Brent Singers and Orchestra perform an all-Mozart programme, including his celebrated setting of the Requiem Mass in its completion by Süssmayr. The programme also includes a spritely Epistle Sonata and his well-known Ave verum corpus.

Brent Singers & Orchestra
Matthew Searles director

Membra Iesu nostri is a cycle of seven cantatas composed in 1680 and devoted to each of the ‘limbs most holy of our suffering Jesus’: feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face. For this performance, the Abbey Choir is joined by violins, a consort of viols and basso continuo, with solos drawn from the choir. The cantatas are interspersed with Lenten music by J. S. Bach played on the Abbey’s Ruffatti organ.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Noxwode Baroque
Matthew Searles director
Charles Maxtone-Smith organ

Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols was written in 1942 during a sea voyage from the United States to England. The Abbey Choir performs this much-loved festive work, together with 20th and 21st Century Anglo-American carols by James Burton, Matthew Martin and John Rutter.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Matthew Searles director
Cecily Beer harp

King’s Lynn Festival Chorus opens its 2024/25 season on Saturday 23 November with Rutter’s Feel the spirit and Fauré’s Requiem in the year that marks the centenary of the composer’s death.

King’s Lynn Festival Chorus
The British Sinfonietta
Ben Horden director
Matthew Searles organ

On the day when the Church marks the commemoration of the faithful departed, the Abbey Choir is joined by the Southern Sinfonia for a performance of Duruflé’s Requiem. Duruflé himself gave the premiere of Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, which features in the first half alongside Requiem æternam (Pavane pour une infante défunte) by Maurice Ravel and Duruflé’s Quatre motets sur des thèmes grégoriens.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Southern Sinfonia
Matthew Searles director
Charles Maxtone-Smith organ

Brent Singers performs Handel’s Coronation Anthems and Mozart’s Coronation Mass in the glorious acoustic of Buckfast Abbey.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

On the eve of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Abbey Choir gives a concert of music associated with the feast of the Blessed Sacrament. Including polyphony by Byrd, Rebelo and Guerrero, the programme also features several Gregorian chants and the world premiere of Martin Baker’s Missa O sacrum convivium, commissioned for the choir.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Matthew Searles director
Charles Maxtone-Smith organ

Marking the centenary of Fauré’s death, Brent Singers performs his atmospheric Requiem alongside Vaughan Williams’ setting of George Herbert’s 1633 collection of sacred poetry, the Five mystical songs.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

The Abbey Choir is joined by Noxwode Baroque to perform Charpentier’s festive Messe de minuit, interspersed with noëls played on the Ruffatti organ. After the interval, the choir turns its attention to music by Francis Poulenc and traditional French carols arranged by Yves Castagnet.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Noxwode Baroque
Matthew Searles director

Brent Singers presents a traditional Christmas concert including popular carols with audience participation.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

Brahms Ein Deutsches requiem (performed in German) followed by a Devon Cream Tea.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies & Ben Horden piano

On the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Abbey Choir performs a concert in honour of our Blessed Lady. The plainchant hymn Ave maris stella opens the programme which takes in polyphony by Robert Parsons and Francisco Guerrero. In the second half, devotional music by Anton Bruckner, Francis Poulenc and Herbert Howells culminates in C. V. Stanford’s 8-part Latin setting of the Magnificat.

The Choir of Buckfast Abbey
Matthew Searles director
Robert Pecksmith organ

Following Holocaust Memorial Day, Brent Singers performs Philip Arkwright’s evocative Holocaust Cantata, Shoah.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
Philip Arkwright organ

Join the Abbey Choir and Orchestra for a programme of traditional music for the Christmas, including Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols and carols with audience participation.

