Lift up your voice with the spring season from West Dorset choir Cantamus.

The series of concerts is a celebration of the very best song writing from across the centuries with a thoughtful, uplifting Lenten theme.

They will be performed in two churches in the Bridport area - the Church of St Candida and Holy Cross, Whitchurch Canonicorum, on Thursday, March 22 at 7.15pm and Holy Trinity Church in Bothenhampton on Saturday, March 24 at 7pm.

The programme begins with the rousing Insanae et vanae curae by Haydn, followed by exquisite pieces by Palestrina, Byrd and Gibbons. Two of the Tenebrae responsorial motets by Victoria take listeners to the heart of the Lent season, with the story of Christ’s betrayal by Judas, and this mood continues with Purcell’s moving Hear my prayer.

The first half ends with Jehovah, Quam multi sunt hostes mei, also by Purcell.

After the interval, the programme moves into the 18th century with Domine Jesu Christe from Mozart’s Requiem, then through the 19th with songs by Mendelssohn and Rossini. There are two anthems by the English organist and composer Bairstow, pieces from the 20th century by Richard Lloyd and Patrick Hadley and finally – bringing the audience right up to date – De virgine Maria, written in 2014 by Carl Rütti.

Cantamus was formed in 2012 and gives three series of concerts each year across the area under the baton of musical director Malcolm Knowles.

n Cantamus Spring Series is made up two concerts in the Bridport area: The first is at the Church of St Candida and Holy Cross, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Thursday March 22 at 7.15pm; Holy Trinity Church, Bothenhampton, Saturday March 24 at 7pm.

Tickets are £10 (to include refreshments) on the door; tickets for Bothenhampton are also available from Bridport Music in South Street.

For more information, including full details of the programme, please visit the Cantamus website cantamus-dorset.org or the choir’s Facebook page by searching (Cantamus Dorset).