2000 - 2020
ANTIPHON CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
Despite the terrible COVID-19 pandemic and thus not being able to rehearse or perform, Antiphon will later this year be celebrating the 20th anniversary since its formation by Judy Lloyd. Over that period, the choir has gained a reputation for its performances of early period music, and is now recognised as one of the leading amateur early music chamber choirs within the region. Reading through our website, the viewer will have noticed that we often take on the role of providing music for services in various ancient churches around Northumberland and the boarders. We also perform one or two
concerts each year which give us the opportunity to widen our repertoire (one of the more recent concerts being Rachmaninov’s Vespers performed in Hexham Abbey in November 2019), and also enjoy touring in other parts of the country and also in mainland Europe.
We look forward to being able to come together in the near future and share with you the music we all love to sing . In the meantime thank you to all of who have attended our concerts and shared in the liturgy that we have taken part in.
John Roper - Musical Director and Conductor 2004 - present
John completed his musical training at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 1979, where he gained a Bachelor of Music (Honours) Degree London University) and the ARCO diploma. Among others, he studied with Dr Arthur Wills, Dr Arthur Pritchard and Paul Patterson, before moving with his wife, Penny, to Bellingham in 2001. Prior to settling here in the North East, John was organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s Parish Church, Theydon Bois, Essex, and musical director of a 40-strong ecumenical choir based in Epping,Essex. Previously he had been organist and choirmaster in other Essex churches, as well as conductor of other religious and secular choral groups. John has also played and sung in many UK cathedrals for Chingford Parish Church (East London), and is still invited to play for their summer ‘cathedral weeks’.
Having originally joined Antiphon in 2001 as a member of the tenor line, ,John took over from Hugh Morris as conductor of Antiphon in 2004 and, later the same year became musical director of the North Tyne & Redewater Choral Society. He also plays regularly for a Hexham-based dance school, and teaches piano and organ. In 2007, he was appointed an official accompanist to the Tynedale Music Festival and, in 2008, John took up a formal position as Director of Music at St Cuthbert’s Church, Bellingham, while continuing to play regularly in many other churches from Blanchland to Elsdon .
John completed his musical training at the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 1979, where he gained a Bachelor of Music (Honours) Degree London University) and the ARCO diploma. Among others, he studied with Dr Arthur Wills, Dr Arthur Pritchard and Paul Patterson, before moving with his wife, Penny, to Bellingham in 2001. Prior to settling here in the North East, John was organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s Parish Church, Theydon Bois, Essex, and musical director of a 40-strong ecumenical choir based in Epping,Essex. Previously he had been organist and choirmaster in other Essex churches, as well as conductor of other religious and secular choral groups. John has also played and sung in many UK cathedrals for Chingford Parish Church (East London), and is still invited to play for their summer ‘cathedral weeks’.
Having originally joined Antiphon in 2001 as a member of the tenor line, ,John took over from Hugh Morris as conductor of Antiphon in 2004 and, later the same year became musical director of the North Tyne & Redewater Choral Society. He also plays regularly for a Hexham-based dance school, and teaches piano and organ. In 2007, he was appointed an official accompanist to the Tynedale Music Festival and, in 2008, John took up a formal position as Director of Music at St Cuthbert’s Church, Bellingham, while continuing to play regularly in many other churches from Blanchland to Elsdon .
Judy Lloyd - Founder of Antiphon
Judy studied History at Cambridge and whilst there sang with Clare College Chapel Choir, under John Rutter. On moving to Oxford in 1978 as a postgraduate, Judy had opportunities to sing and record with the Tallis Scholars, and also with the medieval ensemble, Gothic Voices. directed by Christopher Page.
In 1981 Judy returned to the north east and it was not long before Judy joined a small busking group of medieval and renaissance singers by the name of 'The Ravenscroft Singers'. At the same time Judy also joined Newcastle based Cappella Novocastriensis who specialise in Baroque music.
