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The Gesualdo Six & Chelys Consort of Viols

Add to my Calendar 03-05-2026 19:30 03-05-2026 21:30 36 The Gesualdo Six & Chelys Consort of Viols Join The Gesualdo Six and Chelys Consort of Viols at Boxgrove Priory for a captivating programme celebrating the golden age of English verse anthems, with music by Purcell, Tomkins, Humfrey and Gibbons.In the wake of the English Reformation, vibrant new forms of vernacular sacred music flourished. Among them was the verse anthem, a striking innovation that set solo voices in dialogue with the full ensemble, providing rich opportunity for narrative expression and musical development. This programme explores the composers who brought this distinctive form to life.At its heart is the music of Orlando Gibbons, spanning sacred works from his time at the Chapel Royal, spirited secular pieces from his characterful madrigals, and exquisite consort writing for viols and voices. A highlight is ‘This is the Record of John’, written by Gibbons for a visit of Archbishop Laud to his alma mater St John's College Oxford.Alongside these early masterpieces are newly commissioned works by Áine Mallon, Anna Semple and Owain Park, written especially for this collaboration. These contemporary voices respond to the same interplay between viols and singers, creating a dialogue across four centuries within the beautiful acoustics of Boxgrove Priory. Boxgrove Priory, Chichester DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Boxgrove Priory
Church Lane
Boxgrove
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 0ED
England

Tickets

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Programme

Orlando Gibbons – This is the record of John

Performers

The Gesualdo Six
Chelys Consort of Viols

Programme Note

Join The Gesualdo Six and Chelys Consort of Viols at Boxgrove Priory for a captivating programme celebrating the golden age of English verse anthems, with music by Purcell, Tomkins, Humfrey and Gibbons.

In the wake of the English Reformation, vibrant new forms of vernacular sacred music flourished. Among them was the verse anthem, a striking innovation that set solo voices in dialogue with the full ensemble, providing rich opportunity for narrative expression and musical development. This programme explores the composers who brought this distinctive form to life.

At its heart is the music of Orlando Gibbons, spanning sacred works from his time at the Chapel Royal, spirited secular pieces from his characterful madrigals, and exquisite consort writing for viols and voices. A highlight is ‘This is the Record of John’, written by Gibbons for a visit of Archbishop Laud to his alma mater St John's College Oxford.

Alongside these early masterpieces are newly commissioned works by Áine Mallon, Anna Semple and Owain Park, written especially for this collaboration. These contemporary voices respond to the same interplay between viols and singers, creating a dialogue across four centuries within the beautiful acoustics of Boxgrove Priory.

The Gesualdo Six & Chelys Consort of Viols

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