Michael Murray: King David’s Dance (world premiere)
James MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross
Our artists in residence, Scottish Ensemble are tonight joined by the brilliant young Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe and the world-renowned Westminster Cathedral Choir. Once again back at the beautiful St John’s Church we present a varied programme of ancient and new music. We are delighted to present two brand new commissioned works by Auchinleck composer Michael Murray. Self-taught from school days, Michael has had a life-long commitment to writing music and is now emerging as a composer of note. The Tryst is proud to give him this platform.
His guitar concerto and a special encore piece form the centrepiece of this concert, preceded by the famous choral masterpiece Miserere by Allegri, written for the Sistine Chapel centuries ago, which takes the voice of a boy soloist into the stratosphere. In the second half choir and orchestra combine in a performance of the signature cantata by the Tryst’s Artistic Director; MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, will be conducted by the composer himself.
“I have written a number of works for the incredible choir of Westminster Cathedral, and I am delighted to welcome them to my old church of St John’s where I played the organ as a teenager. They sing my Seven Last Words beautifully and they will be joined by the string ensemble I wrote it for. An added pleasure for me is to give the world premieres of works by another local composer who has written for an outstanding soloist, Sean Shibe.”— Sir James MacMillan
Sean Shibe 