Three Choirs Festival Opening Service

Elgar Ecce Sacerdos
In its original form, Ecce Sacerdos Magnus was an antiphon and a responsory from the common of confessors. ...' Behold a great priest who in his days pleased the Lord'

Joubert Jubilate
Kindly supported by The Rev'd Nick Fisher
John Joubert is among the most respected and well-loved senior figures in British music today. His eightieth birthday in 2007 was celebrated with the ‘Joubertiade’, a nationwide and year-long series of concerts and events and the release of four new CDs. Commissions that year included Concerto for Oboe and Strings for Lichfield Festival, Five Songs of Incarnation for the choir of New College, Oxford and the world premiere of his latest major work, the oratorio Wings of Faith (Ex Cathedra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra).

2009 has seen first performances of new works at London's Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and two further CDs, one of chamber music, including the Octet, for Toccata Classics and a choral disc from the choir of Gloucester Cathedral.

Lili Boulanger Psalm 24
The younger sister of the noted composer and teacher of composition Nadia Boulanger, Lili, a child prodigy, was notably talented from the age of 2. In 1913 at the age of 19, she won the ‘Prix de Rome’, becoming the first woman composer to win the prize. Chronic illness ended her life at the age of 24. Her last years were a productive time musically as she laboured to complete her unfinished compositions.

For tenor, choir, organ & orchestra, Psalm 24 was written in 1916 at the age of 22. Wellesley College created an international foundation and award in her name (LBMF) to annually honor an outstanding young composer or performer. The asteroid ‘1181 Lilith’ was named in her honour.

Vaughan Williams Te Deum
Written in 1928, the Te Deum in G was composed for the enthronement of Cosmo Gordon Lang as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Leighton Let all the World
Commissioned by the Church of St Matthew in Northampton, this anthem for choir and organ was composed in 1965.

Venue

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

Three Choirs Festival 2010, Gloucester

Dates

Opening service 7 Aug 2010

Road Directions

If you are driving, Gloucester may be reached from junctions 11, 11A and 12 of the M5 and is signposted from junction 15 on the M4. It is on the A38, A40 and A417. Follow the signs to city centre. You can park in various car parks. Walk to the city centre's cross, take Westgate street, proceed to down the street and the Cathedral is on the right hand side.

Public Transport Directions

10-15 minute walk from the bus and train station. Walk to the city centre's cross, take Westgate Street, proceed down the street and the Cathedral is on the right hand side.