Hamilton Civic Choir presents “Light Without End” the first concert in our 2024 season “Illuminaire” to be held Saturday April 6th, 7:30 pm at St Peter’s Cathedral, Victoria St. Hamilton.

The concert opens with Joseph Haydn’s “Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo”- the “little organ mass”. Composed in the 1770s for the chapel at Eisenstadt of the Brothers of Mercy the work is a typical ‘Missa Brevis’, in that the four voice parts sing several different sets of words at the same time in the Gloria and Credo. The purpose of this was to bring the mass “in line” with directions from the new archbishop of Salzburg, Colloredo, whose unpopular changes included banning pilgrimages, restricting processions, limiting church decoration and shortening musical settings of Mass. The mass will feature  Dr Philip Smith on organ, a small string ensemble and Waikato-based soprano soloist Anna Leese.

The female voices of the choir will then share the beautiful O Sacrum Convivium (R. Stroope) before the full choir accompanied by piano and strings perform Ola Gjeilo’s lush and moving “Luminous Night of the Soul". After intermission the light continues with two pieces by Mozart- “Regina Coeli” and “Alleluia”; the latter performed by our soloist and the string ensemble. Nestled between the two is “Miha” (mass) composed by Takerei Komene- a performer, composer and conductor in Tamaki Makaurau. Takerei is particularly inspired by contrasting ancient and contemporary elements, not only in musical convention, but also in storytelling and atmosphere; the opportunity to combine both ancient and modern musical conventions is a major inspiration for their music. Finally the joyful “Jubilate Deo”(Britten) rounds out our evening of, Light Without End.