A programme exploring majestic music from the Spanish Renaissance alongside spellbinding works from James MacMillan and Kerensa Briggs.

Spain’s Siglo de Oro, the Age of Gold, gave rise to some of the greatest sacred choral music of the Renaissance. We devote our latest Choral Pilgrimage to pieces by two outstanding Spanish composers, exploring majestic works by Cristóbal de Morales, famed throughout Europe and in the New World, and the exquisite polyphony of Sebastián de Vivánco, whose intricately crafted counterpoint adorned services at the cathedrals of Ávila and Salamanca during the late 1500s.

Our programme also features spellbinding settings of words by Saint John Henry Newman: Sir James MacMillan’s Nothing in Vain for soloists and double choir and the world premiere of Kerensa Briggs’ Lead, Kindly Light, specially commissioned for the Choral Pilgrimage.

The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Lead, Kindly Light

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PROGRAMME

  • Vivanco

    Christus factus est pro nobis

  • Morales

    Emendemus in Melius

  • Vivanco

    Assumpta est Maria

  • Morales

    Gaude et laetare Ferrariensis civitas

  • Kerensa Briggs

    Lead, kindly light (new commission)

  • Vivanco

    Magnificat Octavi toni

  • Morales

    Jubilate Deo omnis terra

  • Vivanco

    O quam suavis est, Domine

  • Morales

    Exaltata est sancta Dei Genitrix

  • Morales

    Lamentabatur Jacob

  • Vivanco

    Caritas Pater est

  • James MacMillan

    Nothing in vain (Commissioned in 2021 by the Genesis Foundation for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen)

PERFORMERS

  • The Sixteen
  • Harry Christophers conductor

Meet The Sixteen

Alexandra Kidgell

Soprano

Meet The Sixteen

Alexandra Kidgell

Soprano

Venue details

Tewkesbury Abbey

Church Street Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ

The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin is located in the English county of Gloucestershire.

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