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The OCTAVA CONSORT project is a vocal ensemble in the making. 

 

The original plan back in early 2021 was:

Due to be launched with the inaugural concert in July 

2021, auditioning professional singers from February 2021,

with the aim of putting on two performances a year.​

 

Singers with excellent sight-reading ability are sought,

who can perform to the highest standards on just two 

rehearsals, and who share with me a love for Renaissance

and Reformation polyphony. I am confident that our

well-tuned singing of such repertoire will bring healing

and many other benefits, beyond mere entertainment, to

our listeners.

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The full octet will only perform in approximately half of

each concert, with smaller groupings, solos and instrumental 

pieces filling out the programs.

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The repertoire will initially be mainly 16th and 17 century,

with some 20th/21st century tonal music exploring

choral sonorities.

 

A pool of 12 singers will be enlisted, with the aim of using a

double SATB configuration at each performance,

one to a part.

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Fees will be fixed according to ISM and MU guidelines.

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Sponsorship to be sought from The Arts Council,

The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and local businesses.

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For further info, and to arrange an audition, contact

christopherthomas21@hotmail.co.uk

(mobile ​ 07950 583459)

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FURTHER DEVELOPMENT and CONCERT PROPOSALS

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After the first year of performances, and based on the

emerging and proven gifts of members of the ensemble,

I am keen to develop the ensemble in the following directions:

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• ownership of performances by the whole group

• unconducted performances

• increasing the frequency of performances

• working with a viol consort and other period instrument ensembles

• performing in hospitals as part of a music therapy program

• work in schools with a quartet to foster a love of singing

• broadening of the repertoire

• seeking venues further afield in the UK and abroad​

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The first three years of concerts are currently being

mapped out, but will hopefully be at these venues:

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St.John’s Hyde Park

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Missa Octo Vocem ('Missa Octava'): Kyrie - Hassler

Eight Psalm settings from Matthew Parker’s Psalter – Tallis

Libera nos 1 - Sheppard 

Faire is the Heaven - Harris

Missa Octo Vocem: Gloria

            INTERVAL

Missa Octo Vocem: Sanctus

Loquebantur variis linguis – Tallis

Fantasia in C - Sweelink 

Reges Tharsis – Sheppard

Bring us O Lord – Harris

Missa Octo Vocem: Agnus Dei

 

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St.Mary’s Ealing

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Missa Ego flos campi: Kyrie – J G de Padilla

Ecce vicit leo - Philips

Verbum caro factum est– Sheppard

If ye love me – Tallis

O Lord in thee is all my trust – Tallis

At the round earth’s imagin’d corners – Parry 

Missa Ego flos campi: Gloria

        INTERVAL

Missa Ego flos campi: Sanctus

Libera nos 2 - Sheppard 

Ave verum – Byrd

Verily I say unto you - Tallis

Nunc Dimittis - Esenwald

Missa Ego flos campi: Agnus Dei

 

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HOSPITAL RECITAL 1  (five voices)

at The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead 

 

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‘MAGNIFICAT’ at Waltham Abbey

with a recital organist

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Magnificat Quinti Toni - H Praetorius

Gaudete omnes - H Praetorius

Paean - Howells

Latin Magnificat for Double Choir – Stanford

            INTERVAL

Sarabande for the morning of Easter - Howells

Let all the world - Leighton

Rhapsody no.4 - Howells

St.Paul’s Magnificat - Howells

 

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St.Augustine’s Kilburn

with a period instrument ensemble

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Motet: Jesu meine Freude - Bach

Cantata BWV150 Nach dir Herr verlanget mich - Bach

            INTERVAL

Orchestral suite no.2 in B minor – Bach

Cantata BWV131 Aus der Tiefen  - Bach

 

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St.John’s Downshire Hill, Hampstead

including viols and an English ('broken') consort

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O God the King of Glory - Gibbons

Two Psalm settings from Sacred Hymns 1615 - Robert Tailour

Consort songs:

            Ah silly soul - Byrd

            Ye sacred muses – Byrd

Tröstet mein Volk – Schütz

Das ist je gewisslich wahr – Schütz

'O bone Jesu' (7v concerted motet) - Schütz

            INTERVAL

Two Psalm settings from Psalmes of David 1599 - Richard Alison

Pavane and Galliard – Jenkins

Consort songs:

             O Lord how vain - Byrd

             What unacquainted cheerful voice – Byrd

Fantasia a 5 (In Nomine) - Gibbons

See, see the Word is incarnate – Gibbons

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HOSPITAL RECITAL 2  (five voices)

at St.Bartholmew's Hospital, Smithfield

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St.Mary Redcliffe, Bristol

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Missa Octo Vocem ('Missa Octava'): Kyrie - Hans Leo Hassler

Eight Psalm settings from Matthew Parker’ Psalter – Tallis

Libera nos 1 - Sheppard 

Faire is the Heaven - Harris

Missa Octo Vocem: Gloria

            INTERVAL

Missa Octo Vocem: Sanctus

Loquebantur variis linguis – Tallis

Livre d’Orgue – Pierre Du Mage (organist: Chris Thomas)

Reges Tharsis – Sheppard

Bring us O Lord – Harris

Missa Octo Vocem: Agnus Dei

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Interval drinks will be sold at all concerts,

and entry will be by tickets sold on the door

and by internet.

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RECORDING PROJECT

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In its fourth year (or ealier if funding will allow), I would like to record a selection from the Tailour and Alison Psalm settings (see under 'More/Articles' and 'The Robert Tailour Project' in this website) for a variety of the specified ensembles, including voice/ lyra viol and broken consort, as well as 5 part vocal ensemble. This will be tied to the publication of a modern performing edition of Tailour's Sacred Hymns 1615, which I transcribed for my MMus thesis.

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