News
New tracks on SJC LIVE
To mark the start of Lent, 37 new tracks have been added to our new on-line live recordings archive, SJC Live. SJC Live now includes over 200 tracks – all live recordings taken from services over the past few years since our weekly Webcasting programme began in 2008. It also features a true archive recording of the Choir in 1927 and a carol from the 1981 Advent Carol Service.
Sung Eucharist – 16 October
Happy New Year from St John's! We're well into our Christmas break and starting to think about the coming term. We don't have any services for two weeks (starting on 17 Jan) but the Choir will be back sooner than that when we record our sixth disc for Chandos, of Purcell. Even before THAT, there's still a fair amount going on behind the scenes at St John's. Next week we're launching our latest disc of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Otčenáš by Janáček and Britten's Ceremony of Carols.
Choral Evensong – 29 November
Happy Christmas! 27 December is always a bit of a let down after the festivities of the previous few days so we thought we would cheer you up with a Christmas Webcast. We also giving anyone with internet a Christmas present – we've uploaded a whole lot of new tracks to SJC Live for you to enjoy. In case you haven't signed up already, SJC Live is a free resource of live recordings of music in our services in Chapel.
Choral Evensong – 16 October
It hasn't been long since our last blog, but why not give you a bit of an update. We're at Royal Festival Hall on Thursday and at the BBC studios on Friday; Birmingham next week - have a look at the Events page to save you time! On Friday whilst a group of recent Gents sang at an Hitachi conference in Windsor, the Choir sang at Cadogan Hall with a first half of Purcell and the second of Christmas numbers, some of which will appear again in Birmingham next Tuesday.
Choral Evensong – 8 October
We're almost done for Christmas - no slog till Christmas Day for us! We all get to return home to our families and rejoin the rest of the world, finding last-minute presents for distant relatives and gearing up for that biannual phenomenon of a church service where you aren't required to sing! That said, we must surely miss out on something not singing on Christmas morning, something which is certainly missed by those among the Gents who sang in Cathedral-type choirs as choristers.
Advent Carol Service – 27 November
Term has now finished but the Advent and Christmas season marches on for the Choir, a busy time of year for all musicians! The start of the Christmas vacation is usually a time when our Choir tours Europe but with tours planned for Easter (to Denmark and Germany) and the Long Vacation (to Japan), we are taking the opportunity to sing to audiences in our own country for a change. Today the Choir heads up to London for a concert at Cadogan Hall with St John's Sinfonia.
Choral Evensong – 12 October
Johnians at the Barbican
On Sunday (29 January), the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins performed Jonathan Harvey's Wagner Dream at the Barbican. Jonathan Harvey, who wrote one of our Quincentenary commissions, studied Music at St John's 1957-1960 under George Guest (Director of Music 1951-1991) and is an Honorary Fellow of the College. This UK première of the work is part of the BBCSO's Total Immersion weekend of music, film and discussion celebrating the music of Jonathan Harvey.
Choral Evensong – 5 November
On Friday the Choir sang in our penultimate Quincentenary concert, in Ely Cathedral. After Elgar's concert overture, In the South, and Des Knaben Wunderhorn by Gustav Mahler, sung by Ann Murray and former Choral Scholar, Leigh Melrose, our Choir joined with four other Cambridge Choirs (from Caius, Clare, Jesus and Trinity Colleges) and the Philharmonia Orchestra to perform Walton's dramatic oratorio, Belshazzar's Feast. Melrose sang the baritone solo and the large choir was boosted by more St John's alumni as well as some alumni from other Cambridge Choirs.
Johnian Music College Success
Every year some of the country's finest young singers (and some fierce competition from overseas) audition to win places at the UK's top conservatories. And each year, not dissimilar to concert and opera programmes around the world, the list of successful applicants has a strong representation from St John's.
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New tracks on SJC LIVETo mark the start of Lent, 37 new tracks have been added to our new on-line live recordings archive, SJC Live. |
The Choir on Twitter
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This week's webcast - Byrd's 5 part Mass. Also check out SJC LIVE for over 35 new tracks! t.co/3p0f7RC8
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Come to "Ash Wednesday Evensong" 22 February from 18:30 to 21:30. St John's started broadcasting Evensong for Ash... t.co/mq7u0xU2
Next Chapel service
Today
Choral Evensong, 6.30 pm
Introit: Purcell Remember not, Lord, our offences
Responses: Tomkins
Psalm 51: Allegri Miserere mei, Deus
Antiphon: Non in solo pane
Tallis (Short Service)
Byrd: Tribulationes civitatum
Hymn 67
Choir Reviews
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