THE Exon Singers Festival runs from Sunday July 22 to Sunday 29, with its distinctive pattern of music and worship.
The festival has had its home in Tavistock since 1973.
As usual the Exon Singers, with Jeffrey Makinson, festival organist, and Matthew Owens, musical director, offer a widely varied programme, including music by English renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons and contrasting works by neo-romantics Gerald Finzi and Edmund Rubbra, whose centenaries fall this year.
The Exon Singers continue their tradition of inviting a young composer to write for the choir and to join them during the festival as composer in residence.
Benjamin Lamb is the fourth composer the choir has commissioned to write for the festival and his Missa Brevis will receive its first performance at Buckfast Abbey on Tuesday July 24.
There are performances of a number of Ben's other works during the week and he will be present to talk to the audiences about them.
The programme at Buckfast also includes a setting of Psalm 130 by leading post-romantic composer George Lloyd, whose Requiem was premiered by the Exon Singers at the 2000 Oxford Festival of Contemporary Music, and repeated at last year's Exon Singers Festival to an enthusiastic and heartfelt response.
Both works have been recorded by the Exon Singers — with Jeffrey Makinson and Matthew Owens — on a CD due to be released during the festival week.
Following the launch of a guest lunchtime organ recital at the 2000 festival (given by Alexander Dichmont), this year features guest recitalist Jeremy Holland-Smith, organist and Director of Chapel Music at Clifton College, Bristol.
Two of the most popular works of the baroque era, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Vivaldi's Gloria are featured in a concert in Exeter Cathedral on Friday July 27.
Once again, the Exon Singers Festival provides a feast of music from the 16th century to the present day throughout the county of Devon. As usual the Exon Singers are grateful to the town and parish of Tavistock for their support of the festival.
Tickets for all concerts are available through the Wharf box office, Tavistock, on 01822 611166, or on the door.