Hardynge is the ancient name for Harpenden, dating from when it was a farming hamlet growing wheat for the nearby manor of Wheathampstead. The choir's name and logo symbolise these enduring connections.
The Hardynge Choir started in 1966 and continues to provide a challenging outlet for singers wishing to perform mainstream choral works alongside inventive programming and the commissioning of new repertoire. The choir currently has 55 members.
There are no formal individual auditions for entry or ongoing membership. We believe that singing should be taken seriously and worked at hard, but above all it should be fun and open to as many people as possible.
Three or four concerts are given each year, usually with professional orchestras and soloists.
Our next event is a free workshop on Haydn’s The Creation on Sunday 19 June 2-
Music and refreshments will be provided.
Exsultate, Jubilate
On Saturday 26 March Hardynge Choir gave their Spring concert Exsultate, Jubilate in St Saviour's Church, St Albans. In the last week before the concert many choir members dropped out owing to Covid, but fortunately the gaps were filled by some fine singers from other choirs. We were also very fortunate to have four excellent soloists in the Nelson Mass, and the Hertfordshire Classical Orchestra who played magnificently on period instruments.
The concert opened with a bang with a performance of Bach's Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten! (Resound, ye drums! Ring out, ye trumpets!). This was a resounding birthday anthem for the Queen of Poland made more exciting by the brilliant playing of the orchestra. This was followed by Mozart's Exsultate, Jubilate. This is a very popular motet for soprano solo, beautifully and sensitively sung by Charlotte-
After the interval we were joined by Charlotte-
The audience, which was a good size given worries about Covid, greatly enjoyed the evening, as did choir members. This was generally considered to be one of our best concerts, greatly enhanced by the fabulous soloists and magnificent Hertfordshire Classical Orchestra.
Our next concert The Creation is a St Albans St Cecilia Festival Society concert which will take place at Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban on Saturday 15 October 2022 at 7:30pm. The concert will feature Heartwood Wilding by James Francis Brown (commissioned to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of St Albans Symphony Orchestra) and Haydn’s The Creation.
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Copyright 2022 Hardynge Choir
Honorary President: Sasha Johnson Manning
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