PINSUTI’S next concert - at St Oswald’s Church, Guiseley on Saturday December 14th, 7.30pm - is the stunning work, “Welcome All Wonders: A Christmas Cantata”.

This is a unique work by the composer David Bednall, for choir, organ and trumpet. It celebrates the Christmas story through an imaginative selection of poetry and liturgical texts, telling the familiar story in a new and multifaceted way. The texts come from a wide range of authors including Alexander Pope, Isaac Watts, Longfellow, Milton and Christina Rossetti, as well as a couple of Magnificat antiphons for the Christmas season and some early mediaeval Latin hymns.

The work is relatively new: it was originally commissioned in 2011 by The Queen’s College, Oxford. Bednall says that he wanted to make the music “emotive and immediate”, and this is very much what the audience will experience. Alongside the expected, traditional rejoicing, he also explores the darker aspects of the story, such as the Massacre of the Innocents, where he reflects the danger and tension. As a result, there are considerable contrasts of mood and musical texture throughout the piece. There is space to rejoice, space to ponder, to be desolate and finally to rejoice once more.

It should be quite a stimulating evening and we hope you will join us for this superb work. The choir will also be singing some more well known Christmas carols!

Welcome All Wonders is at St Oswald’s Church, Guiseley, on Saturday December 14th 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 on the door, through eventbrite (search Welcome All Wonders) or from choir members.

Pinsuti sing a range of music from early 14th century through to the present day. The choir is looking for confident singers who can read music in all voices.

The choir rehearse in Ilkley on Wednesday evenings - do get in touch if you are interested in joining us or talk to a choir member at the concert! More information at info@pinsuti.org.uk .