Reading Haydn Choir - Autumn Concert

Our autumn concert features two works spanning the Baroque and Classical periods.

C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788) was the second surviving son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed his Magnificat in 1749 in Berlin where he was a harpsichordist at the court of Frederick the Great. This is his first extant choral composition. In 9 movements, the Magnificat recalls some of his father’s Mass in B minor which clearly served as a direct model.

Fifty years later Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) composed his Maria Theresa Mass. His employer, Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy II of Austria was a patron of the arts and music and commissioned Haydn to write a Mass each year between 1796 and 1802 to be performed on the name day of his wife Princess Maria Hermengilde. The nickname of the Mass, Maria Theresa, remains a matter for speculation, but is usually attributed to the work’s supposed association with Marie Therese, the wife of the Emperor Franz II. Scored for solo quartet, chorus, strings, clarinets and trumpets, the Mass unusually has no oboes, horns, flutes or bassoons; this is thought to be as a result of a lack of wind players at that time. Haydn composed this work when he was at the height of his powers – between The Creation and The Seasons, his two great oratorios.

Both works are full of beautiful music and require a great deal of vocal gymnastics from the singers!

Once again we are delighted to welcome professional soloists and instrumentalists for our performance.