Brighton Orpheus concert on 6 December 2008

	Brighton Orpheus Choir with the Musicians of All Saints leader Sophia Bartlette Claire McKenna (soprano) Emma Watkinson (mezzo soprano) Ben Francis (tenor) James Priest (baritone) conducted by Stella Hull	Saturday 6 December 2008 given at St John's Church, Knoyle Road, Preston village, Brighton
		There was a second concert on Wednesday 10 December in Lewes.

The “Nelson Touch”

The famous naval expression could be applied to a remarkable concert at St John’s Church, Preston Village, which was honoured by the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton & Hove on the evening of Saturday December 6th.

Nelson’s leadership relied on his extraordinary gift of inspiring others to work together, getting things right. Haydn was certainly inspired composing his famous “Nelson Mass”; no less so were the Brighton Orpheus Choir and the Musicians of All Saints from Lewes, united by the baton of Stella Hull. The result was a rare “out-of-this-world” experience of great music, including contrasting carols in the second half of the evening.

Some concerts presented by the choir are at All Saints’ Church, Hove. St John’s however was marvellous for its acoustics, enabling the most subtle intonations and rhythms, whether vocal or instrumental, to be enjoyed throughout the building. Another “plus”, among so many, was the clear diction – especially in the Latin text of the Mass. I am sure that Stella Hull ensured that every detail mattered – balance of dynamics between the excellent soloists from Trinity College of Music, London, the orchestra and, not least, the choir sections, who loved every single moment. You felt that all the present cares of our troubled times could be faced with new resolve. Above all art forms music crosses boundaries. What happened at St John’s was a musical excellence to the credit of all concerned. Brighton and Hove should ensure that such a treasure should be nurtured. I am so glad to have been there.

John Lockyer

Franz Josef Haydn

Hadyn_FJ.jpg (2386 bytes)

Nelson Mass

– Missa in angustiis (Mass in Troubled Times)

The Missa in angustiis, Haydn's no. 11 in D minor, is also known as the "Nelson Mass".

In 1798, when he wrote this mass, Haydn's reputation was at its peak, but the European world around him was in turmoil. Napoleon had won four major battles with Austria in less than a year. The previous year, in early 1797, his armies had crossed the Alps and threatened Vienna itself. In May of 1798, Napoleon invaded Egypt to destroy Britain's trade routes to the East.

The terrifying time for Austria gave the mass its title "Missa in Angustiis" or "Mass in troubled times". At its first performance in September 1798 news had yet to reach Vienna that six weeks earlier Napoleon had been dealt a stunning defeat in the Battle of the Nile by English forces led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. It was because of this coincidence, the mass acquired its nickname "Lord Nelson Mass". The name was easily fixed when two years later, Nelson himself visited Haydn's employers the Esterhazys and may have heard the mass performed.

Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798

The second half of the concert enjoyed a selection of Christmas music,
including Bruckner's motet Locus iste and O Magnum mysterium by contemporary American composer Morten Lauridsen.

William Matthias	Sir Christèmas
Anton Bruckner	Locus iste
arranged by David Willcocks	God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Morten Lauridsen	O magnum mysterium
from *Piae Cantiones,* arranged by Reginald Jacques	Good King Wenceslas
arranged by John Rutter	Past three o'clock
Hector Berlioz	The shepherds' farewell, from L'Enfance du Christ
arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams	O little town of Bethlehem
John Rutter	Nativity carol
arranged by John Rutter	The twelve days of Christmas
Felix Mendelssohn, arranged by David Willcocks	Hark! the herald angels sing