Concert 1 2023
A New Song
A New Song, a new year, and a new Musical Director! Bel a cappella welcomes Monica Buckland conducting a concert of works chosen by the choir, for the choir which celebrate our past, present and future. Our program features Sir James MacMillan's 'A New Song', Bach's 'Jesu Meine Freude', and Nigel Butterley's 'The True Samaritan' as well as other favourite choral works.
Sir James MacMillan: A New Song
J.S. Bach: Jesu, meine Freude
Nigel Butterley: Morning Fanfare: The True Samaritan
Arvo Pärt: Magnificat
Charles Villiers Stanford: Beati quorum via
Maurice Ravel: Trois Chansons
Franz Biebl: Ave Maria
Sally Greenaway: Resonance
Conductor: Monica Buckland
Sunday 30th April, 2023 at 2:30pm
St Augustine's Catholic Church
Eaton Street, Balmain, NSW 2041
Click image to download concert program
Concert 2 2023
Lighten Our Darkness
A performance that celebrates sublime a cappella music from Tudor polyphony to the present day. This concert marks significant milestones including 400 years since the death of William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes, as well as celebrating Balmain composer Ross Edwards’ 80th birthday, in a program based around prayers for light in dark times.
Robert Wylkynson: The Apostles’ Creed
Philippe de Monte: Super flumina Babylonis
William Byrd: Quomodo cantabimus
William Byrd: Ave verum corpus
William Byrd: Laudibus in sanctis
John Sheppard: The Lord’s Prayer
Thomas Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David
Thomas Tallis: O nata lux
Keren Terpstra: Light
William Mathias: O nata lux
Advent Prose: Drop down ye heavens
William Byrd: Rorate caeli
Anna Semple: Drop down
Charles Wood: Hail, gladdening light
Ross Edwards: Hymnus ante somnum
Thomas Tallis: Te lucis ante terminum
Conductor: Monica Buckland
Sunday 21 August 2023 at 6:30pm
St Augustine's Catholic Church
Eaton Street, Balmain, NSW 2041
Concert 3 2023
Click image to download concert program
Of a Rose Sing We
Magnificat settings by Schütz and Mathias form the cornerstones of this beautiful program for Advent celebrating Mary, together with rose-themed works by composers from different Christian traditions.
We are proud that this concert featured the world premiere of Upon a High Rock Platform, an Acknowledgement of Country song written for Bel a Cappella by Australian composer Christopher Sainsbury. This piece evokes the ancient carvings of the high sandstone platforms of our coastline and is full of deep meaning.
Christopher Sainsbury : Upon a High Rock Platform
John Tavener: Annunciation
John Joubert: There is no rose
Kerensa Briggs: A tender shoot
Cheryl Frances-Hoad: There is no rose
Melanie DeMore: Blessed be!
Alison Willis: There is no rose
Heinrich Schütz: German Magnificat
Michael /Jan Sandström: Es ist ein Ros'
Benjamin Britten: Rosa mystica
Herbert Howells: A spotless rose
Shireen Abu-Khader: Nabd (Heartbeat)
Katherine Parton: Gaudebat et ridebat!
William Mathias: A May Magnificat
Conductor: Monica Buckland
Sunday 10 December 2023 at 2:30pm
St Augustine's Catholic Church
Eaton Street, Balmain, NSW 2041
Blackheath Choral Festival
Conductor: Monica Buckland
Sunday 27th August, 2023