ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html> <HEAD> <TITLE>BERLIOZ GRAND MESSE DES MORTS</TITLE><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii "> <META name="keywords" content="Hertfordshire, choirs, Royal, Albert, Hall, London, Berlioz, Messe, mortschoir, music, choral, classical, orchestral, Herts, society, concerts"> </HEAD> <BODY BACKGROUND="images/background.gif"> <!-- *************** HEADER *************** --> <TABLE BORDER="0" WIDTH="700"> <TR> <td width="180"><IMG alt="Royal Albert Hall" src="images/rah.gif" width="200"> </td> <td> <TABLE WIDTH="520"> <tr> <td> <CENTER><FONT face="arial" color="black" size="4">Hertfordshire Choirs sing BERLIOZ&#8217;S <EM>Grande Messe des Morts</EM> <FONT size="3">at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, 4th November 2007, 7.30 pm</FONT>&nbsp; </FONT> </CENTER> </td> </tr> </TABLE> </td> <!-- *************** NAVIGATION *************** --> <TR> <TD width="180" valign="top"> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="index.htm"><IMG SRC="images/home_btn.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Home Page"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="index.htm">HOME PAGE<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Our_history.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Our history"></A></FONT> </TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Our_history.htm">Our history</A></FONT><BR> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Concert_details.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Concert details"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Concert_details.htm">Concert details<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="Supporting_BCPB.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Supporting BCBP"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Supporting_BCPB.htm">Supporting BCPB<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="Tickets.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Tickets"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Tickets.htm">Tickets<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="Contact_us.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Contact us"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="Contact_us.htm">Contact us<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="For_those_participating.htm"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="For those participating"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="For_those_participating.htm">For those participating<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <BR> <TABLE> <tr> <td align="right"><p><font color="black" size="2" face="Verdana">powered by:</font></p> </td> <td><p><font color="#ffff80" size="2" face="Verdana"><a href="http://www.makingmusic.org.uk/nids"><img border="0" src="images/nids.gif" height="31" alt="nids"></a> </font> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><CENTER><font color="black" size="2" face="Verdana">The Internet Development Service of Making Music</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <BR> <CENTER><a href="http://validator.w3.org/check/referer"><img border="0" src="images/valid-html40.gif" alt="Valid HTML 4.0!" height="31" width="88"></a> </CENTER> <!-- *************** BODY *************** --> </TD> <TD width="570" valign="top"><BR> <BR> <A NAME="Top"></A><STRONG><FONT face="arial" color="black">Concert details</FONT></STRONG><BR> <BR> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="#Description"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Description"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="#Description">Description<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="#Performers"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Performers"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="#Performers">Performers<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"> <A HREF="#Organisers"><IMG SRC="images/go_next_.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Organisers"></A></FONT></TD> <TD><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="2"><A HREF="#Organisers">Organisers<BR> </A></FONT> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <P><BR> <STRONG><A NAME="Description"><FONT face="arial" color="black">Description</FONT></A></STRONG><BR> <FONT face="Arial" size="2">We are pleased to welcome you to the fourth major performance by the Joint Hertfordshire Choirs. And when we say major, we mean major &#8211; over 700 singers, a massive orchestra including 16 timpani and 4 brass bands &#8211; yes, it&#8217;s the Berlioz <EM>Grande Messe des Morts!</EM><BR> <BR> </FONT><FONT face="Arial" size="2">By any standards this piece is a huge undertaking; not only does it fill a concert programme but the resources required are massive. When choosing repertoire for the Joint Herts Choirs (a grouping of some 15 choirs all based in the county), one consideration is that they are pieces that require (or were intended for) large numbers of performers. In the case of the Berlioz piece, any one individual choir would be lost amongst the massive orchestral forces &#8211; with 15 choirs the effect is stunning.<BR> <BR> So this is what you will experience in the Royal Albert Hall on 4th November 2007:<BR> <BR> &#8226; over 700 singers from 16 different choirs<BR> &#8226; a huge orchestra including 16 timpani (8 players), 10 cymbals and 4 gongs<BR> &#8226; 4 brass bands spread in different locations around the Hall<BR> &#8226; Berlioz&#8217;s individual approach to orchestration, incorporating some stunning effects<BR> &#8226; An incredible amount of colour and variety in the sounds produced from this very large body of performers!<BR> <BR> Additionally, an innovative and exciting feature of this concert will be a world premi&egrave;re performance. This time we have decided to take the opportunity of having assembled all these instruments (orchestra and bands) to commission a short Fanfare by the young Hertfordshire composer, Daniel Basford.<BR> <BR> Berlioz was, to say the least, an unusual and colourful character. He was not popular with the French establishment and many attempts were made to prevent the first performance of his Requiem, which had been commissioned by M. de Gasparin, then Minister of the Interior. Eventually the performance did take place, in Saint-Louis des Invalides on 5th December 1837.<BR> <BR> Berlioz suspected (rightly as it turned out!) that his enemies would try to sabotage the performance, particularly as he was not allowed to conduct it himself. This role fell to Monsieur Habeneck who had always been asked to conduct large-scale musical performances of an official character and had also conducted the premi&egrave;re of other Berlioz works. Because of his suspicion, Berlioz stationed himself behind Habeneck and watched carefully as the Dies Irae came towards its conclusion. The music leads without a break into the Tuba Mirum, with its 16 timpani and 4 brass bands, and the tempo broadens to half its previous speed. With all these huge resources to pick up the new tempo it is the one bar where the role of conductor is absolutely indispensable. At this moment, Habeneck laid down his baton and started to take a pinch of snuff!