British composer Benjamin Britten, the centenary of whose birth is commemorated this year, is often referred to as the greatest English composer since Purcell.
The Linden Singers, directed by Basil Brooker, are paying tribute to Britten in their final concerts for the year in St John's Cathedral, Napier on November 23 at 4pm and in St Matthew's Church, Hastings at 2.30pm on Sunday, November 24.
The programme will feature A Ceremony of Carols, originally composed for treble voices, as the main work in the programme. Written on the voyage back to England from America in 1942, where Britten was reputed to have said he did this "to alleviate the boredom", there have been several later additions to the original collection including the plainsong Procession and Recession.
Composed with a harp accompaniment in mind, the Linden Singers will perform a four-part version accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Curtis, with Britten's lovely carol Hymn to the Virgin, for double choir
The remainder of the programme will include works by musicians who were Britten's contemporaries such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. Also included will be two prayers from Durham Cathedral set to music by the choir's accompanist and vocal coach, Elizabeth Curtis, who will direct the choir in these items.
