New Psalm settings by six Cambridge composers feature in a free concert by Gonville & Caius College Choir this Sunday afternoon (22 November) at 3 pm in St John’s College Chapel.

The Psalm settings were commissioned by the choir to mark the University’s 800th anniversary. The concert has been supported by the University’s 2009 Fund, and is part of the triennial Cambridge Music Festival.

Some of the UK’s most promising young composers have written new works for Sunday’s performance. Alumni Cheryl Frances-Hoad (Caius), Sasha Siem (Girton) and Edward Rushton (King’s) are all under 40 years old.

Also featured on Sunday’s concert are some of Cambridge’s most distinguished composers, including former Professor of Music Alexander Goehr, Professor Robin Holloway and Judith Weir.

Holloway and Weir have both already made musical contributions to the 800th Anniversary Year. Holloway’s Quartettino series, performed earlier this year, was commissioned for the Endellion String Quartet, in commemoration of their 30th anniversary season as well as the 800th anniversary of the University. The work of Judith Weir, Honorary Fellow of King’s, was featured at the Cambridge Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in July of this year.

Sunday’s concert will also feature singers from Hills Road Sixth Form College and The Perse School. A recording of Sunday’s concert will be available in due course.

The Cambridge Music Festival last took place in 2006. The theme of this year’s festival is Music and Evolution, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. Events throughout the festival will explore how music has evolved, find out how young children learn music, and mirror the voyage of HMS Beagle with an exploration of South American music, tangos from Argentina, and piano music and jazz from Brazil.

There are multiple events taking place each day throughout the festival, ranging from classical concerts in King's, Trinity, St John’s and other Cambridge venues, to free events for families in less conventional settings such as the Grafton, Parker's Piece, Park and Ride stops, and the Judge Business School.

The festival continues until 29 November. Tickets are available through the Cambridge Corn Exchange Box Office on 01223 357851 or online at www.cornex.co.uk.
 

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