York Musical Society and Philharmonischer Chor Münster present an evening of Vaughan Williams.

‘A Sea Symphony’

‘Toward the Unknown Region’

‘Serenade in A minor’

York Musical Society orchestra 

Conductor: David Pipe

Soloists: Elinor Rolfe Johnson, soprano and Julian Tovey, bass

Two choirs combine for a concert of music by Vaughan Williams: York Musical Society and Philharmonischer Chor Münster from York’s twin city in Germany.

The major work in this concert is ‘A Sea Symphony’, panoramic in scale and depicting different aspects of the sea. It uses text from poems by Walt Whitman including ‘The Waves’ and ‘On the Beach at Night Alone’.

‘Toward the Unknown Region’, another Whitman setting, takes us on a journey from darkness to light. It was described by the composer as ‘a song for chorus and orchestra’.

Completing the programme is the beautiful orchestral work, ‘Serenade in A minor’.

This concert, a feast of music by Vaughan Williams, falls at the end of the anniversary year marking 150 years since the composer’s birth. It also celebrates 30 years since the first of many shared concerts by these two choirs, in the cathedral in Münster in October 1983.