Ealing Choral Society | Music of War and Peace

Event information

Written against the backdrop of the European war that followed the French Revolution, Haydn’s Paukenmesse (Mass in the Time of War) reflects the troubled mood of its time. Long thought to express anti-war sentiment, the Paukenmesse, with its bellicose timpani drumbeats and wind fanfares, forms a picture of a composer conflicted by the idea of war, who chose to close his Mass with the Dona Nobis Pacem, a celebration of peace.

Two contemporary works comprise the first half: The UK premiere of Strengthen for Service, an atmospheric anthem by young American composer Jessica French, followed by Matthew Coleridge’s Requiem, deeply moving and with beautiful, flowing melodies, one of the highest new entries in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2023. The theme of service in the first piece, followed by the Requiem and then Haydn’s Mass make a suitable trio for a concert during the season of Remembrance, with a satisfying journey from contemplation to action.

We are delighted to partner with the Orpheus Sinfonia for this concert. Peter Asprey conducts.

Joseph Haydn: Paukenmesse (Mass in the Time of War)
Jessica French: Strengthen for Service (UK Premiere)
Matthew Coleridge: Requiem
Johann Sebastian Bach: Air on the G string (from orchestral suite #3)