Carmina Burana at St Martin in the Fields

On Friday 3 July 2015 there is a chance to hear all five of the choirs based at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, singing together for the first time. Under the baton of Andrew Earis they will be performing Carl Orff's iconic cantata Carmina Burana plus Eric Whitacre's Cloudburst and Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The Orff will be accompanied by piano (four hands) and percussion, and before you sniff it is worth bearing in mind that the fuller two piano (eight hands) and percussion version was the composer's preferred version. I sang in the work as a student, conducted by one of Orff's students and he was firm in his opinion that Orff preferred the two piano (eight hands) and percussion version to the version with full orchestra.

The five choirs involved are the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields, a choir formed annual of 12 promising young singers, St Martin’s Voices, a professional vocal ensemble, the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields which is formed of singers from all walks of life, Children’s Voices of St Martin-in-the-Fields a choir of seven to thirteen-year-olds formed in spring 2014 and the most recently formed choir, St Martin’s Chorus a voluntary choir that offers singers the chance to perform big choral works, as well as more intimate, chamber choir repertoire.

Further information from the St. Martin-in-the-Fields website.