Tamesis Chamber Choir are planning a really big celebration for their next concert at 7:30pm on Saturday 3rd March in Reading. It's for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, one of the three Historic Times they are marking this season. As befits a right royal knees-up, Tamesis will be singing the most jubilant, regal, exciting and well-loved music by big ticket composers of their days.
Commissioned for Queen Elizabeth's 1953 Coronation, there is Walton's magnificent 'Te Deum' and Vaughan Williams' lyrical 'O taste and see'. The service also included 'Zadok the Priest', written by Handel for George II's coronation… if you weren't around to catch it then, you'll know it now either as a state occasion staple or as the Champions' League anthem or from the P&O and Subway adverts! Stanford's grandiose 'Gloria' was first performed at George V's coronation.
William Mathias' splendid 'Let the people praise Thee O God', dates from Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981. And bringing things bang up to date, we'll sing two pieces composed for Wills' and Kate's nuptials last year: 'Ubi Caritas' by Paul Mealor (of Military Wives' fame!) and Rutter's 'This is the day'. And there's much more - see www.tamesischamberchoir.co.uk for the complete programme.
It's going to be a truly uplifting occasion, so please come along and join in the celebrations (tiaras and sceptres optional!) Tickets are £12/£8 from Louise Rapple, (lrapple@shiplake.org.uk), from www.tamesischamberchoir.co.uk or call 0118 934 3200. We're hoping for a packed church for our concert at Greyfriars Church, Friar Street, Reading RG1 1EH. It's a fantastic central location, handy for the station or the secure Broad Street Mall or Garrard Street car parks.
