3rd May 2025

Cirencester Choral Society Concert 2025

Rutter Magnificat and Elgar From the Bavarian Highlands
by Martin Graebe

Cirencester Choral Society

Rutter’s ‘Magnificat’, premiered in 1990, is a lively interpretation of one of the most frequently set biblical texts. As the conductor, Carleton Etherington’s, baton fell, the fanfare by the orchestra of the Musical and Amicable Society cued in the voices of Cirencester Choral Society as they attacked the joyous ‘Magnificat’ that opens the work. Rutter chose to include some innovative additions to the liturgical text including the lovely ‘Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose’, an English song from the Fifteenth Century, which forms the second movement and was one of the highlights of the piece.

The soloist, Millie Royle, performed strongly throughout, and her singing in ‘Et Misericordia’ was particularly effective and moving. The composition ends in a lively fashion reprising the air of the first movement to reach a joyful conclusion. The conductor clearly enjoyed the performance as his heels frequently left the rostrum and his energy was reflected in the vigorous performance of the choir.

The second half of the concert opened with Edward Elgar’s ‘Imperial March’, played on the organ by Thomas Hawkes, Cirencester Parish Church’s organist. This was written for orchestra in 1897 but has become a favourite piece of organists since it was arranged for the instrument soon afterwards by George Martin.

Hawkes then moved to the piano to accompany the choir in another work by Elgar, his ‘From the Bavarian Highlands’. The lyrics for this were written by Alice Elgar, based on songs that they had heard during summer holidays in the Bavarian Alps. Elgar’s setting reflects his familiarity with the idiom and the choir ‘s light-hearted performance recaptured the enjoyment that the holidays had given the couple. Warm applause greeted the conductor, the accompanist, and the choir at the end of a very joyful and engaging evening.