Gabrieli Roar ‘A Grand Georgian Christmas 2024 Tour’

On Tuesday, 10th December 2024, Truro Cathedral resonated with the harmonious performances of three Cornish primary school choirs, joined by members of the Truro Cathedral Choir and the Truro School Chamber Choir for the Gabrieli Roar ‘A Grand Georgian Christmas 2024 Tour’.

This event was the penultimate performance of the tour around England’s cathedrals. Year 6 members of the Truro Prep choir, and Truro Cathedral choristers from Years 5 and 6, took part in this remarkable musical occasion.

The repertoire, sometimes known outside its traditional context, consisted of festive songs once heard in village churches and parish halls across England. The programme explored ‘Psalmody’ or ‘West Gallery Music’, originally composed for English parish churches during the Georgian period (1740-1850). At that time, many churches lacked an organ, so singing was often accompanied by a diverse group of instruments playing from a ‘gallery’ at the west end of the church.

The Truro Cathedral performance featured professional singers from Gabrieli and a band of unusual period instruments. The serpents, ophicleide, and period brass instruments were fascinating for our pupils to see and hear up close. Paul McCreesh, Artistic Director, along with Charles McDougall (known to many Prep school pupils from his wonderful online singing workshop videos) and Emily Dickens, led the Cornish schools’ choirs from Truro Prep, Falmouth Primary, and Polwhele.

The audience was thrilled by the uplifting evening performance, which was a journey of musical and historical discovery. Mr. Osmond remarked, “Gabrieli Roar are the very best at what they do, and it was a very memorable experience for all our young musicians to be a part of. We are very keen to welcome them back to Truro again soon.”

It was a thrilling and extraordinary musical festive event to be part of and all of our singers gained immensely from the experience, both in terms of choral delivery and musical education.

Thanks to Mrs Gregory, Ms Renshaw and Mr Osmond for their work in making the event possible.