The Wykeham Singers will perform a concert with tenor soloist Dr Rashmi Patel (Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry, King's College London) at 6pm on Wednesday 6th March (New College Chapel, Oxford) to support the charity Rethink Mental Illness. The charity works to support those affected by mental illness, their families and carers as well as promoting mental health research. Please see the programme notes below for further details about the event. Even if you are not able to attend the concert, please do consider donating to this important and worthwhile cause. Thank you for your support and generosity!

 

Rethink Mental Illness

 

Rethink is a charity which provides support to millions of people affected by mental illness. 1 in 4 of the population have a mental health problem at some time in their lives and people with severe mental illness die on average 20 years younger than the general population. Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for people affected by mental illness. The charity works to support those affected by mental illness, their families and carers as well as promoting research, which is vital to our understanding of mental illness. Any donation, no matter how small, will go a long way in helping to improve the lives of those affected by mental health problems and will help us challenge the ignorance, prejudice and fear that surrounds mental illness. Thank you for your kind and generous support!

 

 

Tenor soloist – Rashmi Patel

 

Rashmi Patel is establishing himself at the forefront of the current generation of young tenors. He began his professional singing career as a choral scholar at Christ’s College, Cambridge. After completing his undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences at Cambridge, he took up a choral scholarship at Keble College and a lay clerkship at The Queen’s College in Oxford while studying Clinical Medicine. He has sung with various choirs including The Blenheim Singers, New College (Oxford), The Chapels Royal (HM Tower of London), Chelmsford Cathedral, St. George’s RC Cathedral and St. Bartholomew the Great. He has performed in several recordings, including the soundtrack for the film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. His previous solo engagements include tenor solos in Monteverdi’s Vespers and L’Orfeo as well as The Evangelist in Bach’s St. John Passion. Outside his singing career, Rashmi is a clinical lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry (King’s College London) where he is undertaking research using machine learning to better predict the course of illness in individuals with psychotic disorders.

 

 

 

 

Olivet to Calvary - John Henry Maunder (1858 - 1920)

 

John Henry Maunder studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and served as organist in several London churches, including St Matthew's, Sydenham and St Paul's, Forest Hill. Maunder started his career as a theatre composer during which time he wrote the operetta 'Daisy Dingle'. He later devoted himself exclusively to sacred music. While his oratorio 'The Martyrs' became a perennial favourite it is 'Olivet to Calvary' which has retained its popularity and appeal through the generations.

 

 

The work is a fine example of music written for the late Victorian/early Edwardian Anglican church.  Considered by some to be over sentimental by modern tastes, it contains a sincerity and dedication which, despite being a definite product of its time, has carried the piece through to the modern era. Its popularity is in part due to its simplicity, needing only organ, choir, bass and tenor soloists, it is a work which can be performed by the smallest choirs.

 

Described as a sacred cantata, 'Olivet to Calvary' recalls the scenes which mark the last few days of Christ's life on earth. Part 1 starts with Christ's jubilant journey to Jerusalem and ends with the scene on the Mount of Olives. Part 2 begins with the Feast of Passover with Christ's commandment to his disciples to 'Love one Another' and end with the Crucifixion at Calvary. It is interspersed with congregational hymns which reflect on the scenes.

 

 

 

Programme notes by Phillip Tolley