SURROUND SOUND PLAYLIST IN ELY: MORE PROGRAMME INFORMATION AND LOCAL CLASSICAL MUSIC LINKS TO CHECK OUT

We're glad you want to find out more. Scroll down for links to the performers' websites, short notes about the pieces on the programme and links to local classical music groups and resources for both adults and young people. 

Click on the links below to visit the performers' websites:

Britten Sinfonia

Tenebrae

Will Pound

Cambridge Philharmonic Chorus

Coleridge Community College students

Handel: Battaglia
Premiered in 1711, Rinaldo was one of Handel’s earliest and biggest operatic hits for the London stage. Set at the time of the First Crusade, the ‘hit single’ from this tale of love, war and redemption was the aria ‘Lascia ch’io pianga’, but this short orchestral depiction of battle is a thrilling burst of energy too.

Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium
An exquisite modern classic for unaccompanied choir, written in 1994 by the West Coast American Lauridsen. Technically, a Christmas carol, but too beautiful just for December.

Purcell: Funeral March for Queen Mary
England’s foremost baroque composer, a generation before the illustrious German import Handel, was Organist of Westminster Abbey. So it fell to him to compose the funeral music for Queen Mary – niece of Charles II and half of the William and Mary reign – after her death to smallpox in late December 1694. The Abbey service was held on 5 March 1695, following a long period of lying in state in Banqueting House. The stark solemnity of the original was reworked for Moog synthesiser by Wendy Carlos in her score to Stanley Kubrick’s film A Clockwork Orange in 1971.

Purcell: Hear my Prayer, O Lord
Purcell’s setting of the first verse of Psalm 102 was written in about 1682, towards the start of his time as Organist of Westminster Abbey. The psalmist’s anguish – ‘and let my crying come unto thee’ – builds in intensity as the eight-part texture grows to its despondent conclusion.

Ravel: Pavane pour une infante defunte
This youthful piano work, subsequently arranged for orchestra in 1910, evoked a courtly, processional pavane as danced by the kind of princess who would have been painted by the great Spanish artist of the baroque era, Diego Velazquez. As with his Bolero, Ravel had an ambivalent view of the piece later in life, but its poise and tender sentimentality is justifiably beloved.

Amazing Grace
Britten Sinfonia musicians had the pleasure of working with melodeon and harmonica virtuoso, Will Pound, for the first time in January this year. His varying contributions in this concert begin and end with solos: the first is an improvisation on the traditional melody to the 1770s hymn Amazing Grace, and the second is Will’s own take on a dance by the Swedish fiddler Viksta-Lasse (1897-1983).

Bruckner: Ave Maria
The Austrian composer Anton Bruckner is best known for his gigantic symphonies, but as an organist and devout catholic, his religious choral music is celebrated too. First heard during Mass on 12 May 1861 in Linz Cathedral, the power of this Ave Maria setting is achieved by the initial alternation of vocal blocks heading towards an explosive, ecstatic tutti on the words Sancta Maria.

Morricone: Cinema Paradiso suite
Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1988 love-letter to the emotive power of cinema is lifted to an even higher level by its soundtrack from the father-and-son team of Ennio and Andrew Morricone. Some of the most charming and poignant melodies every written for the screen.

Ēriks Ešenvalds: Stars
Stars, a setting of words by Sara Teasdale from 2011, features tuned wine glasses as a glistening accompaniment to the glowing simplicity of ‘beating hearts of fire’ seen overhead on a still, dark night. Radiant and magical.

Telemann: 'Largo' from Sonata for 4 Violins
A lovely little movement for four violins from Bach and Handel’s compatriot and near contemporary, Telemann. Leading into…

Zadok the Priest
The biblical account of the anointing of Solomon by the priest Zadok has been heard at every English coronation since 973. Handel set it to music for the coronation of his German compatriot, George II, in 1727, and it’s been a glorious fixture in every coronation since. (Also closely imitated as the Champions League TV jingle.)

INTERVAL

Coleridge Community College students and Michael Betteridge: Flow
Flow is a brand-new composition created and performed by students at Coleridge Community College, a secondary school in Cambridge, inspired by their visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Into the Sublime exhibition by Frank Bowling. Drawing on Bowling’s expressive use of colour, movement and flowing paint, the students transformed their artistic discoveries into music, from cascading melodies and splashes of sound to a dramatic volcanic eruption. The piece concludes with an ethereal vocal line, bringing a moment of calm after the storm.
Discover the story behind Flow and the role showcasing young people's creativity plays in our Surround Sound Playlist Concerts. 
© Hattie Coupe

Grieg: Morning
Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt was blessed with incidental music by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg in its first run in 1876. This alluring evocation of sunrise comes from Act 4, where Peer finds himself stranded in the Moroccan desert, fending off monkeys with the branch of an acacia tree. Perhaps not quite the Nordic dawn we might think of when separated from this original theatrical context.

Grieg: Ave maris stella
This tender setting of a Latin hymn for the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from 1898. Hail, star of the sea, nourishing mother of God.

Traditional Danish: Shine you no more
We head from Norway to Denmark, for a piece of thrilling folk fiddling realised by Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen, violinist in the Danish String Quartet.

Coleman: Umoja
African-American composer, Valerie Coleman, is from Louisville, Kentucky. She’s a flautist and founder of Imani Winds, the US’s first global majority wind quintet. Umoja is the Swahili word for “unity” and is the first day in seven in the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa.

Shaw: and the swallow
This lovely setting of Psalm 84 by the evermore admired composer Caroline Shaw finishes with the singers evoking the sounds of autumn rain. In this psalm’s words, Shaw says, ‘there’s yearning for a home that feels very relevant today.’

Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
This spirited Allegro, opens Act 3 of Handel’s 1749 oratorio, Solomon. The King of Israel and his people eagerly await the arrival of the Queen of Sheba, a South Arabian kingdom in modern Yemen. According to 1 Kings in the Old Testament, she came to Jerusalem “with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones."

Whitacre: Sleep
With his now much copied luscious harmonic palette, Eric Whitacre gets the pacing just right in this 2000 setting of a poem by Charles Anthony Silvestri – a steady ascent to a glorious climax and then a somnolent fade-out. 'What dreams may come, both dark and deep / Of flying wings and soaring leap / As I surrender unto sleep.'

Viksta-Lasse: Eklundapolska No. 3
Will Pound's take on a dance by the Swedish fiddler Viksta-Lasse (1897-1983)

I was glad
We finished the first half with one Coronation ‘banger’, and we finish the concert with the other one – written by Parry for the 1902 coronation of Edward VII, and a blazing choral favourite ever since.

Programme notes © Meurig Bowen except where stated otherwise.

Violin I
Zoë Beyers
Marcus Barcham Stevens
Katherine Shave
Fiona McCapra

Violin II
Miranda Dale
Nicola Goldscheider
Alexandra Caldon

Violas
Sarah-Jane Bradley
Rachel Byrt

Cellos
Ben Chappell
Julia Vohralik

Double Bass
Samuel  Rice

Flute and Piccolo
Sarah O’Flynn

Oboe
Peter Facer

Clarinet
Peter Sparks

Bassoon
Sarah Burnett

Horn
Timothy Ellis

Trumpets
Holly Clark
Heidi Bennett

Trombone
Andrew Connington

Tuba
Edward Leech

Timpani
Charlie Hodge

Percussion
Jeremy Cornes
Charlie Hodge

If you come away from tonight newly inspired by classical music, we recommend find out about more local concerts, choirs, orchestras and opportunities to learn in Ely. Here are a few places for you to start:

UPCOMING CONCERTS IN ELY

Ely Cathedral presents weekly lunchtime recitals each Thursday. 
Larger-scale upcoming classical concerts at the Cathedral include Ely Choral Society's In Remembrance concert on 7 November 2026, Hark the Herald Carol Concert on 22 December 2026, Come and Sing Christmas Carols on 27 December 2026 and Supersize Polyphony: Venetian Blinders on 4 February 2027.

At other venues:
21 November 2026: Ely Consort - Music Always Around Me at St Mary's Church, Ely
 

LOCAL MUSIC GROUPS

Ely Choral Society: No auditions, we welcome new members and rehearse on Monday evenings during term time. 

Ely Sinfonia: East Cambridgeshire's community orchestra, which also runs an annual workshop where anyone can bring along their instrument to learn from and play alongside their players.

Ely Consort: A 40-voice chamber choir

Ely Music Collective: a loose collaboration of like-minded local musicians who enjoy putting together quality, intimate chamber concerts for our community. Three of us started performing in 2022 in the Ely Arts Festival and now we have quadrupled in size, performing regularly in the Cathedral and in a special new concert series in St Mary’s Church. We love giving our audiences an exciting mix of genres and instrumental combinations to bring our love of music-making alive for mutual connection and delight. Email elymusiccollective@gmail.com

Soham Comrades Brass Band

Cambridge Philharmonic: Are you a singer or orchestral musician looking for a new creative challenge? Have you considered auditioning to join us? We are keen to welcome new members to the Chorus and Orchestra and would love to meet you! We rehearse weekly during school term time, at Cambridge-based venues. The orchestra rehearses on Mondays from 7.15 – 9.45pm, and the choir on Tuesdays from 7.30 – 9.45pm.

Dust It Off orchestra: An orchestra for adults who can read music and play an orchestral instrument but may be a little rusty – no pressure to work towards a public performance and the aim is progress not perfection! Based at Cambridgeshire Music's headquarters in Histon.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Cambridgeshire Music Individual Instrumental and Vocal Tuition: Picking up an instrument for the first time can be a magical moment. We are here to help you every step of the way. We offer individual or group lessons, lend instruments and provide bursaries. Learning how to play an instrument or sing helps to improve core skills such as memory, co-ordination, motivation, confidence, discipline, creativity and imagination .
 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Ely Music Centre: Cambridgeshire Music's Saturday sessions in Ely, giving young people the opportunity to join a wide range of ensembles.

Making Music, Changing Lives: Making Music Changing Lives aims to transform the lives of children in Ely by teaching them how to play an orchestral instrument. The charity is based at the Church of the Resurrection in Ely. We now teach around 40 children aged 7+ violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, cornet and trombone at our after school sessions throughout the school term time, and families pay £3 per week as a contribution towards the cost of tuition and use of an instrument. Children are never excluded so if they cannot afford the contribution, we take them free of charge.