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Tickets for The Choral Pilgrimage 2025 are now on sale.

A powerful programme of English choral music centred around Parry's emotional Songs of Farewell.

Hubert Parry’s Songs of Farewell must surely rank among some of the finest choral works ever written. Deeply affected by the First World War, Parry sought poetry that would reflect not only peace and unity and the search for a better world, but also an escape from the horrors of war.

The poems Parry chose to set are sublime, be they metaphysical poetry by John Donne and Henry Vaughan or the aching beauty of Thomas Campion’s verse. Perfectly complementing the rich sonority of Parry’s Songs are three short pieces by Campion, a selection of medieval carols and a new work by Cecilia McDowall.

Performers

The Sixteen
Eamonn Dougan conductor

PROGRAMME

  • Parry

    Songs of Farewell

  • Medieval Carol

    Deo gracias, Anglia

  • Medieval Carol

    Saint Thomas honour we

  • Medieval Carol

    O blessed Lord

  • Medieval Carol

    Benedicite Deo

  • Cecilia McDowall

    An Unexpected Shore

  • Campion

    Never, weather-beaten sail

  • Campion

    Author of light

  • Campion

    Tune thy music to thy heart

  • Howells

    Take him, earth for cherishing

Meet the Performers

Alexandra Kidgell

Soprano

Meet the Performers

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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