The 2018 selection for the perennially popular Overgate Hospice Choir Hymnsing has been taken from New English Praise, a supplement to the New English Hymnal. Do join us for a memorable evening of favourite hymns directed and introduced by our Music Director Dr Simon Lindley with David Houlder at the organ. • We are delighted to be able to welcome David, who last played for this popular OHC event in 2004, to this year’s Hymnsing. Having achieved our 25th such presentation last season, David re-visits Brighouse to see us in to our second quarter of a century of such endeavour.
Come prepared to sing your heart out!
Alongside well-established favourites are new tunes for There’s a wideness in God’s mercy and a splendid choral harmonisation of Amazing grace. It is believed that the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool may well be the only Cathedral with its own “Cathedral Hymn” and “Hail Redeemer, King Divine is included in honour of the Cathedral’s recent Golden Jubilee.
Choral items include Stanford’ stirring Te Deum from his service in B flat and John Ireland’s noble Remembrance-tide anthem, Greater love hath no man, being sung in the Centenary Year of the 1918 Armistice. Music from Belgian Halifax resident Herman van Dyk is present, too, in the form of his Psalm 23. Finally, the Choir will be heard in an all-time Overgate favourite, God’s Choir .
We are delighted that Claire Strafford will again be joining us as soloist at this year’s hymnsing. Claire studied at the Leeds College of Music. For many years she has been an active oratorio soloist and has sung the majority of the repertoire from the last four centuries, from Handel’s Messiah to the Verdi Requiem and many major twentieth century works. These have taken her all over the country; to Wimborne Minster, Peterborough, Norwich, Ripon and Bangor Cathedrals, Sherborne Abbey and the great Town Halls of Birmingham and Leeds. She sings regularly at weddings and funerals and is a passionate champion of English song.
PROGRAMME
And can it be that I should gain Tune: Sagina, Thomas Campbell
Amazing grace Tune arranged by Robert Ramskill
Choir: Greater love hath no man John Ireland
Soprano Solo: The Lord is my Shepherd Samuel Liddle
The Lord’s Prayer Michael Head
Be still, for the presence of the Lord Words and Music: David Evans
Come, labour on Tune: Ora labora, T Tertius Noble [Descant SL]
Soprano Solo: If thou art near Bach
Come unto Him [Messiah] Handel
Fierce raged the tempest Tune: St Aelred, J B Dykes
Organ: Fantasia George Dyson
Choir: Psalm 23 Herman van Dyk
Great is Thy faithfulness Tune: Faithfulness, W M Runyan
INTERVAL
Hail Redeemer, King Divine Tune: King Divine, Charles Rigby
Choir: Te Deum laudamus in B flat Charles Villiers Stanford
Organ Solo: Ground Bass George Dyson
In heavenly love abiding Tune: Penlan, David Jenkins
Soprano Solo: Ave Maria Simon Geoffrey Lindley
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy Tune: Corvedale, Maurice Bevan
Choir: God’s Choir Ray Overholt
Lord, for the years Tune: Lord of the Years, Michael Baughen
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah Tune: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes
