performances

Schola Cantorum concert with Hildegard songs

Posted by sara-garrard

This weekend we had the first, I think, UK performance of the Four Hildegard texts, and the definitely first performance of O virga ac diadema (another setting of words by Hildegard), by my ogs, Bristol University Schola Cantorum. A big thank you to Emma Hornby, Gillian Hurst, and all the staff of St. Nicholas’ Brockley for a lovely afternoon. I wondered at first why this venue, out in the middle of nowhere it seemed to me (— a non-driving urbanite, bear in mind though)… once I got there all became clear. I walked down a track through a field in the low afternoon sun towards and old stone tower in the distance, then through some kind of magical tree-shaded lane…

To here. I definitely recommend visiting if you are ever nearby!

Schola sang my Hildegard settings between two sets of plainchant, the first while processing into the church and up to the front.

Excerpt O virga diadema:

Hildegard Texts performed by Orange County Women’s Chorus

Posted by sara-garrard

The Orange County Women’s Chorus got in touch about a performance of two of my Four Hildegard Texts, one of which you can now watch / listen to below:

This was performed as part of their concert program, The Sisterhood of Cecilia, which began with music by Hildegard herself.

Thank you! A beautiful performance.

December Updates

Posted by sara-garrard

A quick blog entry to recap what I can remember that I forgotten to recap…
Various things that should be coming up soon-ish include:

  1. This year’s PIANOWRIMO album finalised for Bandcamp and streaming etc
  2. Ditto the sheet music (Related to that, I was very excited by all the new look niceness of Musescore 4 … only to realise my operating system is just too far behind to run it 😭)
  3. More FFVII Demakes redone with not strictly soundfont sounds for Spotify etc … and possibly some more new Crisis Core related ones, it being the season.
  4. I’ve done a “year in review” type video the past couple years, and it’d be nice to get one of those done before or around new year — time permitting!

Things that have been happening recently:

  1. This year’s Sing Clifton Christmas concert! Including a first performance of my Christmas piece O Night Restful and Deep
  2. I have been working on another game music & sound design job that I can’t share any of currently but will be keeping me nicely busy for a while now. I’ve also been doing more teaching, with more school age piano students at a school and a gratifying influx of adults realising their dream to play the oboe outside of that!
  3. This wonderful performance of Four Hildegard Texts by Peter Anthony Smith and the Sydney Sydney Conservatorium Clarinet Ensemble:

A Service of Celebration of Women’s Priestly Ministry

Posted by sara-garrard

I attended a service last Saturday marking 28 years since the first women were ordained in the Church of England, there in Bristol Cathedral. It was a moving and uplifting service and I was struck by the sense of history more than I was expecting…

Bristol University Schola Cantorum sang selections from my Missa Brevis as part of a very nicely chosen set of music: all the songs had either words or music or both by women. Which of course shouldn’t be a big deal but, you know, is. Extremely honoured to be heard alongside Hildegard of Bingen and my hero Catherine Winkworth!

This new plaque, listing the names of all the women ordained on 12th March 1994, was unveiled as part of the service
And here are some of them!