Music of the Sephardim
Sepharad, in Hebrew, means “Spain”. This week, Philip features musical works from Jewish composers and
May 15: Contemporary British Composers – This episode will be devoted to the music of Patrick Gowers and Sasha Johnson Manning, both contemporary British composers. Gowers was music director for the Royal Shakespeare Company and wrote several notable scores for TV. Manning is based in Manchester, and has enjoyed a career as both a composer and a singer. Her Requiem will be performed by the SLCC on 5/28.
May 8: British Coronation Music – Philip shares a selection of pieces written for the most recent British coronation as well as those of the past. Hear music by William Walton and others.
May 3: Rivers – Philip shares music written about rivers from composers Samuel Barber, Arthur Bliss, and Frederick Delius, including a praise of the Vistula, the longest river in Poland, by Henryk Górecki.
April 26: Selections of Mendelssohn – Felix Mendelssohn wrote a number of choral works, from songs intended for intimate social gatherings to music for possible church use, both Protestant and Catholic. On this episode, you’ll hear three cycles of six songs each (Op. 50, 63, and 79) for men’s, women’s, and full mixed voices, all interspersed with one another — plus, a full choral/orchestral version of Psalm 114.
A native of Great Britain, Philip Barnes was a boy chorister at an early age, and as an adult sang with the cathedral choirs of Bristol, Hereford, and Wells.
Since 1989, Mr. Barnes has led the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus as its artistic director. He has complemented this with positions singing & conducting for various congregations and is currently director of music at Third Baptist Church in Grand Center. Mr. Barnes combines his musical activities with teaching and is a member of the classics department at John Burroughs School, where he instructs classes in Greek and Latin.
Mr. Barnes has made numerous recordings and has conducted the Chamber Chorus on fifteen commercially released discs, including seven on the Regent label. He has earned critical acclaim for his direction & programming and is recognized as a champion of both new music & women composers. Mr. Barnes has made numerous broadcasts on both sides of the Atlantic, and he has devised and presented more than 250 episodes of “Re-Choired Listening” for Classic 107.3!