In 1982,Judy moved to Hexham and became a member of the congregation at Hexham Abbey. It was not long before Judy got to know the assistant organist, Henry Wallace, who also enjoyed early choral music and together they formed a vocal group called the Tynedale Elizabethan Singers.
With Henry's departure from Hexham in 2000 Judy decided that it would be a good opportunity to form a new choir which would specialise in early sacred music and in late 2000 approached Hugh Morris, the newly appointed Assistant Director of Music at Hexham Abbey, to see if he would be willing to conduct the newly formed choir which would initially provide music at services in various churches around the region. Antiphon was the chosen choir name, and would ideally reflect the choir's meaning - An antiphon being a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain, with texts deriving from the Psalms.
Over the next 20 years as Choir director, Judy would push the boundaries with concerts that included both early and modern music, and also dramatic song cycles entitled "Northumbrian Fragments" and "Towards Lindisfarne", which combined music with drama, prose and art in honour of the saints of Northumbria.
Judy studied History at Cambridge and whilst there sang with Clare College Chapel Choir, under John Rutter. On moving to Oxford in 1978 as a postgraduate, Judy had opportunities to sing and record with the Tallis Scholars, and also with the medieval ensemble, Gothic Voices. directed by Christopher Page.
In 1981 Judy returned to the north east and it was not long before Judy joined a small busking group of medieval and renaissance singers by the name of 'The Ravenscroft Singers'. At the same time Judy also joined Newcastle based Cappella Novocastriensis who specialise in Baroque music.
In 1982,Judy moved to Hexham and became a member of the congregation at Hexham Abbey. It was not long before Judy got to know the assistant organist, Henry Wallace, who also enjoyed early choral music and together they formed a vocal group called the Tynedale Elizabethan Singers.
With Henry's departure from Hexham in 2000 Judy decided that it would be a good opportunity to form a new choir which would specialise in early sacred music and in late 2000 approached Hugh Morris, the newly appointed Assistant Director of Music at Hexham Abbey, to see if he would be willing to conduct the newly formed choir which would initially provide music at services in various churches around the region. Antiphon was the chosen choir name, and would ideally reflect the choir's meaning - An antiphon being a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain, with texts deriving from the Psalms.
Over the next 20 years as Choir director, Judy would push the boundaries with concerts that included both early and modern music, and also dramatic song cycles entitled "Northumbrian Fragments" and "Towards Lindisfarne", which combined music with drama, prose and art in honour of the saints of Northumbria.
Antiphon – Memorable moments in time
One of Antiphon's earliest pictures.
Rehearsal in Hexham Abbey choir School 2002
2000 - Having been singing in various North East Choirs throughout the 1980s and 90s (these included the Ravenscroft Singers, Cappella Novocastriensis, and Tynedale Elizabethan Singers (which was made up from pupils and staff at the Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham), Judy Lloyd decides it might be a good opportunity to form a new choir that would specialise in early church music.
Towards the end of 2000, Judy approaches Hugh Morris, (who at this time was assistant Director of Music at Hexham Abbey), to ask if he would take on the role of conductor for the yet un-named choir that would be specialising in early Elizabethan and Renaissance music. Hugh duly agrees, and Judy contacts fellow singing friends to come along to the Hexham Abbey Music School and “try out” a few pieces.
2001 – By late autumn, Judy now has a small choir formed, and under the name of “Antiphon” and
a programme was put together for a debut concert
to be held in Hexham Abbey on the 19th October.
The concert would feature both Antiphon and a
small consort group “Red Campion” led by
Robert Hersey, which had been recently formed
and included Iain Duncan, who eventually
joined Antiphon and in 2016 also married Judy.
The concert was conducted by David Murray and
the programme – entitled “Saints and Sinners”
featured a mixture of choral and orchestral pieces.
2002 – By this time,Antiphon's membership was between 15 to 20 regular singers (one member being John Roper, who would eventually become the choir’s conductor and musical director) and the choir led by its conductor Hugh Morris performed another concert in Hexham Abbey, to mark Queen Elizabeth ll’s Golden Jubilee. Entitled "Music fit for a Queen” the programme comprised both Elizabethan and modern music to honour the occasion. Benjamin Britten’s Flower Songs was chosen with its connection to the royal progress of Queen Elizabeth I, and was an ideal piece to link the two periods in time.
