Over the 50 years of our work, Stour Singers have established a repertory that holds in balance the power of the traditional choral highlights – the great works of Haydn, Handel, Bach and Mozart – and the innovation of the music that surrounded, inspired and was influenced by them. So we have sung Haydn’s Creation (1982, 1993, 2018), and our performances have included Handel’s Messiah (1993, 1997, 2005, 2011), Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (1986, 2017), and the Mozart Requiem (1986, 1998, 2008).
Alongside these favourites, audiences have been intrigued to discover a cantata by Kuhnau (Uns ist ein Kind geboren, December 2017) long thought to be by Bach; a delightful piece from Michael Haydn, Joseph’s less well-known brother (Run, ye shepherds, Christmas 2014); and Fauré’s Requiem (2005, 2018) which neither commemorated a death nor followed the structure of the traditional mass for the dead.
Singers have been delighted to discover the less familiar patterns of music to be found in twentieth century works: Rutter’s Magnificat (2018), Vaughan Williams’ Five mystical songs (2008, 2016), Britten’s Ceremony of Carols (2013), Ramirez’ Navidad Nuestra (1997, 2007). Equally enjoyable has been the music from the enormous range composed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by figures such as Vivaldi (Gloria in 1980 and 2013), Monteverdi (Beatus Vir in 2019), and Charpentier (Filius Prodigus in 2016).
Since 2000, we have performed the following composers’ works:
Composer Work Date performed
Bach, C.P.E. Magnificat in D 2009
Bach, Johann Christian Magnificat in D 2009
Bach, Johann Sebastian Cantata No. 191, Gloria Dec 2017
Christmas Oratorio Dec 2015
Beethoven, Ludwig van Mass in C May 2015
Brahms, Johannes German Requiem May 2014
Britten, Benjamin A Ceremony of Carols 2013
St. Nicholas 2010
Buxtehude, Dieterich Das neugeborene Kindelein Dec 2014
Charpentier, Marc-Antoine Filius prodigus May 2016
Messe de Minuit 2006
Cherubini, Luigi Requiem in C Minor 2007
Dvorák, Antonín Mass in D 2013 & May 2022
Fauré, Gabriel Requiem May 2018
Cantique de Jean Racine 2006
Handel, Georg Messiah May 2023
Foundling Hospital Anthem May 2019
Saul May 2017
Excerpts from Messiah Dec 2016
Rejoice greatly (from Messiah) Dec 2014
Let God Arise 2012
Messiah 2011
Laudate pueri Dominum 2010
Messiah 2005
Haydn, Joseph The Creation Dec 2018
Nelson Mass May 2016/2024
Kleine Orgelmesse Dec 2014
Creation Mass 2012
Te Deum 2012
The Creation 2009
Mariazeller Mass 2008
Te Deum 2006
The Creation 2002
Nikolai Mass Dec 2022
Haydn, Michael Run ye shepherds Dec 2014
Hummel, Johann Nepomuk Mass in B flat 2007
Kuhnau, Johann Uns ist ein Kind geboren Dec 2017
Mendelssohn, Felix Three Motets op. 69 May 2016
Lauda Sion May 2015
Elijah 2011
Lauda Sion 2006
Monteverdi, Claudio Beatus Vir May 2019
Mozart, Wolfgang A. Laudate Dominum Dec 2014/May 2024
Dixit May 2024
Regina Coeli K.108 2009
Requiem (Sussmayr) 2008
Mass K.317 (Coronation) 2006
Vesper psalms from K339 May 2022
Purcell Te Deum Jubilate May 2024
Ramirez Navidad nuestra 2007
Rutter, John Magnificat May 2018
Telemann, Georg Philip Allein Gott in die Höh sei Ehre Dec 2016
Magnificat Dec 2022
Vaughan Williams, Ralph Five mystical songs Dec 2016
Five mystical songs 2008
Fantasia on Christmas Carols 2008
Vivaldi, Antonio Dixit Dominus (RV 594) May 2019
Gloria (RV 589) 2013
Beatus Vir (RV 597) 2010