|
Heathfield Choral Society was formed in the heady days of 1945, when people
were beginning to think ahead to a return to their daily lives, with some lives
having changed for ever. The first meeting was held in the Union Church Lecture
Hall in Heathfield on April 18th 1945. It was presided over by Mr B A Jervis,
the organist of the Union Church - he had ‘felt the desire amongst local singers
for a Choral Society’, and upon his initiative the meeting had been called. The
first rehearsal was held on Friday 4th May and was attended by 32 members. The
subscription was set at 2/6d. Little did they know what a success this Society
would be! The founder conductor was Mr Albert Clark, who wielded his baton for
five years, with his wife playing the piano. The first work to be performed was
Mendelssohn’s ‘Hymn of Praise’, which was thought to be particularly appropriate
’owing to the cessation of hostilities’. It is worth noting that the ticket
prices were 5/-, 3/6, and 2/- including tax! Also, a collection was made for the
restoration of Coventry Cathedral.
The Society then moved to the State Hall for their performances and remained
there for several years.
Leleie Head took over from Albert Clark, and after several changes of conductor,
Henry Jones was in charge from 1956 to 1970. In recent years a popular conductor
was Jared Armstrong who brought a wealth of fresh music to the Society, followed
by Dr Ruth Gipps, Stuart Rees and presently, Brian Newman.
‘Merrie England’ was the first major work (performed in 1946) followed by
Mendelssohn's ‘Elijah’, in conjunction with Tunbridge Wells Choral Society.
Since then the Society has performed both these and all the major choral works
many times under a variety of conductors.
The ‘Messiah’ has always proved popular as has the ‘The Creation’ but the
Society has also performed many shorter works, making up varied and interesting
programmes appealing to all ages and taking into account the diversity of tastes
of modern concert goers.
The Society celebrated its Golden anniversary in 1990 with a performance of ‘The
Creation’ by Haydn. Stuart Rees conducted, and the orchestra was the Primavera
Chamber Orchestra. Two members of the Society sang solos and it was felt that it
was a fine tribute to 50 glorious years.
Entering the Millennium the Choir hopes to keep up its established traditions
and present the people of Heathfield with the musical tradition it has enjoyed
for many years.
~~~
Where available, additional details and reviews of events can be found by
following the hyperlinks on the event names below. Programme covers for all of
the Society's concerts are held by the Hon. Secretary, but a selection is
reproduced on our
Programme
Covers page.
General Press
comments & reviews are available here
2007
|
21st April 2007 (Saturday) |
Singing Day |
Broad Oak Village Hall |
Missa di Gloria (Puccini) |
|
19th
May 2007 (Saturday) |
Spring Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
Elgar: From the Bavarian Highlands, Serenade for Strings, Sea Pictures
(Soprano: Dawn Taylor); Puccini: Missa di Gloria (Tenor: Paul Doling,
Baritone: Adrian White) |
|
14th July 2007 (Saturday) |
Open Garden |
Colemans, Warren Lane |
Some singing, and lots of garden, courtesy of Peter Jameson... |
|
2nd October 2007 (Tuesday) |
Eastbourne Festival Concert |
All Saints Church, Eastbourne |
Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine; Sullivan: The Long Day Closes; Mendellsohn:
Extracts from Elijah; Haydn: Little Organ Mass; Solos by Dawn Taylor
(soprano) and Gavin Stevens (piano) |
|
17th November 2007 (Saturday) |
Autumn Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
Pergolesi: Magnificat; Sullivan: The Long Day Closes; Fauré: Cantique de
Jean Racine; Mendellsohn: Extracts from Elijah; Haydn: Little Organ
Mass; Solos by Dawn Taylor (soprano) and Gavin Stevens (piano) |
|
Autumn 2007 |
Concert Parties |
Residential homes in Heathfield |
The choir takes music into the community. |
|
15th
December 2007 (Saturday) |
Christmas Carol Concert |
Heathfield |
Traditional Carols |
2006
|
1st April 2006
(Saturday)
|
Singing Day |
Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane |
A Singing Day to give anyone and everyone the chance to sing John Rutter's
"Requiem"
- details to follow... |
|
20th May 2006
(Saturday)
|
Spring Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
The Armed Man - a Mass for Peace (Karl Jenkins); Requiem (John Rutter); |
|
8th July 2006 (Saturday) |