&nbsp; Berlioz saw this, rushed in front of Habeneck and gave the four main beats of the new tempo. The orchestra followed and the performance was saved from disaster. Berlioz continued to conduct to the end of the movement. We are assured that our conductor, Derek Harrison, does not take snuff!<BR> <BR> It promises to be a magical night. If you are not excited by the thought of nearly 1000 performers in the Royal Albert Hall playing such a monumental piece, you probably need to get out more&#8230; </FONT> <BR> </P> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><A HREF="#Top"><IMG SRC="images/go_up_bt.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Return to top of page"></A></TD> <TD><font color="black" FACE="arial" size="2"><A HREF="#Top">Return to top of page</A></font></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <BR> <BR> <STRONG><A NAME="Performers"><FONT face="arial" color="black">Performers</FONT></A></STRONG><BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Soloists</FONT> <BR> <FONT face="Arial" size="2">Tenor soloist: Justin Lavender&nbsp;<BR> </FONT> <TABLE width="440" BORDER="0"> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="images/JustinLavender.jpg" alt="Derek Harrison" ALIGN="left" style="WIDTH: 102px; HEIGHT: 139px"></TD> <TD><FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2"> Justin Lavender has since appeared as soloist with many of the world&#8217;s great opera companies, conductors and orchestras. He has also sung for us in the two previous concerts : Mahler<em> Symphony No 8</em> and Verdi <em>Requiem</em>. </FONT> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Musical Director </FONT> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2">Derek Harrison</FONT> <BR> <TABLE width="440" BORDER="0"> <TR> <TD><IMG SRC="images/DBH.jpg" width="120" alt="Derek Harrison" ALIGN="left"></TD> <TD><FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2"> Derek has been MD of the Hertford Choral Society for 30 years and has also conducted all three previous performances of the combined Hertfordshire choirs. </FONT> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2">He is also a singer, specialising in the earlier years of his career in medieval music (with the St George's Canzona) - a long way from Berlioz <EM>Grande Messe des Morts</EM>!</FONT></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="images/DHinaction.jpg" width="100" alt="Derek Harrison" ALIGN="right"></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <BR> <BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Orchestra</FONT><BR> <FONT face="Arial" size="2"><A HREF="http://www.westminsterphil.org.uk">Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra</A><BR> <A href="http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/hertsmusic/county/county_bass.shtml" target="new"> Herts County Youth Brass (4 Brass Bands)</A>&nbsp; </FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT face="Arial">Members from the following choirs will take part:</FONT><BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2"> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.barnetchoral.org.uk" target="new">Barnet Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.bscs.org.uk" target="new">Bishops Stortford Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.chilternchoir.org.uk/index.html" target="new">Chiltern Chamber Choir</A><BR> The Chiltern Choir<br> <A HREF="http://www.chipperfieldchoral.co.uk" target="new">Chipperfield Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.harpendenchoralsociety.org" target="new">Harpenden Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.choral-society.com" target="new">Hertford Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.nhgs.org.uk" target="new">North Herts Guild of Singers</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.qcchoir.org" target="new">QC Chamber Choir</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.ChoralSociety.com" target="new">St. Albans Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.stevenagechoral.org.uk" target="new">Stevenage Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.tringchoral.org.uk" target="new">Tring Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://home.freeuk.net/ware-choral/" target="new">Ware Choral Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.watfordphilharmonic.co.uk" target="new">Watford Philharmonic Society</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.wgcms.org.uk" target="new">Welwyn Garden Music Society</A><BR> <BR> This numbers around 1000 performers.&nbsp; </FONT> <BR> <BR> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><A HREF="#Top"><IMG SRC="images/go_up_bt.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Return to top of page"></A></TD> <TD><font color="black" FACE="arial" size="2"><A HREF="#Top">Return to top of page</A></font></TD> </TR> </TABLE> <BR> <BR> <STRONG><A NAME="Organisers"><FONT face="arial" color="black">Organisers</FONT></A></STRONG><BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2">The project is run by a committee, on which seven of the 16 participating choirs are represented. Their primary focus is on all aspects of the musical preparation of this event, but they also work very closely with the charity on many aspects of the concert day arrangements. </FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Chairman</FONT> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2">Robin Osterley (Stevenage Choral Society) </FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Secretary</FONT> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black" SIZE="2">Diana Salthouse (Hertford Choral Society) <BR> <BR> <FONT size="3">Treasurer<BR> </FONT><FONT size="2">Keith Wilson (Ware Choral Society)</FONT> </FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT face="arial" color="black">Committee Members</FONT> <BR> <FONT face="Arial" size="2">Gillian Gardner-Smith (Barnet Choral Society); Cynthia Godley; Karen Goulding (Stevenage Choral Society); John Jefkins (Watford Philharmonic Society); Hilary Laidler (Hertford Choral Society); Graham Poole (North Herts Guild of Singers)</FONT> <BR> <BR> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <TR> <TD><A HREF="#Top"><IMG SRC="images/go_up_bt.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="Return to top of page"></A></TD> <TD><font color="black" FACE="arial" size="2"><A HREF="#Top">Return to top of page</A></font></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD> <A HREF="index.htm"><IMG SRC="images/home_btn.gif" BORDER="0" width="15" alt="HOME PAGE"></A></TD> <TD><font color="black" FACE="arial" size="2"><A HREF="index.htm">HOME PAGE</A> </font> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </BODY> </html>