A Very English Concert (Sat 21 Nov 2026, Bournville Parish Church, Birmingham) features three richly textured choral pieces by Hubert Parry, Vaughan Williams, and Gustav Holst that collectively radiate a distinctly British voice.
Parry began working on Songs Of Farewell in 1913, with the bulk of their composition completed over the next two years. Praised for their passion, and considered amongst the best of his later works, the first motet – My soul, there is a country – is perhaps the most well known, with text from 17th century Metaphysical poet Henry Vaughan’s Peace.
A former pupil of Parry, Cheltenham-born Gustav Holst hailed from a family of musicians. Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day (also known as This Have I Done for My True Love) was composed around the same time as Parry’s motets. With lyrics from an old carol and the music influenced by an increasing interest in English folk music, the composer considered it one of his finest works, and it was performed during his burial at Chichester Cathedral in 1934.
Ralph Vaughan Williams struck up a lifelong friendship with Holst, and like his friend, studied under Parry. His Mass In G Minor was completed in 1921. Dedicated to Holst, it received its concert premiere in Birmingham the following year. The five movement mass honours Tudor church music yet remains very much a 20th century work, with Williams creating a rich soulful choral tapestry by dividing the choir’s 50 singers into two groups, with four soloists.
“This concert will be a memorable and moving experience for choir and audience alike,” says Birmingham Bach Choir’s Conductor and Music Director, Paul Spicer. “Three titans of the British musical scene in the early 20th century fill this programme, and the two major works – Parry’s powerful Songs of Farewell and Vaughan Williams’s beautiful Mass in G minor – are absolute classics of the choral repertory.”
The concert marks Birmingham Bach Choir’s return to Bournville Parish Church following November 2025’s enthusiastically reviewed sell-out Let There Be Light – their first concert at the venue in over a decade.
◼ Birmingham Bach Choir’s A Very English Concert is at Bournville Parish Church, St Francis of Assisi, Sycamore Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 2AA, on Saturday 21 November 2026, at 6pm. For tickets and more information, see: birmingham.bachchoir.com
LISTINGS
Suggested sections: Classical / Music / Concerts / Things To Do
Saturday 21 November 2026
Birmingham Bach Choir: A Very English Concert
Bournville Parish Church St Francis of Assisi, Sycamore Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 2AA
6pm
Tickets: from £18 (£20.21 with Eventbrite fee); Students £12 (£13.70).
Details: birmingham.bachchoir.com
For all enquiries, please email: tickets@birmingham.bachchoir.com
Birmingham Bach Choir
Holst: Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day
Parry: Songs of Farewell
Vaughan Williams: Mass in G Minor
Conductor: Paul Spicer
Organ: Martyn Rawles
Soloists:
Holst: Barbara Hathaway (soprano)
Vaughan Williams: Corinna Gregory (soprano), Jonathan Spencer (alto), Alex Lindsay (tenor), Philip Bellshaw (bass)
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR
As one of the UK’s leading large chamber choirs, Birmingham Bach Choir has been contributing to the musical life of the West Midlands since 1919, making it one of the longest established musical groups in the area. Although the main focus is the Baroque period (especially JS Bach), the choir performs music spanning 600 years, including 20th and 21st century works, and has premiered many new choral works.
2019 was the choir’s centenary, a year which saw them make a series of special appearances, including a Gala Concert at Lichfield Cathedral and a performance for Royalty. Meanwhile, the 2022-2023 Season marked Conductor Paul Spicer’s 30th anniversary with the choir and included the first West Midlands performance of Rachmaninoff’s Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in Liturgical Slavonic in living memory.
Social Media:
facebook.com/Birmingham-Bach-Choir-307760255351/
x.com/BirminghamBach
FORTHCOMING CONCERTS & ACTIVITIES
Sunday 13 December 2026, 3.30pm
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Traditional Christmas service. Free entry.
St Alban’s Church, Birmingham
Saturday 30 January 2027, 2pm-6pm
Come & Sing! With Us – Brahms: A German Requiem
A chance to sing with the Choir under the instruction of one of the UK’s leading choral conductors, Paul Spicer.
Selly Oak Methodist Church, Birmingham
ABOUT BOURNVILLE PARISH CHURCH
For more information on Bournville Parish Church, St Francis of Assisi, see:
bournvilleparishchurch.org.uk