Saturday 28th June 2025
St Michael's Church, Perry Street, Northamtpon, NN1 4HL
Northampton Philharmonic Choir are pleased to announce a successful end to their year which
culminated in their concert Sacred Jazz - a Summer Evening of Song & Sax. This was a concert
featuring Saxophonist Julia Mills who performed Robert Steadman's work In Principio and more
traditional classical music by Thomas Tallis with a jazz twist with the choir and Ivan Linford on
organ as well as treating us all with several pieces accompanied by our own Musical Director
Tom Moore on piano.
Composer Robert Steadman was able to join us on the night and he expressed his delight in
hearing his music brought to life again. In Principio was composed in 2017 with Julia Mills in
mind and it quickly became clear that her masterful rendition of the modern jazz work deserved
this dedication. In Principio is divided into seven parts, each representing a day in the Christian
Creation story, and Choir Members opened the concert with sounds of whooshing and clicking
representing Irritum (the void). This was followed by increasing amount of colourful music as the
world came alive, with Julia Mills' audible representations of creatures of the sea, air and land
perhaps the most memorable part of the evening when she was able to add sounds of her steps
complementing the saxophone music. By the time the choir joined in Reliqua (rest) the
audience appeared completely enthralled but were able to break away for the interval where,
continuing the summery theme of the night, refreshments including Pimms were served.
The second half of the concert featured a combination of more well-known music with Julia
Mills and Tom Moore performing Bernstein's Tonight and Maria and NPC singing Billy Joel's And
So It Goe with our own member Jonathan Taylor giving his first solo, as well as more ancient
music by Thomas Tallis being given a new twist with Julia Mills adding jazzy improvisation to the
Third Mode Melody a particular treat. The choir members also particularly enjoyed performing
Ola Gjeilo's works of Ubi Caritas and Evening Prayer, the latter forming a fitting end to the
concert, prompting a standing ovation.
We are always keen to welcome new members and if you would like to try singing with us do join
us at our upcoming Open Rehearsals in September. We will be singing Handel's Messiah and
the rehearsals are on Tuesday 9/9 and 16/9 at 7
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Northampton Philharmonic Choir, St Michael's Church, Perry Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 4HL
Charity Registration No.: 257398.
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