Saturday 29th March 6:00pm
The Symbel Choir perform Membra Jesu Nostri
by Dieterich Buxtehude
"We are a choir based in London,
primarily made up of recent graduates.
Under the musical direction of
Anthony Chater, we are delighted to be in
residence monthly at St Peter’s, Belsize Park
and St Barnabas, Pimlico.
We also sing at several churches in central
London on an ad hoc basis, including
The Charterhouse and Holy Trinity,
Sloane Square.
Our name comes from Old English and translates roughly as
‘feast, banquet, social gathering’.
This celebrates the sense of belonging and togetherness
fostered by collective music making.
We hope our singing is a feast for your ears, and we can often be found
at the nearest pub or green space after rehearsals."
Membra Jesu Nostri is a cycle of seven cantatas composed in 1680
by the Danish composer Dieterich Buxtehude.
Buxtehude described it as a “devotione decantata” or “sung devotion”,
titled Membra Jesu nostri patientis sanctissima, which translates from the Latin as
The Most Holy Limbs of Our Suffering Jesus.
The stanzas of its main text are drawn from the medieval hymn Salve mundi salutare,
also known as the Rhythmica oratio.
Each cantata addresses a part of Jesus' crucified body:
feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face.
Admission by donation
Refreshments avaialable after the concert