The Choir & Choristers of Buckfast Abbey with orchestra
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

Messiah (Part One & Hallelujah Chorus) and other works for the festive season. Includes carols with audience participation.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

Programme TBC

Antonio Vivaldi 1678–1741
Gloria, RV 589

George Frederic Handel 1685–1759
Organ Concerto, Op.4 No. 4

Henry Purcell 1659–1695
Come, ye sons of art, away

Brent Singers & Orchestra
Matthew Searles director
Ben Horden organ

Alvington Singers returns to Buckfast to perform a programme of sacred music spanning 400 years, from Orlando Gibbons to John Tavener. The centerpiece of the programme is Benjamin Britten’s cantata Rejoice in the Lamb, based on a poem by Christopher Smart and commissioned for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of St Matthew’s Church, Northampton. In the first half, the choir performs Henry Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, including the beloved miniature Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.

Alvington Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

A programme inspired by the Abbey’s two organs, to include Louis Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, César Franck’s Panis Angelicus and a sing-along version of Charles-Marie Widor’s famous Toccata!

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies grand-orgue
Ben Horden orgue de choeur

Alvington Singers
Matthew Searles director

Seasonal music progressing from the ancient texts of the ‘O’ antiphons, through to traditional carols and readings for the festive season. Includes carols with audience participation.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
Ian Curror organ

Brent Singers performs an abridged version of Karl Jenkins’ Mass for Peace, alongside other works associated with the theme of remembrance, including Gregorian chant, the Kontakion of the Dead and a setting of Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the fallen’.

Brent Singers
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

François Couperin 1668–1733
Trois leçons de ténèbres

Sophie Edwards soprano
Louise Laprun mezzo-soprano
Matthew Searles organ

George Baker b. 1951
Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol

Claude Balbastre 1724–1799
Joseph est bien Marié

Louis-Claude Daquin 1694–1772
Noël Suisse
Noël sur les flutes

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685–1750
Puer natus in Bethlehem, BWV 603
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 604
Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 605

Louis Vierne 1870–1927
Pastorale (Symphonie I)

John Ireland 1914–1992
The Holy Boy

Denis Bédard b. 1950
Variations on ‘In dulci jubilo’

Alfred Hollins 1865–1942
Christmas Cradle Song

Leroy Anderson 1908–1975, arr. Thomas Trotter
Sleigh Ride

Join the Abbey Choir and orchestra for a performance of Handel's great oratorio, Messiah. Since its premiere in 1742, it has been a mainstay of the choral repertoire; in particular the well-known 'Hallelujah' Chorus, which has gained a popularity in its own right. In the oratorio, Handel intersperses virtuosic solo arias with compelling chorus numbers, which tell the story of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection.

The Choir & Orchestra of Buckfast Abbey
Matthew Searles director

Festive music including Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, motets by Praetorius and well-known German carols.

Brent Singers & Orchestra
Matthew Searles director
David Davies organ

César Franck 1822–1890
Pièce héroïque 

Charles-Marie Widor 1834–1937
Andante sostenuto (Symphonie Gothique)

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685–1750
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 662
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 663

Felix Mendelssohn 1809–1847
Sonata No. 2 in C minor

Robert Cambert c.1628–1677
Première Ouverture (Pomone)

Louis-Nicolas Clérambault 1676–1749
Suite du deuxième ton 
i. Plein Jeu 
ii. Duo
iii. Trio
vi. Basse de cromorne
v.  Flûtes
vi. Récit de nazard
vii. Caprice sur les Grands Jeux 

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685–1750
Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 641

Louis Couperin 1626–1661
Chaconne ou Passacaille (Suite in G minor)

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685–1750
Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 668a

Claude Balbastre 1724–1799
Marche des Marseillois et l'air Ça-ira

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756–1791
Spatzenmesse, K.220
Epistle Sonata in D, K.144
Ave verum corpus, K.618
Epistle Sonata in F, K.244
Vesperæ solennes de confessore, K.339

The Choir & Orchestra of Buckfast Abbey
Philip Arkwright director
Matthew Searles organ

At the conclusion of the South Brent Carnival, Brent Singers present a programme of popular choral music that might be heard at the famous Last Night of the Proms.

Brent Singers & Orchestra
Matthew Searles director
Hannah Deasy soprano
David Davies organ