logo - The Addison Group of Singers, Musical Director David Wordsworth

Home | Who are we? | Ensembles & Classes | Programme | Staff | Contact Us

 

Oratorio & Chamber Choirs - programme

Jazz Choir & Ensemble - programme

Anniversary commissions

Concerts

Previous concerts

Back to the programme page

Previous concerts

A look at the programmes of previous concerts given by The Addison Singers shows the range of repertoire of the choirs.

Joint Carol Concert, 17 December 2009

Following the success of last year a carol concert was held at St Michael's & All Angels in Bedford Park, W4 featuring all four Addison Singers choirs - Jazz Choir and Ensemble, Oratorio and Chamber Choirs  including a selection of carols for choirs and audience. We also raised awareness and funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

This exciting concert featured some of the usual Christmas stalwarts such as 'Ding, Dong, Merrily on High', 'Oh Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'While Shepherds Watched' as well as some unusual and inspiring songs from our recent concerts. The Jazz Ensemble sung a magnificent arrangement of a spiritual called 'Steal Away' . The Jazz Choir, not to be outdone, performed 'Balm in Gilead' while the Oratorio Choir sang John Joubert's 'Torches', the Chamber Choir Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Aurumque' with everyone coming together to sing 'In The Bleak Mid-winter'.

Jazz Classical Concert, 12 December 2009

The Saturday concert and was a resounding success. Jill Jarman took the audience and choirs through a brief history of Jazz from its African roots through Sprituals to Blues, Ragtime, Classic American Jazz and '60s soul. Matthew Hough's performance skill brought an amazing early piano Rag to life.

Featuring both choirs with 'Chocholoza' (African welcoming song) there was the spiritual 'Balm in Gilead', Scott Joplin's 'The Entertainer', Irving Berlin's 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' and classic soul hits 'Son of a Preacher Man' and Otis Redding's 'Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay'.

Autumn Classical Concert, 5 December 2009

Featuring Cecilia McDowall's: Magnificat this was a rip roaring concert of Handel's well loved Choruses from Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem), Sing unto God and, of course the perennial favourite, the Hallelujah from The Messiah. Also featured were The People shall Hear (from Israel in Egypt) and The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

Chamber Choir Concert, 7 November 2009

At the Church of the Ascension, our Chamber Choir was well received where they performed a mixed programme of choral and a cappella music with organ accompaniment in aid of the 70th Anniversary Appeal.

'Summer of Love' Jazz Concert, 12 July 2009

Along with the Addison Trio with the violinist Elizabeth Edwards the Jazz Choir sang 'Let's Do It', 'Only Time', 'My Romance' and an inspirational version of the Andrew Sisters show stopper 'Mr Sandman'. The Jazz Ensemble songs included 'It Had to be You', 'All of Me', 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and 'Lover Man'. Jodie Paxton sang the hauntingly beautiful 'I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again'.

Summer Classical Concert  11 July 2009

The music for the concert revolved around folk and traditional music.

The Chamber Choir sang arrangements of English folk-songs by Timothy Salter - 'Blow the Wind Southerly', 'The Trees so High' and 'The Tailor & the Mouse', all well-known, and these versions treated the originals with loving respect. John Rutter's realisations of traditional children's rhymes 'Five Childhood Lyrics' presented more well-known tunes in stylish and witty transformation, culminating in a virtuoso arrangement of 'Sing a Song of Sixpence'! Britten's 'Flower Songs' set 'floral poems' by English poets with that composers acknowledged genius.

The Oratorio Choir also sang folk-songs seen through the eccentric imagination of Percy Grainger - 'The Lost Lady Found' (from Lincolnshire), 'Ye Banks & Braes' (for singers and whistlers!) and 'Australian Up-Country Song' (sung in tribute to at least one member of the choir), whilst the gentlemen gave the first performance of 'The Hunt is Up' - a recently discovered song for male voices & piano duet. John Gardner turned to the words of well known hymns for inspiration in his 'Five Hymns in the Popular Style' in which the choir were joined by bass, percussion & piano duetists. There can't be many treatments of such texts as 'Abide with Me' and 'Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning' that sounded quite like this! Finally, a folk inspired classic 'Misa Criolla' by the Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez, full of the energetic rhythms and exotic sounds of Latin America.

'Blue Bossa' Spring Jazz Concert, 29 March 2009

It has been just over fifty years since the Bossa Nova syncopated its way into our musical lives and this Brazilian sound was The Jazz Choir celebrated at our spring concert.

The choirs performed songs like 'Once I Loved' and 'No More Blues', written by Antono Carlos Jobim, the 'Father' of the Bossa Nova style. There were some old favourites such as 'Blue Skies' and 'What a Wonderful World', alongside some newer classics including 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin and 'All Night Long' by Lionel Richie.

