02 Dec 08

A caricature of composer John Taverner (c. 1490–1545), in a partbook at the head of his mass Gloria tibi Trinitas

The Bodleian’s new winter exhibition for 2008-09 is entitled Hallelujah: the British Choral Tradition and surveys the history of choral music in Britain and its contribution to our shared cultural heritage.

The exhibition includes a wide range of music masterpieces and a number of manuscripts written by the composers’ own hand. It also celebrates four composers with anniversaries in 2009 – Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn, all of whom made major contributions to the British choral scene.

The exhibition will feature many of the Bodleian’s musical highlights, including autographs of Mendelssohn (Elijah), Elgar (The Kingdom), Vaughan Williams (An Oxford Elegy), Purcell (St Cecilia’s Day Ode) and Walton. Other famous music manuscripts, such as Handel’s conducting score of Messiah, the 11th-century Winchester Troper, and 16th-century partbooks containing John Taverner’s masses, will be on display.

They will be joined by notable loans from other institutions including the famous Choirbook from Eton College, and autographs of Britten’s War Requiem and Tippett’s A Child of Our Time from the British Library.

The exhibition also features details of the performing institutions involved, such as local choral foundations and choral societies, choral societies in Britain, Oxford choral societies in particular, and the Oxford and Cambridge choral foundations.

There are also sections devoted to particular themes such choral music publishing and music festivals. One case in particular features Coronation music through the ages, including the autograph score of Hubert Parry’s I was glad.

Richard Ovenden, Keeper of Special Collections and Associate Director, Bodleian Library, said: ‘The Bodleian has been collecting music material for centuries. Through supporting scholarship in Oxford’s world-class Music Faculty and supporting the rich music performance scene in and around Oxford, the Library has made a major impact on the British choral music scene. We are delighted to showcase this contribution in this exhibition.’

The exhibition is one of the two major exhibitions that the Bodleian Library organises annually featuring distinctive items from its world-renowned collections. Hallelujah: the British Choral Tradition is open now, until 25 April 2009, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4.30 pm in the Exhibition Room, Old Schools Quadrangle, Catte Street, Oxford. Admission is free.

Hallelujah: the British Choral Tradition is being curated by Peter Ward Jones, the Bodleian’s Music Librarian. This will be his final swansong exhibition as he retires from 40 years’ service in the post.