2003 – Now with an established audience along the Tyne Valley, Antiphon’s next major concert would be at St Andrews Church in Corbridge. The concert title, “Anatomy of a Passion” would take Buxtehude’s Cantatas Membra Jesu Nostri as the main body of work and for the concert an invited group of soloists, baroque strings and harpsichord players made up the ensemble. . By the end of 2003, John Roper has taken over as conductor of Antiphon with Judy as musical director.
2004 – During the year Antiphon spend a lot of their time performing at choral evensong services around the region and then in December Antiphon are invited to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Aidan’s Church in Brunton Park, Gosforth.
2005 – Following the terrible Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that struck northern Sumatra and Indonesia on December 26th 2004, Antiphon organise an emergency aid relief funding concert that would take place in early 2005. The concert took place at St Mary’s RC Church in Hexham and as expected, this was to a sell-out audience.
Towards the end of 2000, Judy approaches Hugh Morris, (who at this time was assistant Director of Music at Hexham Abbey), to ask if he would take on the role of conductor for the yet un-named choir that would be specialising in early Elizabethan and Renaissance music. Hugh duly agrees, and Judy contacts fellow singing friends to come along to the Hexham Abbey Music School and “try out” a few pieces.
2001 – By late autumn, Judy now has a small choir formed, and under the name of “Antiphon” and
a programme was put together for a debut concert
to be held in Hexham Abbey on the 19th October.
The concert would feature both Antiphon and a
small consort group “Red Campion” led by
Robert Hersey, which had been recently formed
and included Iain Duncan, who eventually
joined Antiphon and in 2016 also married Judy.
The concert was conducted by David Murray and
the programme – entitled “Saints and Sinners”
featured a mixture of choral and orchestral pieces.
2002 – By this time,Antiphon's membership was between 15 to 20 regular singers (one member being John Roper, who would eventually become the choir’s conductor and musical director) and the choir led by its conductor Hugh Morris performed another concert in Hexham Abbey, to mark Queen Elizabeth ll’s Golden Jubilee. Entitled "Music fit for a Queen” the programme comprised both Elizabethan and modern music to honour the occasion. Benjamin Britten’s Flower Songs was chosen with its connection to the royal progress of Queen Elizabeth I, and was an ideal piece to link the two periods in time.
2003 – Now with an established audience along the Tyne Valley, Antiphon’s next major concert would be at St Andrews Church in Corbridge. The concert title, “Anatomy of a Passion” would take Buxtehude’s Cantatas Membra Jesu Nostri as the main body of work and for the concert an invited group of soloists, baroque strings and harpsichord players made up the ensemble. . By the end of 2003, John Roper has taken over as conductor of Antiphon with Judy as musical director.
2004 – During the year Antiphon spend a lot of their time performing at choral evensong services around the region and then in December Antiphon are invited to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Aidan’s Church in Brunton Park, Gosforth.
2005 – Following the terrible Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that struck northern Sumatra and Indonesia on December 26th 2004, Antiphon organise an emergency aid relief funding concert that would take place in early 2005. The concert took place at St Mary’s RC Church in Hexham and as expected, this was to a sell-out audience.
Concert programme in Perugia
Antiphon's Italy tour 2006.
2006 The choir embark on their first tour - Assisi in Italy. A wonderful week where the choir performed in various churches in and around the area along with taking part in the International Festival of Choirs and Youth Orchestras held in Perugia.
2007 – Antiphon perform at Warkworth Castle. Also in 2007 the choir undertook a repeat performance of the of Buxtehude’s Cantatas Membra Jesu Nostri, but this with John Roper now as conductor.
