THE GATHERING WAVE (EVENT 1)
19.45 - Hereford Cathedral
Following on from the success of The Gathering Wave in 2003, which highlighted and celebrated the popularity of grass roots singing and music-making in Herefordshire, once again local community choirs and schoolchildren come together to make their contribution to the Three Choirs Festival in the form of a programme of songs from around the world, and a newly-commissioned work from Ken Burton.
The songs are an eclectic mix of musical cultures, including a gentle Korean chant, a Yiddish setting of Psalm 103, a joyous African church song that began its life as a folk song about driving a car, a Russian love song, songs from South America and New Zealand, and a setting of a Shaker hymn. Ken Burton (acclaimed gospel choir leader, including the London Adventist Chorale) has written an inspirational and joyous work Take the Time for Change for this event.
Soprano Denise Leigh (joint winner of Channel 4’s Operatunity) will perform solo items by
Villa-Lobos and Bernstein plus well-loved folk songs, and feature as soloist in Take the Time for
Change.The Gathering Wave is co-ordinated by the Music Pool, Herefordshire’s community music
charity, and is supported by the Three Choirs Festival itself, the Performing Rights Society, the
Elmley Foundation, and Youth Music.
Community choirs from Herefordshire
Local schoolchildren
Denise Leigh soprano
Ken Burton composer/conductor
Musical direction: Hilary Smallwood and Jon Watson
