Harlow Chorus’s new season of concerts begins on Saturday 16^th October, 7.30pm at St John’s Church, Epping with an evening of pieces drawn from, and influenced by the Russian and Greek Orthodox traditions. The magnificent setting of this Grade II* listed church forms an appropriate backdrop to music rich in harmony and emotion.

The first half of the concert comprises three works: Yuri Sakhnovsky’s ‘Cherubic Hymn’, a piece by a composer little-known outside his native Russia, but whose compositions abound in luxuriant and romantic sound; Rachmaninov’s beautiful but lesser-known early work: ‘Mother of God, in never-slumbering prayer’ and John Tavener’s ‘Svyati’.

This particular work, by one of the contemporary world’s leading composers of choral music, has been widely performed. It was written in 1995 and is based on a traditional text from the Orthodox litany. The piece is unusual, in that the choir is accompanied by solo cello, which represents the priest or ‘Ikon’ of Christ, whose music acts as an intense dialogue with the choir. The whole effect is both radiant and extremely moving.

The second half of the concert includes two works by the renowned Estonian composer Arvo Pärt: ‘The Beatitudes’ and Rejoice, O Virgin’; Gorecki’s wonderful extended hymn to Mary, ‘Totus Tuus’ and two smaller-scale pieces by Nikolai Kedrov and the Bulgarian composer Dobri Hristov.

This concert is a perfect introduction to this harmonic tradition – as well as providing pleasure for those familiar with the music and, although the audience must imagine the magnificent and awe-inspiring wall of gold-encrusted icons, the power and richness of the music will truly represent to them ‘Icons of Light’.

The concert is conducted by the Musical Director of Harlow Chorus, Sarah Tenant-Flowers with instrumental solos and accompaniment by the outstanding cellist Adrian Bradbury and organist Paul Ayres.