HOOK Choral Society (HCS) are back in action after a well-earned break and have two forthcoming concerts planned.

Their autumn concert takes place on November 15 in St. John’s Church in Hook. The programme on the night will include Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Bach’s Coffee Cantata in addition to Mozart’s Exulte Jubilate, Veni Sancte Spiritus and Ave Verum Corpus.

Composed in Vienna in 1782/3, the Great Mass in C Minor is a truly remarkable work and rivals Mozart’s Requiem in stature.

Like the Requiem, this piece was also uncompleted and to this day is performed without an Agnus Dei. It was said to have been written for his fiancée Constanze to perform the soprano part when he brought her to Salzburg as his wife.

Bach’s Coffee Cantata is a humorous secular work whose alternative title is ‘Be Still, Stop Chattering’ and is a satirical comic opera in style. It was written between 1732 and 1735.

Hook Choral Society’s Christmas Concert will take place on December 20 at St. John’s Church.

Join the choir for this celebration of Christmas music, and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies.

The society would like to thank their chairwoman Olly Barr, who has stepped down after four years, for her service to the choir.

HCS welcomes any new members every Tuesday night at 8pm at St John’s Church in Hook. Rehearsals begin at 8pm. No audition is necessary.