7 June 2026

Secret Sacred Gathering #3

Byrd’s Defiance in Secret

What does forbidden music sound like?
In Elizabethan England, believers risked everything to hear William Byrd’s Masses — sung in secret, behind locked doors, hidden from the crown.

“Secret Sacred Gathering” invites you into the world of William Byrd, one of England’s greatest composers of the 16th century. A Catholic in a time of Protestant rule, Byrd wrote music for worship that often had to take place in secret. His Mass for Four Voices was never meant for a grand public setting, but for small, hidden gatherings of believers who risked everything to practise their faith.

This programme takes its name from those quiet, courageous meetings. And in a small way, we echo that spirit tonight. If you look closely at the poster, you ’ll find a word
hidden in the candlelight: Sanctus. That is your password. Speak it at the doors of St. John’s Cathedral, and you’ll be welcomed in to share this music with us.

Entry is free, however you are warmly invited to make a donation to support the music.

Gathering the Third:

7th June, 8.00 PM, St John’s Cathedral, Bukit Nanas

21 June 2026

Shades of Handel

The multicolor Handel

What do we really know of Handel beyond the Messiah and the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus?

Join us as we uncover a richer, broader portrait of his music—through a bouquet of vocal and instrumental works performed on period instruments. From intimate arias to vibrant chamber music, this programme reveals Handel’s remarkable versatility and the theatrical brilliance that made him one of the most beloved composers of the Baroque era, whose music has endured with undiminished popularity for centuries. Featuring period instruments including Baroque Flute, Baroque Violin, Viola da Gamba and a REAL Harpsichord.

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