NEWENT Choral Society celebrates its 80th anniversary with a concert of sacred and profane music on Saturday (April 12).

The concert, which is being held at Newent Community School, begins with a series of motets – vocal compositions, often in Latin and usually with a religious theme which are sung in several parts.

The second half is devoted to Carl Orff’s masterpiece Carmina Burana – which became lodged in the public imagination when part of it was used in a TV advert for aftershave in the 1970s.

A choir of some 50 singers are joined by a number of professional musicians for the concert, which is sponsored by Three Choirs Vineyard.

The soloists are soprano Willow Burden, counter-tenor Ben Sawyer and baritoneDavid McKee along with pianists Christopher Guild and Julian Elloway.

There is also a percussion band organised by Pam Smith.

The man at the front will be by the society’s inspirational musical director Julian Whittaker.

The concert opens with Cantate Domino by Giuseppe Pitoni (1657-1743) which is based on Psalm 98.

The next piece is Ave Verum by William Byrd (1540-1623), one of the most important English composers of the Renaissance.

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) composed Locus Iste for the dedication of a chapel in his native Austria.

Hildegard of Bingen was head of an abbey in 12th century Germany as well as a composer and mystic.

Her Cum Processit Factura will be performed on Saturday.

Thomas Tallis’s If Ye Love Me is one of the most regularly performed pieces from the Tudor period.

The first half closes with Lord for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake by Richard Farrant.

The text of Carmina Burana is based on a series of medieval poems.

The poems, discovered in a Bavarian monastery in the 19th century, reflect on human experiences from love to the beauty of nature and the unpredictability of life.

Orff (1895-1982) set 24 of the poems to music with the words sung in Latin and Old German.

This 16th century work is based on a traditional English text.

The choral society has its roots in a small group of singers who got together at the end of the Second World War.

From there it developed into the society which is still going strong today.

Among its current singers are a daughter and granddaughter of one of the founders.

A spokesperson for the choir said: “As part of the celebrations, on Saturday, (April 12) at 7.30 pm, the choir will present a spectacular Sacred and Profane concert, designed to stir the soul and quicken the pulse in equal measure.

“Family ties and community spirit continue to run deep, with mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sons all sharing the joy of singing together across generations.

“Newent Choral Society is proud of its heritage and excited about the future.

"The choir is always delighted to welcome new singers, whether seasoned performers or those simply looking to try something new.

Tickets are available on the door or from the society’s website, www.newentchoral.co.uk.