2008 - The second choir tour! and this time it was Burgundy where the choir perform at various locations in the region. These include Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Auxerre, The Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune, Vézelay Abbey and Eglise Saint-Jaques d'Asquins. On their return from France it was straight back to rehearsals for a July concert where the choir joined forces with Vox Humana to mark the half centenary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Held in St Mary’s Church, Hexham, the first half of the concert featured the sublime Vaughan Williams's Mass in G minor, and this was followed by pieces by some of Vaughan Williams’s contemporaries, Howells, Holst, and Harris. In October and still on a “high” from the French tour, Antiphon perform Love, Life, Death and War (six centuries of music from England and France ). This was followed in December by a visit to Allendale and a Christmas programme which combined the Tudor Christmas Mass‘Puer Natus Est’ by Thomas Tallis, with a selection of early European Christmas carols.
2007 – Antiphon perform at Warkworth Castle. Also in 2007 the choir undertook a repeat performance of the of Buxtehude’s Cantatas Membra Jesu Nostri, but this with John Roper now as conductor.
2008 - The second choir tour! and this time it was Burgundy where the choir perform at various locations in the region. These include Cathédrale Saint-Étienne d'Auxerre, The Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune, Vézelay Abbey and Eglise Saint-Jaques d'Asquins. On their return from France it was straight back to rehearsals for a July concert where the choir joined forces with Vox Humana to mark the half centenary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Held in St Mary’s Church, Hexham, the first half of the concert featured the sublime Vaughan Williams's Mass in G minor, and this was followed by pieces by some of Vaughan Williams’s contemporaries, Howells, Holst, and Harris. In October and still on a “high” from the French tour, Antiphon perform Love, Life, Death and War (six centuries of music from England and France ). This was followed in December by a visit to Allendale and a Christmas programme which combined the Tudor Christmas Mass‘Puer Natus Est’ by Thomas Tallis, with a selection of early European Christmas carols.
Choir tour of Burgundy 2008 Vezeley, Auxerre Cathedral, Hotel Dieu and Asquins
2009 – The choir return to Hexham Abbey for a concert entitled “Music of the Restoration - 1660-1714”. Philip Thornby who is regarded as one of the leading performers and teachers in the field of Renaissance and Baroque music, was invited to be guest conductor for this event and later in November following the success of the Restoration concert, the choir once again returned to Hexham Abbey. “A Right Royal Celebration” with music by Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel, was the title of the concerts with proceeds from the event being donated to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Judy Lloyd being interviewed by BBC North East
presenter Carol Malia
2010 – Having undertaken quite a lot work in the previous year, the choir went back to its roots and spent most of 2010 performing at a series of church services in small historic churches around Northumberland. All agreed it was nice to get back into a quieter less hectic schedule for a few months before the start of rehearsals in the autumn for “Northumberland Fragments” a project which would be performed in Hexham Abbey in February 2011. In the November Antiphon were invited to take part and perform in a BBC North East event that discussed music and arts in the region which was held at the Baltic Centre of Contemporary Arts
2011 - Northumberland Fragments was a major theatrical project funded by the BBC, Northumberland County Council, and other trusts/foundations. The project was devised and written by Judy Lloyd and in partnership with various actors’ artists and musicians, Antiphon, led the audience on a musical journey which celebrated the saints of Northumbria’s golden age. New compositions for the song cycle were also commissioned and the event gained both local and national recognition.
In May, the choir embark on another tour. This time Bruges being the choir’s chosen destination and with Michael Haynes head of music at Hexham Abbey joining us as guest conductor. On route was a stopover in Brussels, where the choir sang at the Sunday morning service at The Holy Trinity Pro Cathedral Anglican Church in Brussels. It was the onwards to Bruges where the choir sang in various churches within the town and a performed a concert at the beautiful Church of Our lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerek) where Antiphon dedicated the concert in honour of the Feast of Visitation. Later in the autumn Antiphon headed to Rothbury and a concert entitled “Songs for the seasons turning” with music by Butterworth, Handel, Ireland, and Rutter as part of the programme.