Proms in the Garden |
By kind permission of Gill & Rex |
An entertainment for choir members & friends, culminating in fantastic
fireworks to Pomp & Circumstance. |
|
14th
October 2006 (Saturday) |
Autumn Community Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
Songs from the Shows, and Yeoman of the Guard |
|
9th December 2006 (Saturday) |
Christmas Concert |
St. Richard's Church, Heathfield |
Traditional Carol Concert |
|
October, December & February |
Concert Parties |
Residential homes in Heathfield |
The choir takes music into the community. |
2005
|
7th May 2005
(Saturday)
|
Singing Day |
Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane |
A Singing Day to give anyone and everyone the chance
to sing the Brahms German Requiem - just turn up with your £5 entry
fee (to cover costs). |
|
14th May 2005
(Saturday)
|
60th
Anniversary Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
A Concert to celebrate Heathfield Choral Society's
60th birthday. The programme consists of the German Requiem
(Brahms), with Zadok the Priest (Handel) and Five Variants of Dives and
Lazarus (Vaughan Williams). |
|
11th June (Saturday) |
Singing Day |
Holy Cross Priory, Cross-in-Hand |
Another Singing Day, open to everyone, this time working on Karl Jenkins'
"The Armed Man - a Mass for Peace", a wonderful full-length piece
(commissioned by the Royal Armouries for the Millennium celebrations). £5
entry fee - call 01435 863414 for more details. |
|
2nd July (Saturday) |
Open Garden |
Colemans, Warren Lane, Cross-in-Hand |
By kind permission of Peter Jameson, a large, friendly and mature garden
to wander round, with tea and cakes, and a little light music. 2-5pm. |
|
24th July (Sunday) |
HCS Choir Outing |
St. Paul's Cathedral |
Solemn Eucharist – Mass setting, Tomás Luis de Victoria: Surga Propera,
with His Majesty’s Sackbuts & Cornets. An outing for choir members and
their family & friends. |
|
October & December |
Concert Parties |
Residential homes in Heathfield |
The choir takes music into the community. |
|
10th December (Saturday) |
Christmas Concert |
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
Lauda per la Nativita del Signore (Respighi); The New Born King (Jacobs);
Carols. |
2004
|
5th January 2004 (Monday) |
Members' Party |
Horam |
A Twelfth Night Knees-Up! |
|
24th January 2004 (Saturday) |
County Music Day |
Lewes |
CANCELLED |
|
3rd April 2004 (Saturday) |
Singing Day |
Heathfield Community Centre (Sheepsetting Lane |
A singing day focussing on Mozart's Coronation Mass (NOTE NEW DATE!) |
|
15th May 2004 (Saturday)
|
Spring Concert
|
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD |
Magnificat (Schubert); Exultate Jubilate (Mozart); Te
Deum (Haydn); Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Handel); Coronation Mass
(Mozart); |
|
October 2004 |
Songs from the Shows |
Heathfield |
Solos, duets & chorus items from well-known shows, with linked story lines |
|
11th December, 2004 (Saturday)
|
Christmas Concert
|
St Richard's Church |
Christmas music from The Messiah, with carols and solos |
2003
|
15th
February 2003 (Saturday) |
East Sussex Choral Festival |
Eastbourne
|
Sanctus (Clemens non Papa); O Magnum Mysterium (Morten Lauridsen); Morning
has Broken (Fargeon arr. Lojeski); Teddy Bears’ Picnic (arr. Andrew
Carter); |
|
17th May 2003 (Saturday)
|
Spring Concert
|
State Hall, Heathfield
|
Zadok the Priest (Handel); Serenade to Music (Vaughan Williams); Holberg Suite
(Grieg); Adagio (Albinoni); Little Organ Mass (Haydn); Lay a Garland
(Pearsall); |
|
31st May 2003 (Saturday) |
Open Garden |
Colemans, Warren Lane, Cross-in-Hand, by kind permission of Peter Jameson |
A garden that has been developed over sixty years in a one-time chestnut
plantation on the edge of Possingworth Park. Teas. Discount nursery sales.
Admission charge.
|
|
28th June 2003 |
Sponsored Sing |
Union Church, Heathfield |
Sponsor-A-Hymn... HCS will work its way through the Hymn Book in return
for sponsorship... |
|
19th July 2003 |
Private Party |
|
|
|
18th October 2003 (Saturday) |
Concert |
Stanmer Church (in aid of the Church Appeal) |
Fanfare (Shaw); Zadok the Priest (Handel); Locus Iste (Bruckner); Psalm 23
(Schubert); Dove Sono (Mozart);Totus Tuus (Gorecki); Panis Angelicus
(Franck); Angelus ad pastores ait (Gabrielli); Morning has Broken (arr. Ed
Lojeski); Siyahamba (trad.); Music of the Night (Lloyd-Webber); The Circle
and the Line (Stevens); Leanin' (Sterndale-Bennett); Teddy Bears' Picnic (arr.