The choir was delighted to have the fantastic percussionist Jeff Lardner join the Addison Trio and heard plenty of Brazilian magic in this hot and up-beat concert. The Jazz Choir was conducted by Jill Jarman and the Jazz Ensemble by Matthew Hough.

Classical concert, Saturday 21 March 2009

The Bernardi Chamber Orchestra and four excellent young soloists join the Oratorio Choir to perform two major and contrasting works, Beethoven's Mass in C and Lux Aeterna by Lauridsen.

The American composer Morten Lauridsen has in the last decade become one of the most widely performed of living composers. 'Lux Aeterna' was  written in 1995 in response to the death of his mother, and focuses on warmth and consolation. Lauridsen writes: 'Lux Aeterna is an intimate work of quiet serenity that expresses hope, reassurance, faith and illumination.' Beethoven had little time for organised religion, feeling he had no need  for the church to come between him and his God. He composed only two Masses, the great Missa Solemnis written towards the end of his life and the 'Mass in C', commissioned by Hungarian Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy in 1807 for the name-day of his wife, Princess Maria.  Unfortunately the rehearsal time was inadequate for the premiere and the Prince was clearly not impressed. He was heard to ask: 'But Beethoven, what is this that you have done now?' He later admitted that he thought the work 'ridiculous and detestable'. Beethoven, apparently, stormed off in a rage. It was not until the late 1800s that the Mass became more regularly performed and although some say it is overshadowed by the Missa Solemnis it contains moments of great drama and beauty.

Carol concert, 18 December 2008

This was a first for us: a concert featuring all four choirs of  the Addison Singers, with around 120 singers taking part. The programme included performances of Jill Jarman's Voices of Change by the Jazz Choir and Ensemble, Mathias's A Boy is Born by the Chamber Choir, and Chilcott's The Twelve Days of Christmas, as well as a selection of popular carols for choir and audience. An enormously enjoyable, sociable and festive evening.

Classical concert, 13 December 2008

The main work in this concert was Britten's St Nicholas, performed by the Oratorio Choir with guest appearances from tenor and treble soloists and semi-chorus. The Chamber Choir sang a selection of carols including a premiere, and the Oratorio Choir also sang Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on Christmas Carols and an arrangement of The Twelve Days of Christmas by the choir's President, Bob Chilcott. Read a review of the concert.

'Voices of change' - winter jazz concert, 29 November 2008

This performance, by the Jazz Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Soloists with the Addison Trio, included lots of old favourites such as Georgia on My Mind, God Bless the Child and the Burt Bacharach classic, Walk on By.

The finale was Voices of Change, a new piece composed by Jill Jarman, conductor of the Jazz Choir, for voices accompanied by piano, bass and sax. 'The highlight of the evening was Jill's beautiful, moving and uplifting composition, Voices of Change'.  Read more about Voices of Change.

Classical concert, 12 July 2008

A new venue for our summer concert: the Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, where an enthusiastic audience heard a varied programme that included

  • A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott
  • Spirituals from 'A Child of our Time' by Tippett
  • Two songs from 'Porgy and Bess' by Gershwin
  • Three Shakespeare Songs by Vaughan Williams
  • Three Nocturnes by Morten Lauridsen
  • Piano solos - Gershwin and Chopin - played by Matthew Hough

Jazz concert  5 April 2008

'A handful of keys' -  - performed by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio, conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble). Programme also included How sweet it is to be loved by you, Stella by starlight, In the wee small hours of the morning, Lady be good, My funny valentine, Quiet nights of quiet stars, How deep is the ocean.

Classical concert Saturday 29 March 2008

A capacity audience filled St Michael's Church to hear the Addison Singers perform the Mozart Requiem, with the Bernardi Orchestra and four young professional soloists. The Chamber Choir sang Three Motets by Cecilia McDowall, the Nunc Dimittis by Holst, and Three Motets by Howard Skempton. We were delighted to have both Cecilia McDowall and Howard Skempton in the audience. The programme also included Joby Talbot's setting of the Ave Verum Corpus and Touch Light by Michael Berkeley. Read review (opens in new window).

Jazz concert 9 December 2007

'An evening with Glen Miller' - performed by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio, conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble).

Classical concert Saturday 1 December 2007

Rutter - Mass of the Children
Vaughan Williams - Festival Te Deum
Janacek - Otcenas
Part - Pater Noster
Stravinsky - Mother of God and Virgin
Tchaikovsky - The Liturgy of St John of Chrysostom (excerpts)

Summer jazz concert, 1 July 2007

'From the American songbook' - the programme included Fields of Gold; The Boy from New York City, Hit me with a Hot Note, Love Walked In, and many more great numbers.

