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Talk: Chorus Vel Organa: Music from the Lost Palace of Westminster

@ Auckland Castle

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This illustrated talk will explore the music associated with the College of St Stephen, Westminster, in the period around 1520. Beautiful partbooks survive in the British Library with the coats of arms of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon on the front, containing a fascinating repertoire of music by Nicholas Ludford involving both organ and voices, a combination that is more familiar from the later post-Reformation period.

The music was probably performed in the Lower Chapel of St Stephen’s which is the only part of the building which survives today under the new Palace of Westminster. Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, today possesses a large and handsomely illuminated manuscript (known as the Caius Choirbook) which was produced for the Upper Chapel of St Stephen. Music from both sources will be discussed in the lecture which will include live performances of some of the rarely heard music from the Royal partbooks.

The lecture will contain excerpts from the new Caius choir recording and the live performance of some of the 3-part repertoire, and a close look at reproductions of pages from the original manuscripts.

Geoffrey Webber is Precentor and Director of Music at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Music. He also serves as Course Director of the M.Mus. course in Choral Studies. His work with the Caius choir covers an unusually large range of choral music from ancient to modern times, and the choir maintains a busy programme of activities involving CDs, concerts and tours across the world.

Doors open at 6pm. Lectures start at 6.30pm. A complimentary drink will be served before the lecture.

Lecture tickets cost £6 and must be paid for in advance. If you have an Annual Pass (costing £15) lectures are free but please book your place in advance as spaces are limited. If you would like to purchase an Annual Pass, please call 01388 743797.

Any questions or to book a place, please email enquiries@aucklandcastle.org or call 01388 743797.

Please note there is no parking on site at Auckland Castle but there is clear signage to North Bondgate car park a short walking distance away, which is free after 6pm.

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