, Wigmore Hall and the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. She sings with the award-winning experimental vocal trio, juice, with jazz sextet Metamorphic and quintet DOLLYman.

Prices

abcd members £40 (log-in to get the member rate)
Non-members £55
Students (25 and under) £20

Timetable of sessions

13:00 - 14:30: Ken Burton & Owen Rees discuss Tallis' Loquebantur and Burton's Many are the Wonders
15:00 - 16:15: Richard Allain talks about his setting of Videte miraculum
17:00 - 18:15: Kerry Andrew discusses her setting of Psalme 150

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