Summer classical concert, 24 June 2007

This well attended concert, conducted by David Wordsworth, took place at The Bush Hall - a new venue for the Addison Singers. The lighter-than-usual programme featured, from the Chamber Choir, folk-song arrangements by Copland and Canteloube and English part-songs from the 16th and 20th century performed by the Chamber Choir. The Oratorio Choir gave spirited performances of some well-known operatic choruses by Bizet and Verdi, and some new arrangements of Gilbert & Sullivan songs. In addition, Matthew Hough performed as solo pianist as well as accompanist, and guest soloist Alice Hyde (soprano) sang a selection of William Bolcom's Cabaret Songs.

'All That Jazz’ spring jazz concert, 1 April 2007

This performance by the Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio was conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble). Addison Jazz presented a great selection of favourites for jazz-lovers, ranging from Kern's All the Things You Are, Porter's I've Got You Under My Skin, Weill's Mack the Knife, the Manhattan Transfer classics Java Jive and Operator to Mandell's The Shadow of your Smile and Garner's Misty. There was a touch of gospel too, with a semi-improvised version of Amazing Grace and Oscar Peterson's Hymn to Freedom. And of course the title song, All That Jazz!

Spring classical concert, 31 March 2007

At this concert the Chamber Choir gave the world premiere of a new piece by Gavin Bryars, commissed by the Addison Singers: A la dolce ombra de le belle frondi, from his Fourth Book of Madrigals. They also performed John Rutter's new and very beautiful setting of the Ave Maria, and continuing the choir's association with Howard Skempton, his setting of words from the Song of Solomon, Rise up, my love. They also sang Purcell's anthem for double choir, Hear my prayer, O Lord.

The Oratorio Choir performed Finzi's stirring anthem, God is gone up; The Beatitudes, by the Addison Singers' President, Bob Chilcott; and Haydn's St Nichoas Mass, written to celebrate the name-day of his patron Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy on 6 December 1772.

In preparation for the Addison Singers' trip to Poland in May, both choirs sang works in Polish: the Oratorio Choir a psalm setting by a remarkable Renaissance composer, Waclaw of Szamotul, while the Chamber Choir sang Three Lullabies by the contemporary composer Henryk Gorecki.

The choirs were conducted by David Wordsworth and accompanied by Matthew Hough - organist.

‘Take Five’ - winter jazz concert, 10 December 2006

The Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio were conducted by Jill Jarman (Jazz Choir) and Matthew Hough (Jazz Ensemble) in a programme that included Take Five; Misty; Birdland; You're Everything; Walk between the Raindrops; Feeling Groovy; and Honeysuckle Rose.

Winter Classical Concert, 2 December 2006

In this concert, conducted by David Wordsworth, the Oratorio Choir and Chamber Choir were accompanied by the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra. The imaginative programme consisted of both the familiar and the new, including the world premiere of an arrangement of the traditional American carol 'Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head' by Bob Chilcott, the world renowned choral conductor/composer and President of the Choir. The Addison Singers were joined by children from St John Baptist Primary School in Bromley for Chiswick composer Cecilia McDowall's Christmas cantata 'Christus Natus Est', a colourful collection of carols newly arranged and brightly orchestrated. The Chamber Choir sang unaccompanied works by Poulenc and Martland, and the concert's rousing conclusion was some of the most popular seasonal choruses and arias from Handel's Messiah.

Summer Classical Concert, 8 July 2006

Oratorio Choir
Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb
Edward Elgar - Give Unto the Lord
John Ireland - Greater Love Hath No Man
William Bolcom - Two Meditations, one of the Addison Singers' Anniversary commissions

Chamber Choir
Richard Rodney Bennett - Farewell to Arms
John McCabe - The Evening Watch
James Macmillan - A New Song

The concert also included a cello solo by Jonathan Few and an organ solo by Edward Kemp-Luck.

'Divas of Jazz', 2 July 2006

Jazz Choir, Soloists and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio - programme included When sunny gets blue; I wish I knew; The way you look tonight; Get happy.

'The energy and enthusiasm of conductors Jill Jarman and Matthew Hough are infectious, and I have never left one of their concerts without feeling exhilarated.' (Richmond and Twickenham Times, 28 July)

Spring jazz concert, 2 April 2006

Hit the road, Jack - an evening inspired by Ray Charles

The concert given by the Jazz Choir and the Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Trio included: Hit the road, Jack; St Louis blues; My blue heaven; Smile; He's got the whole world in his hands; Stormy weather; and a rousing performance of Route 66!

