The Edgecumbe Choir is preparing for its second concert of 2025, presenting a moving programme of modern choral music with Bob Chilcott’s Requiem and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna.

Titled Into the Light, the concert will be performed twice over the weekend of August 30 and 31 and features guest soloists and a guest organist.

Musical and artistic director Chalium Poppy said he was excited to bring the works of these celebrated contemporary composers to Eastern Bay audiences.

“Though I’m an early music specialist, I love music from all genres,” said Poppy.

“I had been planning for some time to do a concert of 20th and 21st century music.”

Chilcott’s Requiem, composed in 2010, is relatively new to New Zealand audiences.

Poppy said he first came across the score recently and was immediately drawn to its beauty.

“I wasn’t familiar with it, but when I listened to a recording, I fell in love with it and thought we must perform it,” he said.

“It’s a concert of modern music, but it’s really lovely – accessible and full of light.”

Chilcott is one of Britain’s most respected choral composers and conductors, known for his vibrant, lyrical style.

A former member of the King’s Singers and currently principal guest conductor of the BBC Singers, Chilcott draws inspiration from a wide range of musical traditions including folk, jazz, gospel, and Anglican hymnody. His Requiem reflects this range, combining lyrical melodies with subtle rhythmic and jazz influences.

“This may be only the second time this work has been performed in New Zealand,” Poppy noted.

“It’s that new.”

The choir will pair the Chilcott with Lux Aeterna by American composer Morten Lauridsen – a piece already beloved by the choir and its audiences.

“We performed it about six years ago, and it was such a favourite of the choir’s and was received so well that I thought it would be lovely to pair it with Chilcott.”

Despite both being based on traditional requiem texts, Poppy said the programme was anything but sombre.

“Chilcott’s treatment has so much brightness and light, and there is so much hope in the music.

“Same with Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna; he wrote it while his mother was passing away, but they are both optimistic works, really hopeful and full of beauty.”

Lauridsen is widely considered the most performed living American choral composer.

His Lux Aeterna, composed in 1997, weaves sacred Latin texts with themes of light and renewal.

Lauridsen has said he chose texts “each containing references to light … giving me strength to cope with the situation.”

The Lauridsen piece will be accompanied by organist David Burchell, who is returning to collaborate with the choir.

“David is incredible, he is the city of Dunedin organist. I am so glad we are working with him again.”

Chilcott’s Requiem will also feature two soloists: soprano Regan McFarlane from Tauranga, and English tenor Iain Tetley.

“Regan sings in my professional chamber choir, Scholars Baroque, and I thought she would do a lovely job of the Chilcott solo.”

Tetley, said Poppy,  brought the light quality of the English tenor sound that suited Chilcott’s writing perfectly.

Poppy explained that in Chilcott’s Requiem, the solo parts are often supported by the choir, creating a rich, blended sound rather than traditional stand-alone solos.

Poppy hopes audiences will embrace the opportunity to experience something different.

“These are modern works, but they’re also incredibly melodic and there is great beauty in both pieces.”