Carter); Dance to your Daddy (arr. Stone); Shenandoah (arr. Erb); Belle
Qui Tiente ma Vie/Bouree for Bach/Little Miss Muffet [Mocktet]; Macedonian
Folk Songs (Srebotnjk); Three Hungarian Folk Songs (Seibere) |
|
13th December, 2003 (Saturday)
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield
|
Hark, the Herald-angels Sing; Angelus ad Pastores Ait (Gabrielli); In Dulci
Jubilo; Ding dong! Merrily on high; The Three Kings; I Saw Three Ships (arr.
Newman);Marion Underwood - soprano: Lullaby; Silent Night; The Time of
Christemas (Tucapský); Navidad Nuestra (Ramirez); God rest you Merry,
Gentlemen; Geoff Robb — Guitar: El Delirio (Cano), Caprichio Arabe (Tarega),
Asturias (Albeniz); Rocking; Patapan; John Allpress — baritone: Withers Rocking
Carol (Vaughan-Williams); Mary’s Boy-Child; The First Nowell; Sisters of the
Holy Cross Priory: African & Asian carols. |
2002
|
16th March, 2002 (Saturday)
|
Singing Day
|
Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane
|
Fauré Requiem from scratch... Members and non-members welcome.
|
|
13th April, 2002 (Saturday)
|
Fauré
Requiem
|
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD
|
Requiem & Cantique de Jean Racine (Fauré); O Sing Unto The Lord
(Purcell); Capriol Suite (Warlock);
|
|
18th May 2002 (Saturday)
|
"A Chime For David" Charity Concert
|
Heathfield Community College, Cade Street, Heathfield,
TN21 8RJ
|
HCS and others performing in aid of the David Benson Memorial Fund for Leukaemia in
Families.
|
|
27th May 2002 (Monday)
|
Last rehearsal of the season
|
Christ Church Hall, Horam.
|
Last rehearsal of the season...
|
|
6th July 2002 (Saturday
|
Open Garden
|
Bay Tree Cottage, Nash Street, Chiddingly, by kind
permission of Anne & Arthur Nelson
|
A garden in the process of development, started just seven years ago. Teas.
Plants for sale. Admission £3.
|
|
14th July 2002 (Sunday)
|
Choral Evensong
|
St.Pauls Cathedral, London
|
A day trip for members and friends.
|
|
27th July 2002 (Saturday)
|
Open Garden
|
Colemans, Warren Lane, Cross-in-Hand, by kind
permission of Peter Jameson
|
A garden that has been developed over sixty years in
a one-time chestnut plantation on the edge of Possingworth Park. Teas.
Admission £3.
|
|
2nd September 2002 (Monday)
|
New season starts
|
Christ Church Hall, Horam.
|
AGM and first rehearsal of the new season (NOTE: Subs are due!)
|
|
19th October, 2002 (Saturday)
|
Community Concert
|
State Hall, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LD
|
A Sprig of Thyme (Rutter); Children's group; Solo pieces.
|
|
7th December, 2002 (Saturday)
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield Community College, Cade Street, Heathfield,
TN21 8RJ
|
Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Vaughan
Williams); Christmas Concerto (Corelli); plus a variety of Christmas
music.
|
|
14th December 2002 (Saturday)
|
Carol Singing |
Holy Cross Priory, Cross-in-Hand
|
Christmas music for the Residents and Staff.
|
2001
|
3rd March (Saturday)
|
Community Choirs Festival
|
Lewes Town Hall
|
Ave Verum
(Mozart); My Lord What a Mornin’
(spiritual); Hostias from Mozart’s
Requiem; Stormy Weather
|
| 28th
April (Saturday) |
Singing
Day |
Maynard's
Green School |
Mozart's
Requiem |
|
10th May (Thursday)
|
“A Light for David” Charity Concert
|
Wintergardens, Eastbourne
|
Noah and his Floating Zoo (Flanders & Horowitz); Chorus of the Hebrew
Slaves (Verdi)
|
|
19th May (Saturday)
|
Spring Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Requiem &
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart);
Benedicite (Vaughan Williams);
Eclogue (Finzi)
|
|
9th July (Monday)
|
End
of season Garden Party
|
Stonehill House
|
A friends and family gathering, with a barbecue and a few songs.
