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Lift Thine Eyes


Course launch 2 November 2020
Course Director Ben England (Musical Director)

About this course

In November 2020, The Self-Isolation Choir held a special “Greatest Hits” course, offering members the opportunity to revisit and sing many of the choir’s favourite pieces from earlier in the year. The course did not introduce new repertoire but instead provided a chance to consolidate learning, enjoy additional teaching, and take part in a celebratory online concert.

Ben England led a series of live revision rehearsals covering music already taught in previous or ongoing courses. These included works originally directed by Ben, Harry Bradford, and Ellie Slorach. Singers also had access to existing rehearsal materials and new guidance from Ben in the live sessions.

Unlike other choir projects of the time, participants were not asked to record their voices for this course. Instead, the emphasis was on shared participation, with members singing from home during the final online concert. The event included a preview of the choir’s recording of Lift Thine Eyes from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, which was being studied in a separate parallel course.

PROGRAMME

From Gloria in D Major by Antonio Vivaldi:
Gloria in Excelsis | Et in Terra Pax | Domine Fili Unigenite | Domine Deus Agnus Dei

From Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi:
Dies Irae

From Requiem by Gabriel Fauré:
Agnus Dei | In Paradisum

From Messiah by George Frideric Handel:
Comfort Ye | And the Glory | Hallelujah!

From African Sanctus by David Fanshawe:
The Lord’s Prayer

Ave Maris Stella by Edvard Grieg

For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter

The Blue Bird by Charles Villiers Stanford

Quanta Qualia by Patrick Hawes

From Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn:
Thanks Be to God | Lift Thine Eyes

Concert Performance: 21 November 2020


Testimonials

Truly uplifting.
~ Tania

What a fantastic celebration of our achievement.
~ John

Well done everyone, I have been moved to tears of sadness and joy.
~ Susan


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24 September

The Lord’s Prayer (from African Sanctus by David Fanshawe)

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6 November

Christmas 2023 | Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols & Chilcott's Mid-Winter