Songs for Lent and Passiontide to remember chorister at Warwick church

The choirs of St Mary’s Collegiate church will perform modern masterpieces for Lent and Passiontide in Passio by organist Naji Hakim at the chruch from 7.30pm.

The work pays tribute to a former chorister, Adrian Quayle.

Thomas Corns, the director of music at the church, said: “It is a privilege to have been invited to give the first performance of Valet will ich dir geben by Naji Hakim, composed to honour the memory of Adrian, who was a chorister in St Mary’s Collegiate Church Choir from 1987 to 1991.

“The work, based on a poem by Valerius Herberger, is both moving and uplifting, and the choirs of boys, girls and men have enjoyed discovering Naji Hakim’s wonderfully imaginative style, unique harmonic setting and virtuosic writing for the organ, as played by the assistant director of music, Mark Swinton.”

Hakim has found international fame as a composer, organist and improviser.

The musician has performed in many festivals around the globe, including the BBC Proms.

Hakim succeeded Olivier Messiaen as organist of L’église de la Trinité, Paris.

Valet will ich dir geben will be performed alongside other modern masterpieces for Lent and Passiontide, including works by Messiaen and Duruflé. The first choir at St Mary’s was founded in 1123 and the Church has a long tradition of musical excellence.

Today’s choristers attend a variety of schools both in and around Warwick and further afield.

The men of the choir are committed volunteers who live and work in the surrounding area.

The choirs sing at services throughout the week during term time in St Mary’s Collegiate Church and give frequent concerts.

Their latest CD release Music for Our Lady was critically acclaimed with BBC Radio 3 hailing a “gorgeous performance”.

Tickets are available from the church gift shop or at the door and cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £1 for accompanied under-16s.