Anniversary Concert

MARCUS FARNSWORTH (baritone)

EMMA HALNAN (flute/piccolo)

GEORGE STRIVENS (french horn)

CHRIS BRANNICK (percussion)

Directed by MARTIN BUSSEY

 

Vocal Consort & Ensemble, directed by DAVID GOULD

REBECCA LEA (soprano)

HANNAH COOKE (alto)

JULIAN STOCKER (tenor)

MARCUS FARNSWORTH (bass)

REBECCA BOYLE (leader)

 

Texts & Translations to read or print.

 

Claude Debussy

Syrinx; (Bach Chorale / Purcell Anthem) 

Elgar

Ecce sacerdos magnus

Paul Burnell

Movement from The Mathematician Suite

Martin Bussey

A Brother Abroad (world premiere)

 

INTERVAL

 

Olivier Messiaen

Interstellar Call

Des canyons aux etoiles

Russell Pascoe

Hymn to St John the Baptist (PMF commission)

Bach 

Cantata #30 (for St John's Day)

 

The final concert of Pinner Music Festival 2021 marks the 700th Anniversary of the Dedication of St John’s Church, Pinner. Two main works are featured: the first is our main commissioned composition, the cantata A Brother Abroad, by Pinner-born Martin Bussey, which tells – to a text by Anthony Pinching – the story of Peter of Bologna, Bishop of Corbavia, the Franciscan Suffragan Bishop who dedicated St John’s Chapel, Pynnore in 1321, his life and times and his faith, through his own reflections as he travels from Greyfriars to Pynnore for the Dedication. (Read an article from The Villager, giving a short introduction to Peter of Bologna. The item was printed in March, before we had to make some changes to the PMF 21 programme.) The other main work is JS Bach’s wonderful Cantata #30, written for St John the Baptist’s Day, and performed by a vocal quartet with small ensemble.

The vocal quartet and ensemble will also perform Elgar’s beautiful short piece, Ecce sacerdos magnus, composed for an episcopal church visit and based on a theme from the Harmoniemesse by Haydn. They will also give us a chance to hear the anthem that was commissioned for the Church Choir for PMF 2021 from Russell Pascoe, Hymn to St John the Baptist, which is written to allow flexibility of performance. We hope that the choir will be allowed to sing it soon too.

With Martin’s scoring of A Brother Abroad, we have three young instrumentalists to accompany baritone Marcus Farnsworth in his journeying soliloquy as Peter of Bologna. We have asked them also to perform short solo pieces: the first is Emma Halnan in Debussy’s Syrinx for solo flute, a work that is just magical. ‘Pascal’s Carriage’ was written for percussionist and mathematician Chris Brannick by Paul Burnell. It is one of the movements from ‘Mathematician Suite’, four pieces for solo frame drum which are based on an aspect of life or work of different mathematicians. This movement is written for riq, an Egyptian tambourine with a small diameter skin but with 5 heavy pairs of jingles. George Strivens (French horn) introduces the second half with the gloriously atmospheric (and virtuosic) Interstellar Call by Messiaen.

 

Watch interviews with composers Martin Bussey and Russell Pascoe, talking with PMF Director Anthony Pinching. 

Marcus Farnsworth was awarded first prize in the 2009 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition and the Song Prize at the 2011 Kathleen Ferrier Competition. His expansive concert repertoire includes Britten War Requiem; Elgar The Apostles; Orff Carmina Burana; Berlioz L’enfance du Christ; Brahms and Faure Requiems working with orchestras including Adelaide Symphony; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestras; RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Dublin; BBC Symphony, Philharmonic and Scottish Symphony Orchestras, with conductors including François-Xavier Roth, Paul McCreesh and Bernard Labadie. He has also sung Bach St John Passion (bass arias) with the Ulster Orchestra; Bach St Matthew and St John Passions (bass arias and Christus) with the Gabrieli Consort and Monteverdi Vespers on tour with Emmanuelle Haïm.

A strong supporter of contemporary composers, he has sung works by John Tavener, Sally Beamish, Thomas Larcher, Peter Maxwell Davies and David Sawer. Marcus is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Southwell Music Festival and Head of Vocal and Choral Studies at Chethams School of Music.