|
|
3rd September (Monday)
|
AGM & start of new season
|
Horam Church Hall
|
Annual General Meeting (usually a speedy affair) followed by the first
rehearsal of the new season.
|
|
20th October (Saturday)
|
Autumn Community
Concert
|
To be advised
|
Madrigals, Motets and Much Moore(!), including pieces by De Pres, Welland Ford
& Moore, and items from Byrd's four-part Mass.
|
|
8th December (Saturday)
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Sacred Christmas Music
and seasonal pieces, by Berlioz, Finzi, Rutter, Sargent, Willcocks & others.
|
|
15th December (Saturday
|
Carol Singing
|
Holy Cross Priory
|
Christmas pieces (taken from the concert a week earlier)
|
2000
|
16th December
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Messiah (Handel)
|
|
14th October
|
Autumn Concert
|
St Richard's Church, Heathfield, with Minor Chords
junior windband
|
Noah and his Floating Zoo (Flanders &
Horowitz), and the second performance of Praise & Revelation
(Stuart Johnson).
|
|
2nd September
|
Open Garden
|
Bay Tree Cottage, Nash Street, Chiddingly, by kind
permission of Anne & Arthur Nelson
|
A garden in the process of development, started just
six years ago. Ploughman's Lunches from 12 noon. Admission £2. Lunches £3.
|
|
29th July
|
Open Garden
|
Colemans, Warren Lane, Cross-in-Hand, by kind
permission of Peter Jameson
|
A garden that has been developed over sixty years in
a one-time chestnut plantation on the edge of Possingworth Park. Teas.
Admission £3.
|
|
17th June
|
Summer Concert
|
St Philip’s Church, Burwash Common
|
Vivaldi's Gloria and other pieces
|
|
8th April
|
Spring Concert
with Heathfield Silver Band
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Praise &
Revelation, a newly commissioned work by
Stuart Johnson; Variations by Gavin Stevens (first local performance);
Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands (Elgar); Sprig of Thyme (Rutter)
|
|
5th March
|
Community Choirs Festival
|
Lewes Town Hall
|
Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands (Elgar);
Sprig of Thyme (Rutter)
|
1999
|
4th December
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
A Dickensian Christmas: Readings from A Christmas
Carol & Pickwick Papers, with traditional carols and songs, and
Christmas Day by Gustav Holst
|
|
22nd October
|
Celebration of Centenary of Union Church
|
St. Richard’s Church, Heathfield
|
|
|
8th May
|
Spring Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Nelson Mass (Haydn); Five Mystical Songs (Vaughan
Williams)
|
|
2nd May
|
Patronal Festival
|
St. Philip’s Church, Burwash Common
|
Sacred choral works, and accompaniment for the
service, which led to our being asked back for a concert in June, 2000.
|
|
20th March
|
Singing Day
|
Boship Hotel
|
Heathfield Sings: A variety of English Music through
the ages.
|
1998
|
5th December
|
Christmas Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Messe de Minuit (Charpentier)
|
|
December 1998 |
Christmas Cracker |
Heathfield High Street |
Torchlight Procession & Carols |
|
9th October
|
Autumn Gold Concert
|
St. Richard’s Church, Heathfield
|
A varied programme for “Churches together in
Heathfield”
|
|
Spring 1998
|
Spring Concert
|
Heathfield Community College
|
Requiem
(Rutter)
|
|
Summer 1998
|
Singing Day
|
Heathfield Community Centre
|
HMS Pinafore (Gilbert & Sullivan)
|
Looking into the more distant past...
