'A Grand Georgian Christmas', 2024 Tour

We are delighted to announce that, following our hugely successful Praetorius tour in 2022, Gabrieli Roar will be embarking on its most ambitious tour yet! 

Join Gabrieli Roar for ‘A Grand Georgian Christmas’, a festive treat featuring the rich harmonies and spirited rhythms that once filled the village churches and parish halls of England.

Led by Gabrieli Artistic Director Paul McCreesh, 4,000 late-primary and secondary students (more than ever before!) will join Gabrieli’s world-class musicians across eleven performances in regional cathedrals around the UK, from Cumbria to Cornwall.

The tour

Concerts yet to come!

York Minster (7.15 pm, 6 December 2024)
 York tickets

Exeter Cathedral (7 pm, 9 December 2024)
 Exeter tickets

Truro Cathedral (7 pm, 10 December 2024)
 Truro tickets

St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (6:30 pm, 11 December 2024)
 Bristol tickets

Past concerts

Portsmouth Cathedral (7 pm, 27 November 2024)

Norwich Cathedral (7 pm, 28 November 2024)

Ely Cathedral (7 pm, 29 November 2024)

Coventry Cathedral (7 pm, 2 December 2024)

Blackburn Cathedral (7 pm, 3 December 2024)

Carlisle Cathedral (7.15 pm, 4 December 2024)

Hull Minster (7 pm, 5 December 2024)

 

Keep fully up-to-date with ticket information by following our social media channels:

The programme: A Grand Georgian Christmas

This year’s programme explores the tradition of “Psalmody” or “(West) Gallery Music”: the music written for English parish churches in the Georgian period (c. 1740-1850). It is so called because many country churches lacked organs, and so the music was often led by an ensemble of singers and a mixed band of instruments from a gallery in the west end of the church. 

“Gallery Music” is varied, with contributions from many now-forgotten composers, as well as adaptations of well-known pieces by Handel, Haydn, Purcell (and others), and ranging from simple hymns and “fuguing tunes” to more elaborate anthems. ‘A Grand Georgian Christmas‘ will feature pieces such as Remember, O thou man; Veni, veni emmanuel; The people that walked in darkness; Lo! He comes with clouds descending; As shepherds watched their fleecy care; Adeste fideles; Hush my dear, lie still and slumber; and Hark! The herald angels sing (in a version probably unknown to many!). Much of Gallery Music is robust and cheerful (especially the Christmas repertoire!), with deep connections to folk traditions. What could be a more perfect way for Gabrieli Roar to usher in the festive season? 

Gabrieli singers will lead the choirs, and the band will comprise strings, flutes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, drums, organ, harpsichord, ophicleide, and (how could we not?) two very special serpents.   

Our mission is to connect youth choirs across the nation in partnership, provide young singers with the opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians, and nurture self-confidence and a love of choral music. This programme offers the perfect platform to encourage young singers to connect with choral and classical music, as well as with heritage culture.

Guide tracks and warm-up videos for participant choirs

Please find all of our digital resources for the Christmas tour here: Roar Digital Resources

Still want more? 🔍

  • Watch our teaser trailer: learn more about the project and hear from participants themselves

  • To read more about “Gallery Music”, take a look at the following fantastic website: West Gallery Music Association
  • Have a read of Thomas Hardy’s wonderful description of a village band in “Under the Greenwood Tree” – a vivid picture of 19th-century music making!
  • Take a look at our Spotify playlist to get a feel for the programme: