Levens Choir hits a royal note

3:54pm Sunday 27th April 2008

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LEVENS Choir returns to choral matters with Taverner to Tavener: Music from the Reigns of Two Elizabeths on Saturday, May 10 (7.30pm), at Kendal Parish Church.

The choir's programme contrasts music from Tudor England with 20th and 21st century England and features two composers who almost share the same name.

John Taverner's setting of the Mass borrows its main tune from a pop song of the time - Westron Wind - and consists of a wonderful series of variations on this catchy tune. Three movements from this Western Wind Mass share the first half of the programme with a motet by Taverner's better-known contemporary Thomas Tallis and a group of four madrigals.

In the second half, John Tavener's moving Song for Athene (sung at the funeral of Princess Diana) will feature alongside his The Lamb as well as other pieces.

Finally, the concert concludes with Benjamin Britten's Choral Dances from his opera about Elizabeth the First - Gloriana.

All the above choral word settings will be linked by readings of poems on music.

For further details and tickets telephone 01539-730590.