RELAYED FROM NORWICH CATHEDRAL
NORWICH CATHEDRAL NAVE CHOIR
(Augmented to 150 Voices)
The NORWICH MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA
Soloists :
DOROTHY NORTON (Soprano). EVELYN AITKEN
(Soprano). A. J. WILLINK (Tenor)
Principal First Violin, EDMUND WEEKS At the Organ, E. U. COOMBS
Conductor, R. J. MADDERN WILLIAMS
THIS ' Symphonic Cantata ' was fully annotated recently. It will therefore suffice now to say that it was written in 1839-40 for the celebration of the fourth centenary of Gutenberg's invention of printing.
It Consists of three Movements of a Symphony, followed by ten vocal numbers-Solos and Duets for Sopranos and Tenor, and Choruses.
The melody with which the work opens is used as a kind of ' leading theme,' recurring both in the first two Movements of the Symphony and in the opening aid closing Choruses.
The FIRST MOVEMENT, brilliant and vigorous, has fine energy and breadth.
The SECOND MOVEMENT is based upon two
Main Tunes, one in a minor key and the other a major key ' chorale ' or hymn-tune, the lines of which are connected by the ' leading theme ' and by bits of the Movement's First Main Time.
The THIRD MOVEMENT begins quietly; becomes more restless, and finally leads into the Opening Chorus of the vocal part of the work-' All men, all things, all that have life and breath, sing to the Lord.'
The succeeding numbers are as follows :—
TENOR RECITATIVE, ' Sing ye praise, all ye redeemed ... from a deep affliction,' followed by AIR, ' He counteth all your sorrows.'
CHORUS, ' All ye that cried unto the Lord.'-
DUET FOR Two SOPRANOS, with CHORUS, ' I waited for the Lord..... 0 blessed are they that hope and trust in the Lord.'
TENOR AIR, The sorrows of death had closed all around me ... ; but said the Lord, " Come, arise from the dead ... I bring thee salvation." '
CHORUS, ' The night is departing..... Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us gird on the armour of light.'
CHORALE, Let all men praise the Lord.'
SOPRANO AND TENOR DUET, ' My song shall bo alway Thy mercy.'
FINAL CHORUS, ' Ye nations, offer to the Lord glory and might..... All that hath life and breath sing to the Lord.'
