THE 61st annual Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy takes place this month, centred around a speech from Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’, as the country celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.
This year’s festival runs from Compline by Candlelight at 9.15pm on Sunday 21st August through to Eucharist on Sunday morning, 28th August, in Edington Priory Church.
This year’s Festival, coming in the same year as the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, takes its theme from the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech from ‘As You Like It’.
Organiser Anne Curtis says, “Infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, old age and second childhood – all will be examined through their associated Christian themes and illuminated through sacred music written over many centuries.
“As ever, over 60 musicians will gather in Edington from cathedrals and colleges all over the country, hosted in Edington and many surrounding villages as they have been since 1956.
“Three choirs – men, women and boy trebles forming the Schola, Consort and Nave choirs – will be led by three of the most distinguished choral directors in the UK to sing glorious plainchant, anthems, motets and settings of the Mass by composers from the Renaissance to the present day.
“The festival organists will play half an hour of music before the main evening services, and the Schola frame each day with the beautiful services of Matins and Compline.
“The Festival offers a unique opportunity to hear sacred choral music in the context for which it was written, sung by choristers who are among the most talented, respected and sought after musicians in the UK.
“Settings of the Mass include the Friday Requiem Mass for which Mozart’s Requiem will provide the framework.
“Choral Evensong at 3.30pm on Wednesday 24th, which includes this year’s festival commission by Francis Pott, will be recorded live by BBC Radio 3, and the Thursday evening Sequence of Music and Readings provides the choirs with a chance to sing music not directly related to the services.
“Of interest to those who joined the choral workshop in Edington in June; an excerpt from Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna will be sung at Evensong on Tuesday 23rd.”
All services are free, unticketed and everyone is welcome. Ring the information secretary on 01380 830512 or email info@edingtonfestival.org or for more information.
