Leicester Bach Choir

Eve of Palm Sunday 2012 and we are in the acoustically splendid St James the Greater overlooking Victoria Park, Leicester. LBC are singing a mixed programme of mainly baroque liturgical music (plus a trumpet concerto).  Splendid evening, well sung and played, with wine.

Jennifer Clegg's written welcome was warm but I struggled to hear her verbal welcome from the pulpit. I just wanted the audience told a little more about the origins of some of the music. I know liturgy means a lot to me and that this is not so for all people. However, I think a little more would have lead to a large increase in the pleasure to be derived from the evening.

First in the running order was a Salve Regina, Hail Queen of Heaven. Liturgically, this antiphon to the BVM is sung at the end of Compline on most of the time between Trinity and Advent (the long run of green sundays). Most Catholics used to have it off by heart both in the vernacular and in the original Latin.
In monastic settings it is usually sung in the dark save for a single light/ candle illuminating a statute of Our Lady. Kind of motherly good night song for the Children of Eve.

This was followed by a Stabat Mater. This piece of medieval doggerel also has an important place in Catholic liturgy, or did once upon a time. It is the Tract Hymn at the Mass of the seven sorrows of the BVM. Those that know about these things believe it to be a fine piece of Latin. The key to understanding it  is that it is part of the devotion to the seven sorrows of the BVM. What Mary was put through for being the  mother of Jesus, therefore in Catholic belief, and of God. We are invited to empathises with Mary on her journey to her son's death.

The last piece of the concert was a Gloria. The words of this Latin hymn of praise is derived from the  Hebrew of the First Testament or from the early Christian Latin. The placing of the hymn during the mass has floated between near the start (after the penitential rite and Kyries) and after communion as a great hymn of thanksgiving for the eucharist (which is a great hymn of thanksgiving.) Either way it is a great slam of praise and thanksgiving.

Anything else? I think not. Great evening out and thanks to LBC.