RARELY HEARD INSTRUMENT SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN MUSIC SOCIETY SEASON FINALE

Final rehearsals are underway for a concert at Chester Cathedral which will feature a rarely heard instrument.

Chester Music Society Choir will stage 'Petite Messe Solennelle" by Rossini at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 17th May at 7.30pm. Instead of being composed for a full orchestra, unusually, the piece was written to feature just voices, piano and the harmonium, an instrument rarely heard today. 

The choir will be joined on stage by harmonium player Jon Barton, pianist Graham Eccles and soloists soprano Heather Buckmaster, messo-soprano Joyce Tindsley, tenor Elgan Llyr Thomas and bass Armand Rabot, all under the baton of conductor Graham Jordan Ellis. 

Written in 1863 by the famous opera composer Gioachino Rossini who is perhaps best known for "The Barber of Seville", the piece has been described as being "full of drama, beauty, and surprising emotion, an elegant blend of spiritual reverence and theatrical flair, combining the grandeur of sacred music with the charm of Italian opera". There are moments of quiet reflection, soaring solos, rich choral harmonies, and playful rhythms, a musical conversation between earth and heaven—sometimes serious, sometimes joyful, and always deeply human.

The harmonium, which used to be commonplace in homes, churches and chapels in the mid to late 19^th century is a free-reed keyboard instrument which originated in Europe. It produces sound by pushing air through metal reeds using bellows with the air pressure generated by the player pressing alternately on two foot pedals. Huge numbers were shipped to European colonies and in the mid-1800s, the harmonium was brought to India by missionaries, where it was adapted for Indian classical music. The Indian harmonium is more compact and portable than its European counterpart and usually hand pumped. During the Indian independence movement, both British and Indian scholars condemned the harmonium for representing an unwelcome foreign musical sensibility. It was consequently banned from All-India Radio from 1940 to 1971 and still is only rarely heard on national radio.

Today, it is central to many South Asian musical traditions including Hindustani classical, bhajans, qawwalis, and devotional kirtans. Its ability to sustain notes makes it ideal for accompanying vocalists. Most notably, the harmonium is featured in works by Ravi Shankar and even appeared in The Beatles’ recordings during their experimental and psychedelic phase including 'We Can Work It Out' (1965), Dr Robert (1966) and 'Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite' (1967) from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, thanks to George Harrison’s interest in Indian music.

Speaking about the concert John Ferrari, Chair of Chester Music Society Choir said:

"The Petite Messe Solennelle is Rossini’s heartfelt farewell to composition. He was nearly 70 when he wrote it and hadn’t written a major work in decades. It’s full of wit, beauty, and a kind of humble sincerity that touches both believers and non-believers alike. If you’re curious about classical music but afraid it might be too stuffy, this piece is a great place to start. It’s emotional, theatrical, and unexpectedly modern—a sacred masterpiece with a twinkle in its eye. The use of just harmonium and piano along with the choir and our guest soloists will make for a unique performance. Why not come and experience it live?"

Playing harmonium for the concert, Jon Barton is Diocesan Director of Music for the Shrewsbury Diocese and Director of Music at Shrewsbury Cathedral. In addition to this, he also performs as a freelance musician and is often heard in concert and on the radio.

Pianist Graham Eccles studied at the Royal Northern College of music in Manchester. Graham has served as Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral and Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Asaph and Bangor Cathedrals. He is in regular demand as an accompanist by many Northwest based choirs and Choral Societies. Graham regularly plays in Chester Cathedral recital series.

Accomplished soprano Heather Buckmaster graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with First Class Honours in 2013. Since leaving the Conservatoire she has played numerous operatic roles and is also a regular concert and recital performer across the country.

Lancashire born mezzo-soprano, Joyce Tindsley studied at Bangor and the Royal Northern College of Music. As a soloist and choral singer Joyce worked for the BBC for over 30 years, including as a member of the BBC Northern Singers. Joyce has sung in most of the major concert halls and cathedrals around Britain, working with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St.Martin-in-the-Fields amongst many others. 

Tenor Elgan Llyr Thomas hails from Llandudno, North Wales. He performs a wide variety of repertoire, enjoying a busy career on the concert platform. Recent engagements include his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Tanglewood, conducted by Ludovic Morlot. 

Armand Rabot is a British-Sri Lankan Baritone from the Northwest of England. Armand’s recent concert appearances  include recitals at Liverpool Philharmonic and the Charles Wood Festival, Elijah with Birkenhead Choral Society.

The concert will be conducted by Wirral born Graham Jordan Ellis who has been the Society's Director of Music since 1996. Graham has achieved a considerable reputation as an experienced conductor of both choral and orchestral music. In 1990 he founded the Liverpool Sinfonia, an orchestra of freelance professional players which appears with him regularly. Graham has also worked for BBC radio and television and was Director of Music at Birkenhead School for 33 years. 

Full details of Chester Music Society's performance of 'Petite Messe Sonnelle' can be found at: 

www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Pictured ( left to right) -Joyce Tindsley, Heather Buckmaster, Elgan Llyr Thomas, Armand Rabot, Jon Barton, Graham Eccles & Graham Jordan Ellis.