You will surely need a stimulating break from all the preparations for Christmas. So come to St James Church, sit back, allow the orchestra to do the work, and let this wonderful music refresh and energise you.

 

Sir Edward Elgar’s Introduction & Allegro for Strings was composed in 1905 for the newly formed London Symphony Orchestra, but it received a cool reception from the audience on its premiere. However, like audiences ever since you will be entranced by the rich texture of the piece that moves between intense full-bodied passages and moments of delicate transparency.

 

Arcangelo Corelli was a master of the art as a baroque composer. With his Christmas Concerto we will be treated to a glittering jewel. It is probably his most popular work and an ideal part of anyone’s celebration of Christmas.

 

Another very popular orchestral work is the Serenade for Strings by Antonin Dvorak which he composed 100 years ago. It is another beautiful creation that combines lyrical beauty with zestful energy. You will feel enriched by the music’s magnificence and soulfulness.

 

As the name implies, Concerto for Double String Orchestra by Michael Tippett is scored for two string orchestras of equal importance. The orchestra divides itself into two identical sections generating an exuberant vitality that makes it one of Tippett’s most popular works, full of rhythmic complexities and beautiful melodies.

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