Faire is the Heaven

Brett Weymark and 150 voices of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs present an inspiring program of hymns and stirring anthems they are taking 'home' to England's great cathedrals and the Three Choirs Festival in July. On the bill is Parry's I Was Glad and Gardiner's Evening Hymn, transcendent works written for coronations, jubilees, and services in great English cathedrals – and also right at home in Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral. The centrepiece and namesake of the concert – Sir William Harris's sublime Faire is the Heaven – sets words by poet Edmund Spenser (from An Hymne of Heavenly Beautie, 1596) in music of 'endlesse perfectnesse'. It's a flawless exemplar of stirring music that creates an atmosphere for prayer, contemplation and rich emotional response. And for some Aussie flavour, the program features premieres of works by composers Alice Chance and Joe Twist – works that sit firmly within the sacred tradition but are coloured with a distinctive Australian voice.