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 25 March 2006

The Oratorio Choir accompanied by the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra sang Haydn's Mass in Time of War (Paukenmesse), with a quartet of soloists from the Royal College of Music, and also a new work, The Listening Tree, by Jill Jarman - one of the Addison Singers' Anniversary commissions.

"We especially enjoyed the Haydn piece. The combined choir and orchestra blended so well. The conductor did a magnificent job all through the piece." (a member of the audience)

The Chamber Choir performed Palestrina's Stabat Mater, Howells' O Salutaris, and a new work, The Great Breath, by Howard Skempton,  another of the Addison Singers' Anniversary commissions.

Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble, 11 December 2005

Jazz Choir
Solitude; 'tain't what you do, I got it bad, Do nothing till you hear from me, Perdido, I let a song go out of my heart

Jazz Ensemble
Mood indigo, Sentimental mood, Don't get around much any more, In a mellow tone, I can't give you anything but love, If you can't sing it you'll have to swing it

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 10 December 2005

Oratorio Choir
Handel - The King Shall Rejoice
Mathias - Ave Rex
Cecilia McDowall - new commission, The Angels for the Nativity
Mozart - Missa Brevis in C

Chamber Choir
Chilcott - And Every Stone Shall Cry
Schutz - Singet dem Herrn
Berkeley - Look up, Sweet Babe
Carols

Oratorio Choir, 20 November 2005, New York

Around fifty members of the choir took part in a concert at Carnegie Hall, New York, at the invitation of Bob Chilcott, performing his 'Jubilate', and Handel's Coronation Anthem 'The King Shall Rejoice'. Read more about the Addison's Carnegie Hall concert.

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 9 July 2005

Oratorio Choir - music for voices and brass:
Chilcott - Jubilate
Bliss - The World is Charged with the Grandeur of God
Rutter - Cantus

Chamber Choir
David Matthews - Moments of Vision (world première)
William Schuman - A Song to Orpheus
Eric Whitacre - Sleep

Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble with the Addison Quartet,  3 July 2005

This concert at Hammersmith Town Hall paid tribute to great jazz songs with lyrics about places or travel. The Ensemble sang of Basin Street Blues, the Ray Charles classic Georgia, and Manhattan, while the Choir took a trip somewhere over the rainbow, heard a nightingale singing in Berkeley Square, and asked 'fly me to the moon'. The Addison Quartet, featured the liquid sounds of Mark Alloway’s saxophone and clarinet. The conductors of the Jazz Ensemble and Choir, Matthew Hough and Jill Jarman, also joined the band on piano.

The concert included the premiere of 'London in the rain', a new song showcasing the lyric writing talents of Stella Barnes (winner of the Addison lyric competition), set to music by conductor and composer Jill Jarman.

Jazz Choir and Jazz Ensemble - 'Let there be love', 20 March 2005

This concert in the Polish Centre Theatre was a sell-out, and a reviewer called it 'a well organised, slickly arranged, top quality performance' - read more.

Jazz Choir
Too close for comfort*, Come rain or come shine, All in love is fair*, The song is you*, This masquerade*, Walk between the raindrops

Jazz Ensemble
There will never be another you, I've got you under my skin, Willow weep for me*, It never entered my mind, Stompin' at the Savoy*

*Arrangements by Jill Jarman

Classical - Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 19 March 2005

This well-attended concert at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Hammersmith was accompanied by Matthew Hough on organ, and featured singers from both choirs as soloists. We were delighted to have the composer Howard Skempton in the audience. His piece 'He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven', was beautifully sung - twice - by the Chamber Choir: it was encored, by popular demand.

Oratorio Choir
Monteverdi - Beatus vir; Cantate Domino
Bach - O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens licht
Buxtehude - Magnificat
Mozart - Ave Verum Corpus
Walton - Jubilate Deo
Lotti - Crucifixus

Chamber and Oratorio Choirs
Maw - One foot in Eden

Chamber Choir
Tallis anthology, English and Latin anthems including If ye love me; Hear the voice and prayer; Laudate Dominum; O nata lux
Morten Lauridsen - O nata lux
Skempton - He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Christmas 2004

The Addison Singers were invited to sing at two Christmas events in West London, a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Peter's Church, Fulham, and a Carol Concert in aid of the charity Colon Cancer Concern.

Jazz concert, 1 December 2004

The programme for this concert included some arrangements by Keith Roberts, its former conductor, and also a surprise piece for Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Choir and audience! A piano, bass, guitar and jazz violin quartet accompanied the choir and ensemble.

