To celebrate Pentecost, Emma joined the brass quintet of the Dutch Grenadiers and Rifles Guard Regiment to sing during Mass in “Little Lourdes” – a Dutch town dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. She sang the plainsong Missa de Angelis, the Ave Maria attributed to Caccini, and hymns and a psalm during the Mass of the Dutch Military Lourdes Pilgrimage Foundation. Here is a video of the ‘Ave Maria’:
Alex Patterson, Director of Music at Salford Roman Catholic Cathedral, has developed a wonderful Podcast through lockdown, interviewing musicians about the music they create and the music they enjoy. Emma took part in the podcast earlier this month discussing her approach to composition and the music which has shaped and echoed her life.
Alex was formerly the Director of Music at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham, where Emma sang as a child. They met when Emma was invited to sing for the Christmas Carol Service of BBC Radio Nottingham in 2018.
You can listen to Emma and to Alex’s other guests by clicking this link.
Singing at the Haagsche Schouw monument
Emma was honoured to sing for Dutch Remembrance Day, 4th May, in her home town of Leiden. She sang the Dutch national anthem, “Het Wilhemus” at the Haagsche Schouw and the Liberty Statue, and “Abide with Me” to end the day’s ceremonies. It was a poignant day since it was the first year since the Second World War that no Second World War veteran was present.
The ceremony at the Liberty statue in Leiden.
Emma joined guitarist Luc Groen to perform during the youth service of the Leidse Binnenstadsgemeente in a service exploring doubt and spirituality, led by Margreet Klokke.
18th April, 2021, Hooglandse Kerk, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Emma’s introit “Quasi modo geniti infantes” was sung by the Pancras Consort during the Evensong at the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden. The text comes from the Gregorian Missal and it is the introit text for the second Sunday of Easter.
Willem Brons, pianist © Molenaar Photography
Together with the Justinus Ensemble and pianist Willem Brons, Emma will sing in Liszt’s “Via Crucis.” This performance will be broadcast on the Dutch TV channel Sleutelstad and on Emma’s You Tube channel.
“Via Crucis” was one of Liszt’s later works. Composed during a retreat in a monastery, the work is a musical depiction of the fourteen stations of the cross. The piano part, which will be realized by the internationally-acclaimed pianist Willem Brons, is much more contemplative and fragile than Liszt’s flamboyant earlier works.
Saturday, 3rd April, 2021, 13:00, Hooglandse Kerk, Leiden, the Netherlands, 13:00: online via this link.
On Good Friday, Emma will perform Vivaldi’s ‘Stabat Mater’ (RV621) with organist Willeke Smits. Vivaldi’s setting was composed in around 1727 is beautifully contemplative. The performance is part of the morning prayer of the Leidse Binnenstadsgemeente.
Friday, 2nd April, 2021, 10:00, Hooglandse Kerk, Leiden, the Netherlands: online via this link.