The Choral Pilgrimage 2026: Truro

Spain’s Siglo de Oro, the Age of Gold, gave rise to some of the greatest sacred choral music of the Renaissance. The range of emotion covered by composers in the Spanish Renaissance is demonstrated beautifully in the selected works by Cristóbal de Morales and Sebastián de Vivanco that form the basis of this Choral Pilgrimage: Lead, Kindly Light.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Choral Pilgrimage, founder and conductor of The Sixteen Harry Christophers, says:
“For our 25th Choral Pilgrimage, we are going to explore the wealth of Renaissance music emanating from Spain. In 16th-century Europe, Spain was very much the most powerful country in Europe. It was arguably also the most influential, truly imperial with the acquisition of vast new lands in the Americas, a plethora of universities and a wealth of great art and music.

Their pieces are followed by settings of words by Saint John Henry Newman: Sir James MacMillan’s Nothing in Vain and the world premiere of Kerensa Briggs’ Lead, Kindly Light, specially commissioned for the Choral Pilgrimage.