How many Easter anthems can you name? Pangbourne Choral sing a whole host more.

FOLLOWING their recent ‘retrospective’ of Christmas music, which was widely acclaimed, Pangbourne Choral Society offer a similar programme of Easter music that demonstrates the progression of Easter anthems over the past few centuries.

The concert Easter Through the Ages takes place at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne College, under the baton of musical director Sara Benbow, on Saturday, March 29 (7pm).

The earliest works include major Easter anthems from Part II of Handel’s Messiah, alongside a work by Handel’s contemporary Antonio Lotti, his Crucifixus.

The audience will also hear more recent works by John Henry Maunder (the under-performed Olivet to Calvary – 1904), James MacMillan Christus Vincit – 1994), and the more contemporary work by Sarah Macdonald – the hauntingly beautiful and moving Crux Fidelis.

The soloist will be Sara Benbow’s highly accomplished sister Tori Benbow (soprano), Richard Robbins (tenor) and Cormac Diamond (bass), with accompanists Steve Bowey (organ) and Liz Collins (piano), as PCS seeks to focus on the beauty of the choral parts with minimal orchestral embellishment.

Sara has already demonstrated her innovative flair throughout her first years with PCS. She says: “Like Christmas, Easter sacred music has many familiar works such as the Messiah Part II, but there is a host of wonderful anthems that deserve to be heard more often, and this concert seeks to show the progression in the composition of Easter choral music from the classical to the contemporary – something for everyone to enjoy at this special time in the religious calendar.”

PCS chairman Brian Hoskins says you can expect a full introduction for each work before performance, which brings audience and singers much closer together.

“And of course, we would love to welcome more singers to our 100-strong group through concerts such as this.’’

Tickets (£17 – just £5 for under-18s) are available from Garlands Organic & Natural, Pangbourne, from PCS website, and PCS members, and on the door.

Pangbourne Choral Society (PCS) is a 100-strong choir drawn from Pangbourne and the surrounding area. It is led by its director of music Sara Benbow.

PCS generally has a Christmas event and major concerts in spring and summer. These take place in the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College.

Anyone interested in joining should visit https://pangbournechoral.org.uk