|
1997
|
Broughton
|
The Flowering of Flint
|
|
1997
|
Schubert
|
Mass in G
|
|
1997
|
Vivaldi
|
Gloria
|
|
1997
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1997
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Fantasia on Christmas Carols
|
|
1996
|
Bach
|
St John Passion
|
|
1996
|
Britten
|
St Nicholas
|
|
1995
|
Haydn
|
The Creation
|
|
1995
|
Rossini
|
Petite Mess Sonnelle
|
|
1994
|
Mozart
|
Coronation Mass
|
|
1994
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1993
|
Haydn
|
Harmonie Messe
|
|
1993
|
Haydn
|
Spring from The Seasons
|
|
1992
|
Faure
|
Requiem
|
|
1992
|
Brahms
|
Song of Destiny
|
|
1992
|
Bach
|
Christmas Oratorio (part)
|
|
1991
|
Vaughan Williams
|
In Windsor Forest
|
|
1991
|
German
|
Merrie England
|
|
1991
|
Handel
|
Messiah (Christmas Music)
|
|
1990
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Dona Nobis
|
|
1990
|
Verdi
|
Te Deum
|
|
1990
|
Handel
|
Israel in Egypt (part)
|
|
1989
|
Bach
|
St Matthew Passion
|
|
1989
|
Purcell
|
Masque of Diocletian
|
|
1989
|
Vivaldi
|
Gloria
|
|
1988
|
Carissimi
|
Jephtha
|
|
1988
|
Britten
|
Rejoice in the Lamb
|
|
1988
|
Mendelssohn
|
Elijah
|
|
1987
|
Verdi
|
Stabat Mater
|
|
1987
|
Rossini
|
Stabat Mater
|
|
1987
|
Montgomery
|
Christ's Birthday
|
|
1987
|
Britten
|
St Nicholas
|
|
1986
|
Bach
|
St Matthew Passion
|
|
1986
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1985
|
Bourgeois
|
Jabberwocky
|
|
1985
|
Borodin
|
Polovtsian Dances
|
|
1985
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Pilgrim's Journey
|
|
1985
|
Haydn
|
Spring from The Seasons
|
|
1985
|
Vivaldi
|
Gloria
|
|
1984
|
Faure
|
Requiem
|
|
1984
|
J.C. Bach
|
I Wrestle and Pray
|
|
1984
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Towards the Unknown Region
|
|
1983
|
Handel
|
Messiah (part 2)
|
|
1983
|
Verdi
|
Stabat Mater
|
|
1983
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Five Mystical Songs
|
|
1982
|
Mozart
|
Requiem
|
|
1982
|
Bach
|
Mass in B minor (part)
|
|
1981
|
Mozart
|
Coronation Mass
|
|
1981
|
Britten
|
St Nicholas
|
|
1980
|
Vaughan Williams
|
A Sea Symphony
|
|
1980
|
Lambert
|
The Rio Grande
|
|
1979
|
Rossini
|
Petite Mess Solonnelle
|
|
1979
|
Elgar
|
From the Bavarian Highlands
|
|
1978
|
Purcell
|
Welcome to all the Pleasures
|
|
1978
|
Ramirez
|
Missa Criolla
|
|
1978
|
Borodin
|
Polovtsian Dances
|
|
1977
|
Mozart
|
Solemn Vespers
|
|
1976
|
Faure
|
Requiem
|
|
1976
|
Elgar
|
The Music Makers
|
|
1975
|
Vaughan Williams
|
In Windsor Forest
|
|
1974
|
Schubert
|
Mass in A flat
|
|
1974
|
Haydn
|
Te Deum
|
|
1973
|
Vivaldi
|
Gloria
|
|
1972
|
Mendelssohn
|
Hymn of Praise
|
|
1971
|
Orff
|
Carmina Burana
|
|
1970
|
Mendelssohn
|
Elijah
|
|
1969
|
Rossini
|
Stabat Mater
|
|
1968
|
Gluck
|
Orpheus
|
|
1967
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1967
|
Britten
|
Ceremony of Carols
|
|
1967
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Fantasia on Christmas Carols
|
|
1966
|
Kodaly
|
Missa Brevix
|
|
1965
|
Bach
|
The Peasant Cantata
|
|
1964
|
Mozart
|
Requiem
|
|
1963
|
Haydn
|
The Seasons
|
|
1962
|
Purcell
|
King Arthur
|
|
1961
|
Vaughan Williams
|
Towards the Unknown Region
|
|
1960
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1959
|
Handel
|
Acis and Galatea
|
|
1958
|
Bach
|
St Luke Passion
|
|
1957
|
Purcell
|
Welcome to all the Pleasures
|
|
1956
|
Brahms
|
Liebesliederwalzer
|
|
1955
|
Stamford
|
The Revenge
|
|
1955
|
Mendelssohn
|
Hear my Prayer
|
|
1954
|
Haydn
|
The Creation
|
|
1953
|
Mendelssohn
|
Elijah
|
|
1953
|
Handel
|
Acis and Galatea
|
|
1952
|
Bizet
|
Carmen
|
|
1951
|
Mendelssohn
|
St Paul
|
|
1950
|
Handel
|
Messiah
|
|
1950
|
German
|
Tom Jones
|
|
1949
|
Elgar
|
From the Bavarian Highlands
|
|
1948
|
Coleridge-Taylor
|
Hiawatha
|
|
1947
|
Mendelssohn
|
Elijah
|
|
1946
|
German
|
Merrie England
|
|
1946
|
Mendelssohn
|
Elijah
|
|
1945
|
Mendelssohn
|
Hymn of Praise
|
|