In May, the choir embark on another tour. This time Bruges being the choir’s chosen destination and with Michael Haynes head of music at Hexham Abbey joining us as guest conductor. On route was a stopover in Brussels, where the choir sang at the Sunday morning service at The Holy Trinity Pro Cathedral Anglican Church in Brussels. It was the onwards to Bruges where the choir sang in various churches within the town and a performed a concert at the beautiful Church of Our lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerek) where Antiphon dedicated the concert in honour of the Feast of Visitation. Later in the autumn Antiphon headed to Rothbury and a concert entitled “Songs for the seasons turning” with music by Butterworth, Handel, Ireland, and Rutter as part of the programme.
Antiphon Tour 2011 - Brussels and Bruges
2012 - Saw Queen Elizabeth celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. This was the perfect opportunity for Antiphon to present a concert celebrating the occasion and to use music from both the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and II and the concert was held at St Cuthbert’s Church, Bellingham, where the choir’s conductor John Roper, is resident organist. December took the choir back to Corbridge and the 12 days of Christmas provided the theme of the evening’s music.
2013 - In February the choir were back at St Marys RC church for a seasonal celebration in music. Programme included works by Parry, Palestrina, Vaughan Williams,Elgar, Henry VIII, Byrd and “Lux aeterna” by Gabriel Fauré. Later in November it was a concert to celebrate the patron saint of music St Cecilia, with music by Orlando di Lasso,Palestrina,Purcell Benjamin Britten and Peter Philips.
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2014 - In November the world remembered those who had died in the great war of 1914 -1918. With this in mind, Antiphon presented a reflective concert at St Andrews Church Corbridge. With its opening procession of the choir into the church singing the 15 century french circular song -“L’homme armé” the concert combined music and poetry that reflected the theme A time for War and a time for Peace. Works included Three Songs from A Shropshire Lad by George Butterworth,For lo, I raise up” by Charles Villiers Stanford and Maurice Duruflé's Requiem Op 9.
2015 - Saw completion on the Restoration of the medieval monastery complex in Hexham Abbey. This work reunites all the buildings on the Abbey site for the first time since the Reformation, and creates The Big Story exhibition a Café and The Great Hall which would be used for functions, conferences and concerts. |
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It was therefore a great honour that Antiphon
were granted permission to arrange the first major
concert in The Great Hall since its opening. On
February 28th, Antiphon with the York based early
music group Nouvelle Ancienne, performed Henry
Purcell's Dido and Aeneus and Monteverdi
Lamento d' Ariana, to a sell out audience in the Great Hall.
Extract from The Hexham Courant February 2015
by Philip Thickness
Dido and Aeneas: an auspicious beginning:
"Remember me, but ah! forget my fate”. The final words of
Dido as she goes to her death, set to heart-wrenching music by
Henry Purcell, and sung by soprano Sarah Holland
accompanied by four stringed instruments, moved many of us
in the audience to tears. It was the end of Dido and Aeneas,
performed by the Hexham based choir- Antiphon, directed by
John Roper, and the instrumental and vocal ensemble
Nouvelle|Ancienne, led by Andrew Passmore
The decor, muted pastels lit by candelabra, reinforced the atmosphere. We were in the Great Hall in Hexham Abbey, formerly the ballroom of the Beaumont family and well-designed for chamber music. This was the first musical performance here for over 100 years: the music, by Monteverdi and Purcell, was an inspired choice. The small numbers of instruments were easily heard, as was the choir, whose greater numbers occasionally sounded just a little too strongly in that space.
The concert opened with four of Monteverdi’s madrigals, written for the lost opera Arianna (Ariadne). The extraordinary poetry by Rinuccini was a gift for Monteverdi, whose five-part setting ranges to all extremes, making hard work for singers. The choir performed these beautifully, accompanied by Andrew Passmore on the harpsichord.
