The name for our concert is taken from the title of the very first item we shall sing; the brilliant and dramatic anthem for six voices Sing Joyfully unto God by William Byrd, organist at Lincoln Cathedral and later the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

We shall also be singing three other works by this famous English composer of the Reformation, Bow Thine Ear,
O Lord, Miserere Mei and Laudibus in Sanctis.

Following our tradition of singing early music in the first half of our concerts, we shall continue with four other motets of the Renaissance, but from the Roman School: Exultate Deo and Sicut Cervus by Palestrina, Adoramus Te, Christe by Lassus and O Quam Gloriosum by Victoria..

In the second half we shall perform a cycle of eleven traditional folk songs arranged by John Rutter, entitled The Sprig of Thyme. The cycle includes settings of well-loved tunes such as the Northumbrian favourite, The Keel Row and I Know Where I'm Going from Ireland, but also less well known songs like the haunting Willow Song, the mellifluous Cuckoo and the boisterous Miller of Dee

The Consort is pleased to have as its guest soloist Sally Broadhurst, oboist and winner of the Anthony Thornton Hodge Young Musician of the Year Award. Having completed her course at Sixth Form College, Sally has been offered a place at Music College to continue her studies with the oboe.

She will play a variety of contrasting items, interspersed among the choral works.

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