6th September 2012 - 12.30 Lunchtime Concert

Timothy Penrose, counter tenor
Graham Davies, organ

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Programme

Ego flos campi – Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

I did call upon the Lord -  Maurice Greene (1695-1755)

A Divine Hymne – Jeremiah Clarke (1670-1707)

Sing unto God – William Croft (1678-1727)

Ah, how sweet – William Croft

Fairest Isle – Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

The wakeful nightingale – John Weldon (1676-1736)

Kind Heaven – George Frideric  Handel (1685-1759)

Might I in thy sight – Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)

An Evening Hymne – Henry Purcell

 

Peter Horsfield has been inspired by today's concert to write this poem, in a form called "acrostic" - where a word is to be found by taking the first letter of each line of the poem.

For those who were not at the concert it may be helpful to know that Tim Penrose stood on the left side of the church, in front of the pulpit.

That is a good position to exploit the acoustic of the church, and good for the soloist to hear the Parker Organ accompanying his singing. However, it was problematic for organist Graham as he and Tim had no eye contact during the concert, no chance to pick up on those little cues performers give each other during a piece.


Here's Peter's poem, Countertenor (Acrostic).

 
Contrapuntal melodies are soaring
Over us. Baroque fluidity, that
Underpins his vocal skill and texture,
Nurtures purity of tone, and blossoms
Tirelessly throughout a range amazing.
Effortless articulation, sacred
Rainbow colours, secular and loving,
Tempers the organ's accompaniment,
Even though the two men, by position,
Need to integrate with intuition,
Operating blind throughout this concert:
Reach the heights of artistry – inspire us.

Peter Horsfield 6/9/2012

Timothy Penrose, counter tenor

Timothy Penrose is one of the foremost counter tenors of his generation. He started his musical career as a Quirister at Winchester College and went on to study voice and organ at Trinity College of Music where he obtained his Fellowship. He was “Gentleman-in-Ordinary” to Her Majesty’s chapel Royal for three years and was chosen by the Greater London Arts association as one of their Young Musicians of the Year.

His career as a solo counter tenor and consort singer has taken him as far afield as Japan, Brazil and the USA. Solo recordings include Gabrieli’s “Sym Sacrae ll” with Andrew Parrott, works by Thomas Tomkins with the English Consort of Viols, Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” and Handel’s “Semele” for John Eliot Gardiner. As a member of the pioneering early music vocal ensemble Pro Cantione Antiqua, he has made numerous recordings, including music from the 13th century as well as works by Byrd, Lassus and Palestrina.

His career as a singing teacher and coach flourishes, working with a wide range of amateur and professional singers. He also teaches voice at Eltham College and Trinity School Croydon.

He is organist and director of music at All Saints West Dulwich.

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Graham Davies, organ

Graham Davies received early musical training at Winchester Cathedral where he assisted and was a pupil of Graham Matthews and Martin Neary. In his mid twenties he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at St.Cross, Winchester and following this was Deputy Organist at Wimborne Minster.

After a period at Leeds Parish Church, Graham went on to become Director of Music at Malvern Priory, where he founded the Priory Singers and Orchestra and regularly took part in the Malvern Festival. Whilst at Malvern Graham trained the choir of men and boys, who occasionally sang at Worcester and Gloucester Cathedrals. At this time Graham taught piano and class singing at Croftdown Preparatory School in Malvern and prepared pupils for Associated Board Examinations.

Upon moving to Bath in 1989 and following five years as Director of Music at St. Mary, Bathwick, Graham was appointed Deputy Organist at Bath Abbey in 1994 where for seven years he was accompanist for the Abbey Girls Choir and the Evening Choir and was the organist for many ceremonial and civic occasions in the Abbey.

In 2005 Graham was appointed to All Saints’ Clifton, in Bristol where he developed the music within an Anglo Catholic tradition, widening the repertoire and recruiting many new members to the choir. From 2005 to 2008 he was a regular accompanist for the Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir. At this time he finished his business career to devote all his time to music and in August 2008 went on to be Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, High Wycombe. As well as developing the scope of liturgical music, Graham established a successful series of weekly lunchtime concerts. Graham took up his duties as Organist and Choirmaster of St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church, Leatherhead in May 2011 and was appointed Organist of  St. Anthony's RC Church, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire in November of that year.

As a solo organist, Graham has given many recitals in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK with previous performances  at the cathedrals in Exeter, Bristol, Hereford, Coventry, Truro, Eglise St. Vincent in Montreux, St Peters Cathedral and Eglise de Notre-Dame in Geneva. He has performed in New York State and in Switzerland and had a busy year in 2011 including appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral and in Chicago. He has benefitted from organ studies and master classes with internationally renowned teachers including Margaret Phillips and Nicholas Kynaston, always concentrating on historically informed performance and is keen to encourage organ pupils.

Graham's major project for 2012 has been to launch the Music on Thursdays series of lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Parish Church.

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