A musical leap forward of 80 years took us very firmly into baroque territory with Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, his first opera, written at the age of 28. The four string-players at once established the mood and we were soon enjoying the solo voices of their colleagues Sarah Holland (Dido), Edd Ingham (Aeneas), Nia Passmore (Belinda) and Zoe Buxton (Sorceress). The other solo voices, all excellent, were drawn from choir members Hilary Dawson, Pip Emler, Alice Brunton and Tom Emmett.
This first musical performance in the restored Great Hall was a credit to Antiphon and Nouvelle|Ancienne.
We hope for many more good things to come in this place.
were granted permission to arrange the first major
concert in The Great Hall since its opening. On
February 28th, Antiphon with the York based early
music group Nouvelle Ancienne, performed Henry
Purcell's Dido and Aeneus and Monteverdi
Lamento d' Ariana, to a sell out audience in the Great Hall.
Extract from The Hexham Courant February 2015
by Philip Thickness
Dido and Aeneas: an auspicious beginning:
"Remember me, but ah! forget my fate”. The final words of
Dido as she goes to her death, set to heart-wrenching music by
Henry Purcell, and sung by soprano Sarah Holland
accompanied by four stringed instruments, moved many of us
in the audience to tears. It was the end of Dido and Aeneas,
performed by the Hexham based choir- Antiphon, directed by
John Roper, and the instrumental and vocal ensemble
Nouvelle|Ancienne, led by Andrew Passmore
The decor, muted pastels lit by candelabra, reinforced the atmosphere. We were in the Great Hall in Hexham Abbey, formerly the ballroom of the Beaumont family and well-designed for chamber music. This was the first musical performance here for over 100 years: the music, by Monteverdi and Purcell, was an inspired choice. The small numbers of instruments were easily heard, as was the choir, whose greater numbers occasionally sounded just a little too strongly in that space.
The concert opened with four of Monteverdi’s madrigals, written for the lost opera Arianna (Ariadne). The extraordinary poetry by Rinuccini was a gift for Monteverdi, whose five-part setting ranges to all extremes, making hard work for singers. The choir performed these beautifully, accompanied by Andrew Passmore on the harpsichord.
A musical leap forward of 80 years took us very firmly into baroque territory with Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, his first opera, written at the age of 28. The four string-players at once established the mood and we were soon enjoying the solo voices of their colleagues Sarah Holland (Dido), Edd Ingham (Aeneas), Nia Passmore (Belinda) and Zoe Buxton (Sorceress). The other solo voices, all excellent, were drawn from choir members Hilary Dawson, Pip Emler, Alice Brunton and Tom Emmett.
This first musical performance in the restored Great Hall was a credit to Antiphon and Nouvelle|Ancienne.
We hope for many more good things to come in this place.
2016 - Two major highlights of the year must be the Choir tour taking in the wonderful Catherdrals of Ely and Bury St Edmunds where the choir performed evensong services. Antiphon were also delighted to be invited to lead the music at the sung Eucharist at Lavenham Church and a concert in Long Melford as part of their summer music festival. Later in the year, we were once again back inside Hexham Abbey. This time to perform Monteverdi's Vespers.
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Choral Evensong at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the delightful Elizabethan Manor House in Blo@Norton which Antiphon hired and made its based for the tour
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2017 - In complete contrast to the previous years programme the choir were delighted when English Heritage opened up Aydon Castle to Antiphon on a sunny summers evening for a concert with music based on the themes of Wine, Women and War. (Bacchus - Venus - Mars). Entitled "YE GODS" this concert of earthy and divine music include works by Purcell, Morley and Monteverdi
Later in the year and in support of the West Northumberland Food Bank with a Christmas concert entitled "Welcome Yule". Needless to say we were delighted
that the concert raised £1,000 for the Food Bank which provides a safety net for people in hardship throughout the Tynedale area through the collection and distribution of food donations and other household essentials.
2018 -
Later in the year and in support of the West Northumberland Food Bank with a Christmas concert entitled "Welcome Yule". Needless to say we were delighted
that the concert raised £1,000 for the Food Bank which provides a safety net for people in hardship throughout the Tynedale area through the collection and distribution of food donations and other household essentials.
2018 -
