Even such is time
Sun, 5 Oct 2025
What a feast was had: A celebration of landmark composer anniversaries with an evening of glorious choral music spanning five centuries. The Canterbury Chamber Choir was delighted to present Even Such is Time, honouring:
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John Rutter — 80th birthday
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Bob Chilcott — 70th birthday
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Arvo Pärt — 90th birthday
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Orlando Gibbons — 400 years since his death
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Palestrina — 500 years since his birth
From the shimmering Renaissance polyphony of Palestrina to the luminous harmonies of modern masters, this programme is a feast for choral music lovers.
Full programme:
John Rutter (b. 1945)
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All things bright and beautiful
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For the beauty of the earth
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Look at the world
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The Lord bless you and keep you
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I will sing with the spirit
Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)
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Be thou my vision
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Even such is time
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God so loved the world
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Irish Blessing
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Song (from Jubilate)
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935)
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The Beatitudes
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525–1594)
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Missa aeterna Christi munera
Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)
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Second Service Magnificat
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Second Service Nunc Dimittis
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This is the Record of John
From timeless Renaissance splendour to the heartfelt lyricism of today, this concert delivered beauty, variety, and inspiration.
30th Anniversary Concert - This Shining Night
Sun, 18 May 2025
Canterbury Chamber Choir’s 30th Anniversary Concert - A Celebration in Song
30 years of musical excellence at the highest level, brought together for this spellbinding bonanza of sound and passion in the beautiful surroundings of St Mary's Church, Chartham. Under the direction of Peter Futcher, we were treated to a rich and inspiring programme that spaned various styles, celebrating the power and beauty of choral music.
Exquisit music-making and magnificent staging all came together for an unforgettable treat and on for the next 30.
Conductor: Peter Futcher
Organ and Piano: Ed Kemp-Luck
Weddington Strings
Soloists: Sally Maclean, Rafa Barton Hodges, James Futcher & Orlando Barton Hodges
Ola Gjeilo – Sunrise Mass
A work of radiant beauty and deep emotional scope, Sunrise Mass blends cinematic grandeur with choral lyricism. Gjeilo’s setting of the Latin Mass moves from an ethereal opening to a triumphant, light-filled conclusion, reflecting a journey from darkness to light—both musically and spiritually.
Peter Futcher – Jubilate Deo (Premiere)
Specially composed for this anniversary concert, Jubilate Deo is a joyful and uplifting setting of Psalm 100.
Eric Whitacre – i thank You God
Whitacre’s setting of E.E. Cummings’ poem is a luminous meditation on gratitude and wonder. Rich, shifting harmonies create a sense of awe and transcendence, perfectly capturing the poet’s ecstatic vision of the world.
Benjamin Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb
This spirited and eccentric cantata sets the words of the 18th-century poet Christopher Smart. Britten’s inventive, playful, and sometimes poignant choral writing brings to life Smart’s unique celebration of divine joy—including his famous ode to his cat, Jeoffry!
Gerald Finzi – My Spirit Sang All Day
A brief but exuberant choral work, this setting of Robert Bridges’ poem overflows with lightness and energy. Finzi’s hallmark lyricism and effortless melodic flow make it a beloved gem of the English choral tradition.
Herbert Howells – A Hymn for St Cecilia
Written in honour of the patron saint of music, Howells’ Hymn for St Cecilia is both intricate and radiant. Setting a text by Ursula Vaughan Williams, it beautifully expresses the sacred and mysterious nature of music itself.
Morten Lauridsen – Sure on this Shining Night
This tender and deeply expressive piece, based on a poem by James Agee, shimmers with warmth and quiet serenity. Lauridsen’s characteristic lush harmonies and flowing lines make it a timeless reflection on beauty and hope.
30 years of musical excellence at the highest level, brought together for this spellbinding bonanza of sound and passion in the beautiful surroundings of St Mary's Church, Chartham. Under the direction of Peter Futcher, we were treated to a rich and inspiring programme that spaned various styles, celebrating the power and beauty of choral music.
Exquisit music-making and magnificent staging all came together for an unforgettable treat and on for the next 30.
Conductor: Peter Futcher
Organ and Piano: Ed Kemp-Luck
Weddington Strings
Soloists: Sally Maclean, Rafa Barton Hodges, James Futcher & Orlando Barton Hodges
Ola Gjeilo – Sunrise Mass
A work of radiant beauty and deep emotional scope, Sunrise Mass blends cinematic grandeur with choral lyricism. Gjeilo’s setting of the Latin Mass moves from an ethereal opening to a triumphant, light-filled conclusion, reflecting a journey from darkness to light—both musically and spiritually.
