Constanza Chorus: Contemplation by Candlelight

Contemplation by Candlelight

Contemplation by Candlelight at St James’s Paddington

Constanza Chorus is delighted to be returning to the beautiful and atmospheric St James’ Sussex Gardens, following our evensong service there last year.

We will be performing a meditative programme of choral music, by candlelight, featuring Kerensa Briggs’ Requiem, written in 2024.

Briggs’ moving Requiem setting is founded on Gregorian chant and is influenced by Requiem composers from across the centuries, but particularly Maurice Duruflé. Our performance also features Duruflé’s hugely popular Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens. French music is also represented by late Romantic composers Gabriel Fauré and Mélanie Bonis.

The concert opens with our soprano soloist from the Briggs Requiem performing O Cruor Sanguinis, written in the twelfth century by Hildegard von Bingen. We conclude by performing a setting of a text by Hildegard von Bingen: Ola Gjeilo’s stunning Ave Generosa.