Avebury singers to give Christmas concert at Swindon church

A rich variety of carols from Tudor to contemporary is promised by Avebury Vocal Ensemble in its Christmas programme this year.

There will be two concerts, the first at Bath Road Methodist Church in Old Town on Saturday 16 December at 7.00pm and the second at St. Mary’s Church, Uffington, on Wednesday 20 December at 7.00pm.

An ensemble spokesperson said: "The centrepiece of the concert is the joyous Jubilate Deo, an eight-part setting by Giovanni Gabrieli, one of the most influential Italian musicians of his time and who represented the culmination of the style of the Venetian School at the time of the shift from Renaissance to Baroque idioms. 

"The 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death will again be celebrated together with that of Patrick Hadley who died on the 17 December, just 50 years ago, and there will also be some seasonal music from Bach to Britten. 

"Old favourites will include In the bleak midwinter using the lovely setting by Harold Darke and the ever-popular In dulci jubilo in Robert Pearsall’s masterful and wonderfully elaborate arrangement. 

"At the other end of the spectrum, we will be singing music by local composer Robin Nelson and Norwegian composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo together with a sprinkling of the ever-popular John Rutter’s Christmas choral music.

"We are very pleased to have Joe Barber as our accompanist, who will play solo as well as accompanying the choir and there will, of course, be opportunities for audience participation."

Further details can be found at www.aveburyvocal.org