Den Bosch Vocaalensemble | Choir

Performers

• ‘s-Hertogenbosch Vocal Ensemble (HVE)
• Arjan van Baest, conductor 
• Gerard Habraken, organ

Program

O how amiable — Music for choir and organ from England

• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) — O how amiable (choir+organl)
• Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) — Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria (organ)
• Charles Wood (1866-1926) — O most merciful (choir+organ)
• Gustav Holst (1874-1934) — Come to me (choir)
• Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) — Andante in E minor (organ)
• Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) — The Blue Bird (choir)
• Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) — Voluntary (organ)
• Charles Burney (1726-1814) — Cornet Piece in E minor (organ)
• Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) — I praise the tender flower (choir), Nightingales (choir)
• William Thomas Best (1826-1897) — Introduction and Fugue (organ)
• Ralph Vaughan Williams — Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (choir+organ)

About the performers

The ‘s-Hertogenbosch’ Vocaal Ensemble, HVE for short, has been singing classical choral music since 1956. This year the choir celebrates its 70th anniversary. Our core group currently consists of about 30 singers.
Our repertoire is classical, ranging from major popular works to works of modest size. We regularly give small concerts featuring various songs, a cappella or with piano accompaniment – ​​from the Renaissance to contemporary.

Arjan van Baest works as a composer/arranger, conductor, and pianist/organist in theaters, churches, and concert halls. He is the conductor of the opera and operetta choir Wilhelmina (Breda) and of the ‘s-Hertogenbosch Vocal Ensemble. He is a member of the program committee of Muziek in de Cathrien. Since January 1, 2026, he has been the organist of the St. Joris Church in Eindhoven.

Gerard Habraken studied organ with Hub. Houët at the Brabant Conservatory in Tilburg (Final Diploma Solo Performance, 1974) and with Kamiel D’Hooghe at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, where he graduated with Distinction in 1976. In 1977 he was the first prize winner of the ‘Alex Paepen’ Organ Competition in Antwerp and in 1979 he won the third prize of the ‘César Franck Competition’ in Haarlem.

Concert on the Philips Carillon

14.25 – 14.55 hours by City Carillonneur, Rosemarie Seuntiëns

1. G. F. Handel (1685-1759) — Music for the Royal Fireworks
   Ouverture | Bourrée | la Réjouissance | Minuet 1+2
2. John Dowland (1563-1626) —  Melancholy Galliard
3. Karl Jenkins (1944) — Palladio – Allegretto
4. Henry Purcell (1659-1695) —  Music for a while
   They tell us that your mighty powers (the Indian Queen)

Adaptations: Arie Abbenes 1,2, Rosemare Seuntiëns 3, Bernard Winsemius 4.