Emma Halnan first came to prominence as the BBC Young Musician woodwind category winner 2010. She has since appeared at major venues worldwide, and has performed concertos with orchestras such as the London Mozart Players and the European Union Chamber Orchestra. Emma was selected as a “Making Music” Young Artist 2018-20, and is a City Music Foundation Artist. Emma was principal flute of the European Union Youth Orchestra 2014-16. She has also freelanced with orchestras including the London Mozart Players, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Emma studied at the Royal Academy of Music with William Bennett and Kate Hill, and afterwards with Robert Winn. She previously studied at the Purcell School with Anna Pope.

Chris Brannick is a performer who defies categorisation. Percussionist, singer, actor and writer, he also holds a maths degree from Imperial College and is a qualified Executive Coach. In addition to solo work, Chris is a founder member of internationally renowned percussion iconoclasts Ensemble Bash and Classic Rhythm, a maverick trio of musical magpies. For 15 years Chris was Principal Percussion of Glyndebourne Touring Orchestra. As one half of cabaret duo Casson and The Brannick Academy, Chris has appeared in this country and in New York; their album Tutankhamun All Wrapped Up sold 65,000 copies. His book World Beats (published by A&C Black) is a complete project resource for primary school teachers and Chris has been Joint CEO for the Newham Music Trust, an educational charity, where he is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees.

A talented and exciting French Horn player, George Strivens enjoys a varied career of solo, chamber and orchestral playing. George received a scholarship to study French Horn at the Royal Academy of Music and has had the privilege of being taught by several renowned horn players, including Richard Watkins, Michael Thompson, Katy Woolley and Martin Owen. At the Academy, he has frequently performed with the Academy Symphony Orchestra; a highlight was performing with The Juilliard School at the BBC Proms conducted by Edward Gardner. Alongside his horn playing he enjoys singing with the BBC Symphony Chorus and is a successful arranger - to be published by Boosey & Hawkes in 2021. Always an advocate for new music, George has had Solo Horn works by Piers Hellawell and Tom Harrold dedicated to him. He has also worked closely with the composers Hans Abrahamsen and John Woolrich on their works for Wind Quintet, with his quintet Ensemble Renard. Additionally, he is a member of the London Sinfonietta Academy 2020/21.

Update June 11th: concert change:

Sadly, Rachel Ambrose Evans is indisposed, but Rebecca Lea is kindly stepping in at very short notice to join the vocal consort for the Saturday concert, singing in the Bach Cantata, and the Elgar and Pascoe anthems.

As a soloist Rebecca Lea has appeared with the Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Ensemble 10/10, Psappha, The Northern Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata, and the Instruments of Time and Truth. She has performed at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals across the UK including the BBC Proms, Oxford Lieder Festival, Brecon Baroque, HCMF, St Magnus International Festival, The Wigmore Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall, and The Purcell Room. Rebecca is a member of the BBC Singers, the solo-voice ensemble I Fagiolini and contemporary vocal group EXAUDI, with whom she performs a diverse range of repertoire at venues across the UK and abroad.

Hannah Cooke enjoys an eclectic career as a singer in repertoire ranging from the very old to the contemporary. Growing up in a household of musicians - her mother a singer and music teacher and her father a choral conductor - Hannah has been surrounded by singing and music-making all her life. Hannah has carved out a particular specialism in the field of ensemble and consort singing, working with many of the finest groups in the UK and beyond, including Tenebrae, ORA Singers, The Marian Consort, The Tallis Scholars and the Eric Whitacre Singers.

Julian Stocker was born in London, and was a chorister at St John’s College, Cambridge. He later went to York University where he graduated with a BA honours degree in Music. His career involves a mixture of concert and recording work both as a soloist and choral singer. He has appeared on several award-winning discs, most notably with the Cardinall’s Musick. He has also featured on discs for Westminster Abbey, The Sixteen, Opera Rara, and The Gabrielli Consort. He appears regularly with the BBC Singers, and The Academy of Ancient Music and is full time singer with Westminster Abbey Choir where he has sung since 1999. Choral Highlights have included singing at the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

David Gould was a choral scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge and a member of Westminster Cathedral choir from 1993 until 1998. He is an experienced consort and choral singer appearing regularly with many leading choirs and ensembles, including the Cardinall's Musick, the Tallis Scholars, the King´s Consort and the Sixteen. Over the last fifteen years, David has conducted various choirs in the London area including Stanmore Choral Society, the Sine Nomine Singers, Ashtead Choral Society and most recently the Amici Chamber Choir.