THE Chapter House at York Minster rings out to the rarely-heard mesmeric combination of cello and choir tomorrow (Saturday) when The Ebor Singers team up with university musician Sarah Kegerreis to present works by Tavener, Macmillan, Gjeilo, Philip Moore and Rodney Bennett at 7.30pm.

"Richard Rodney Bennett is probably best known as a film and jazz composer, including his Oscar-nominated soundtrack for the original Murder On The Orient Express," says Paul Gameson, the choir’s director. "But his A Farewell To Arms could not be a greater contrast, setting poems by two 17th century poets and their meditations on the homely life after years spent soldiering.

"The cello here can be heard to serve as the ‘voice’ of the old soldier, which is particularly poignant as 2018 marks the 100th anniversary since the end of the First World War."

Other pieces for choir and cello tomorrow night include Svyati by John Tavener, which draws on the text from the Orthodox funeral service, and Tavener uses the wail of the cello, matched with the drone of the choir’s basses, to evoke the Orthodox tones for which he is so famed.

In Serenity by the Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, the cello soars above the calm slow-moving choir to create a sense of wonderment. Alongside this, The Ebor Singers perform Scottish composer Jame Macmillan’s Miserere, where the penitential reverence of Psalm 51 is enhanced by Macmillan’s expressive vocal style, and The Song Of The Roses by Philip Moore, former organist at York Minster and president of the choir, who celebrates his 75th birthday this year.

"This is a busy few weeks for the choir," says Paul. "Last weekend, the choir’s consort performed live on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show in the Free-Thinking Festival at Sage, Gateshead.

"In the run-up to Easter, we contribute to services in York Minster, including the meditative evening service of Compline at 9pm on Thursdays in Lent.

"We are singing throughout Holy Week: Compline at 7.30pm on Monday,  March 26 is followed by Couperin’s Troisieme Lecon de Tenebres; Compline at 7.30pm on March 27 is followed by Charpentier’s mini-oratorio Le Reniement de St Pierre.

"On March 28, at 7.30pm, we perform The Crucifixion by Stainer, and on March 29, at 9.30pm, we sing movements of Victoria’s Tenebrae. All services are free and are held in the Quire."

Tickets for A Farewell To Arms cost £15, concessions £12, students £5. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult may attend free of charge. Tickets are on sale at the York Theatre Royal box office, 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.