Peter Futcher – Jubilate Deo (Premiere)
Specially composed for this anniversary concert, Jubilate Deo is a joyful and uplifting setting of Psalm 100.
Eric Whitacre – i thank You God
Whitacre’s setting of E.E. Cummings’ poem is a luminous meditation on gratitude and wonder. Rich, shifting harmonies create a sense of awe and transcendence, perfectly capturing the poet’s ecstatic vision of the world.
Benjamin Britten – Rejoice in the Lamb
This spirited and eccentric cantata sets the words of the 18th-century poet Christopher Smart. Britten’s inventive, playful, and sometimes poignant choral writing brings to life Smart’s unique celebration of divine joy—including his famous ode to his cat, Jeoffry!
Gerald Finzi – My Spirit Sang All Day
A brief but exuberant choral work, this setting of Robert Bridges’ poem overflows with lightness and energy. Finzi’s hallmark lyricism and effortless melodic flow make it a beloved gem of the English choral tradition.
Herbert Howells – A Hymn for St Cecilia
Written in honour of the patron saint of music, Howells’ Hymn for St Cecilia is both intricate and radiant. Setting a text by Ursula Vaughan Williams, it beautifully expresses the sacred and mysterious nature of music itself.
Morten Lauridsen – Sure on this Shining Night
This tender and deeply expressive piece, based on a poem by James Agee, shimmers with warmth and quiet serenity. Lauridsen’s characteristic lush harmonies and flowing lines make it a timeless reflection on beauty and hope.
Requiem - Gabriel Fauré & Maurice Duruflé by candlelight
Sat, 1 Mar 2025
Canterbury Chamber Choir were delighted to be performing in Folkestone as part of their season celebrating their 30th Anniversary Year. This innovative and exciting choir always endeavours to blur the boundaries between audience and performer and to offer those present something more than a traditional concert. The audience were treated to a fresh interpretation of choral classics with this exciting and dynamic ensemble. This was certainly not just another concert.
The Requiems of Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé feature some of the most beautiful music ever written and, whilst based on the Mass of the Dead of the Catholic Church, offers something for all listeners in a tapestry of visions of paradise, joy, reflection and choral colour.
Gabriel Fauré's Requiem (1887-1890) is a serene and ethereal setting, reflecting a gentle, consoling view of death. Avoiding dramatic intensity, Fauré's work emphasizes peace and eternal rest, exemplified by the famous Pie Jesu. It blends lyrical melodies with delicate harmonies, showcasing Fauré's mastery of subtle expression.
Maurice Duruflé's Requiem (1947) draws on Gregorian chant traditions, weaving these ancient melodies into a richly textured harmonic framework. Combining profound spirituality with impressionistic influences, the work features lush, intricate choral writing, and moments of sublime introspection, offering a deeply moving meditation on mortality.
The Requiems of Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé feature some of the most beautiful music ever written and, whilst based on the Mass of the Dead of the Catholic Church, offers something for all listeners in a tapestry of visions of paradise, joy, reflection and choral colour.
Gabriel Fauré's Requiem (1887-1890) is a serene and ethereal setting, reflecting a gentle, consoling view of death. Avoiding dramatic intensity, Fauré's work emphasizes peace and eternal rest, exemplified by the famous Pie Jesu. It blends lyrical melodies with delicate harmonies, showcasing Fauré's mastery of subtle expression.
Maurice Duruflé's Requiem (1947) draws on Gregorian chant traditions, weaving these ancient melodies into a richly textured harmonic framework. Combining profound spirituality with impressionistic influences, the work features lush, intricate choral writing, and moments of sublime introspection, offering a deeply moving meditation on mortality.
Christmas Carols & Songs
Sat, 21 Dec 2024
A feast of festive music and fun. Family friendly, fully inclusive for anyone and everyone, and in support of the important work of Catching Lives with retiring collection and refreshments in the interval.
An opportunity to take a break from the rushing about and join us for what will be a joyful concert where the audience even get a chance to sing too.
An opportunity to take a break from the rushing about and join us for what will be a joyful concert where the audience even get a chance to sing too.
What Dreams May Come
Sun, 17 Nov 2024
More than a concert, this event offered those present the chance to move around and building and between the singers, to be truly immersed in sound from start to finish. Forget everything you thought you knew about choirs standing in rows, singing at you. An occasion those present will remember for a long time.