Jazz Choir
Someone to Watch over Me, I've Got a Crush On You, On a Clear Day, That's Life, Skylark

Jazz Ensemble
Embraceable You, Nice Work if you Can Get it, I'm Beginning to See the Light, Ain't Misbehavin', Autumn Leaves

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 27 November 2004

This concert had a local flavour with 'Ave Maris Stella', a beautiful piece for soprano solo, choir and strings by Cecilia McDowall who lives close to St Michaels & All Angels where the concert took place. The Addison Singers again joined forces with the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra, a highly accomplished group who contributed two orchestral pieces to the programme.

Oratorio Choir
Ave Maris Stella - Cecilia McDowall
In Terra Pax - Finzi
Mass in G - Schubert

Chamber Choir
Motets by Brucker and Mendelssohn
Hymn to the Virgin - Francis Pott
New carols by Stephen Hough and Kenneth Hesketh

Jazz concert, 15 July 2004

Jazz Choir
Rescue Me, Midnight Train to Georgia, I Feel Pretty, Puttin' on the Ritz, You're the Top, September Song, All the Things You Are

Jazz Ensemble
A Foggy Day, But not for Me, When I Fall in Love, I Second That Emotion

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 10 July 2004

Oratorio Choir
Borodin - Polovtsian Dances
Fauré - Pavane
Vaughan-Williams - Serenade to Music
John Rutter - three of the Birthday Madrigals

Chamber Choir
William Mathias - Shakespeare Songs
English Folk Songs arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams

In May 2004 the Chamber Choir and Jazz Ensemble had additional performances, at the Shipley and Barnsley Festivals.

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 3 April 2004

Oratorio Choir  - with the Hanwell Children's Choir and accompanied by organ, harp and percussion:
Bernstein - Chichester Psalms
Brahms - Geistliches Lied, Op. 30
Fauré - Cantique de Jean Racine
Chilcott - Canticles of Light (London première)

Chamber Choir
Arvo Pärt - I am the True Vine, Littlemore Tractus
Leighton - Drop, drop, slow tears
Skempton - We who with songs

Jazz Fiesta, 28 March 2004

For this concert with a Latin flavour, the Jazz Choir and Ensemble were joined by the Martin Blackwell Quartet.

Jazz Choir
Songs and ‘Latin style’ arrangements by Keith Roberts:
Slightly Out of Tune, Besame Mucho, One Note Samba, Mood Indigo, Send In the Clowns, Black Coffee

Jazz Ensemble
Gershwin - Someone to Watch Over Me, Slap that Bass
Duke Ellington - Take the A Train, Perdido
The Girl from Ipanema

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 13 December 2003

Oratorio Choir, with the Bernardi Chamber Orchestra
Vivaldi - Gloria in D
Handel - Dettingen Te Deum

Chamber Choir
Christmas Motets, ed Rutter
Colin Matthews - The Angel's Carol (first London performance)
Michael Berkeley - Cradle Song

Jazz Choir, Jazz Ensemble, soloists, 7 December 2003

Ragtime, soul, musicals, pop, French and Spanish songs, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, lots of Cole Porter, some smooth bluesy classics, and All That Jazz!

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 12 July 2003

The Addison Singers were joined by members of the Walbrook Singers and Ealing Youth Choir for this concert, entitled Music for Royal Occasions:

Oratorio Choir
Walton - Coronation Te Deum
Parry - I Was Glad
Mathias - Let all the People Praise Thee
Vaughan Williams - O Taste and See
Handel - Zadok the Priest

Chamber Choir
Tomkins - When David Heard
Gibbons - O Clap Your Hands
Macmillan - A Child's Prayer,  A New Song

Jazz concert, 18 July 2003

Jazz Ensemble
They Can't Take That Away from Me
Angel Eyes
Satin Doll
Medley 'The Manhattan Transfer in Concert', featuring Birdland, Spice of Life, Tuxedo Junction

Jazz Choir
Come Fly with Me
Keith Roberts arrangements:
Manhattan, Night and Day, The Things We Did Last Summer,
Chattanooga Choo Choo, California Dreaming

Oratorio and Chamber Choirs, 5 April 2003

Oratorio Choir with The Bernardi Chamber Orchestra
Lennox Berkeley - A Festival Anthem
Taverner - The Lord's Prayer, Love Bade Me Welcome
Fauré - Requiem (1893 version by John Rutter)

Chamber Choir
Lennox Berkeley - The Lord is my Shepherd
Maurice Duruflé - Quatre Motets sur des themes Gregorians
Pierre Vilette - Three Motets: O Quam Amabilis Es, Jesu, ducis Memoria, Panis Angelicus