The choir during a break in recording their recent CD of arrangements of Robert Burns
Orkney's own chamber choir
The Mayfield Singers is a small chamber choir based in Orkney, a group of islands to the north of Scotland. It was founded in 1988 by Neil Price for the purpose of performing all types of choral music suitable for small choir, that would challenge and stretch its abilities. Although the aim is to achieve high standards, the choir is run informally, never losing sight of the fact that its main purpose is to provide recreation for its members (a fact of which the director is frequently and forcibly reminded).
The choir performs frequently throughout Orkney and especially in St Magnus Cathedral, a magnificent building constructed by the Vikings in 1137. The choir has also toured Scotland and further afield, including trips to Norway on several occasions where the choir has helped to foster the twinning links with Hordaland (the Norwegian county in which the city of Bergen is situated).
For more information on the choir, click "About Us".
Recent Events
In 2007 the choir released a CD entitled "The Gallant Weaver", a collection of unaccompanied vocal arrangements of the poetry of Robert Burns. Arrangers include Michael Tippett, James MacMillan and Stephen Wilkinson. For further information, and to order copies, go here or click the link on the left.
During Easter 2008 the choir performed the "Tenebrae Responses" of Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) in a liturgical setting over three evenings, ending at midnight on Easter Saturday with a prolonged silence, followed by a joyful arrangement of "Resurrexit Christus Hodie" by Samuel Scheidt. The performances took place in the redundant Electricity Power Station in Kirkwall, capital of Orkney, amongst the now silent machinery. The occasion was described as "very moving" by audience and reviewers. The building has a marvellous acoustic to sing in and it is hoped that it will one day be made available for all to use.