The Baroque Collective Singers

We continue our survey of excellent local choirs with The Baroque Collective Singers, a select group of voices centred on Lewes, directed by John Hancorn. They are particularly interested in the wonderful music of the 17th century – Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and the many other great composers of this era. However, the choir is also happy to complement their Baroque offerings with works by later masters like Rossini, Vaughan Williams and Britten. They also occasionally perform the works of living composers like James MacMillan and even some with local connections, like Orlando Gough, Ed Hughes and Tony Biggin. Essentially, if it will make a good programme these quality musicians will sing it.

John Hancorn

Their schedule for 2024 is ambitious and not completely Baroque. The first programme, A Spring Garland, is of Renaissance music, featuring Clement Janequin’s Le Chant des Oiseaux (1529) and a selection of English madrigals. It will be heard first in the lovely Church of St Michael & All Angels in Berwick, recently smartened with chairs that are far more comfortable than the old, hard pews. The famous Bloomsbury paintings will add extra colour but I hope not a distraction. This concert is then to be repeated in the Gothic splendour of St Michael’s in Lewes.

In the summer they will perform J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B minor in Lewes Town Hall, their contribution to this year’s Lewes Baroquefest. For this they will be joined by The Baroque Collective Players, Lewes’ excellent period instrument orchestra, led by internationally acclaimed violinist Alison Bury.

Alison Bury

Their year concludes with Christmas Baroque in St Michael’s Lewes. No details of this are available yet but as the Baroque repertoire for Advent, the Nativity and Epiphany is so vast and rich we can expect an exciting programme whatever they choose to perform.

For more details about the choir and their plans for 2024 click here.

Andrew Connal February 2024