| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wakefield Cathedral
Concerts and Services sung during 2009 Sunday, 15th February Services sung in Wakefield Cathedral 11am Eucharist Music by Ireland, Rheinberger, & Byrd,
Consort members at lunch between services 4pm Evensong Music by Rose, Naylor, & Stanford Saturday 23rd May 2009
GALA SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT in Wakefield Cathedral the first half of the programme for this concert was very much along classical lines. We performed two rousing choruses from Haydn's "Creation", one at either end of the first half - namely "The heavens are telling" and "Achieved is the glorious work". However, the main focus of the first half was "Five mystical songs" by Vaughan Williams for Baritone solo and chorus, and "My heart is inditing" - the fourth of Handel's Coronation Anthems. These works demonstrated the Consort's vocal control in the gentler passages, whilst giving them the opportunity to sing out, for example in the exhilarating fifth Mystical song "Let all the world in every corner sing"
The second half of the concert saw the choir in lighter mood, hence the catchy title for the evening "Spring-time with Swing-time". There was a selection of part songs and madrigals by Britten, Finzi, and Morley through to close harmony arrangements of songs by the likes of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart. Titles in the latter category included "Lets do it","Lullaby of Birdland" and "Blue Moon". Feedback showed that the lighter content was very well received, with 93% of respondents saying they enjoyed all of these items. 60% gave the same response to the Classical items, 79% for the part-songs, and 72% for the madrigals. Least popular were the "5 Mystical Songs" with only 40% liking all of it - though 70% liked most of it! Many thanks to all who attended. We hope to see you again soon! Saturday 19th September 2009 Friends subscription concert in Wakefield Cathedral You will realise by its catchy title, we were celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn! Our evening opened with two A Capella motets by Palestrina. “Tu es Petrus” is a complex polyphonic work for double choir in praise of St. Peter whose feast is celebrated in late June. In contrast, “Sicut cervus” is a much gentler, smaller scaled, motet based on words from Psalm 42 “like as the hart desireth the water brooks”. Our first work of the evening by Felix Mendelssohn was “Hear my Prayer”, featuring the solo soprano voice of Victoria Barraclough, and can only be described as a choral classic. It opens with a testing passage for the soloist, but soon, the mood changes with a lengthy passage of imitative writing for soloist and SATB chorus, before the well known melody appears for the soloist. This continues to the end, accompanied later by the full choir. The choir then got a break while Tom Moore played the sprightly “Dancing Toccata” by Christopher Steel. This short work is the last number in a suite of pieces titled “Changing moods”. Its rhythmic vitality gives the piece its character and there are many cross rhythms to be heard. The pedal part in this work plays a minor role, but when it appears, it includes a mighty trill! The Consort returned with some 20th century part songs. These arrangements showed the Consort’s known ability in the art of unaccompanied singing. The first of was the complex “My love dwelt in a Northern land”. The words coupled with the dark key of A minor initially paint a sad picture, before the mood lightens a bit with the happier key of F major, but followed by a return to the original key. This was followed by “The Bluebird”, by Charles Villiers Stanford, which is a most interesting and charming work, featuring the first sopranos as soloists, set against four part homophonic chorus writing. WE ended this section with Elgar’s “As torrents in summer” in a carefree arrangement with words highly suited to our climate, before we looked towards the autumn season with a jazzy arrangement of “Autumn Leaves” by Alan Simmons. We also celebrated the 80th year since the birth of Kenneth Leighton. Born in Wakefield, this contemporary composer was a chorister at Wakefield Cathedral, and we closed the first half of our concert with his anthem for SATB chorus and soprano soloist “The Beauty of Holiness”. This technically difficult work sets joyful words from Psalm 96 to clashing harmonies and rhythmic drive typical of Leighton’s work. Kay Yates featured as the soprano soloist. The anthem came to a powerful conclusion with a most unusual chord in the organ part! This work was composed in 1988, and is one of Leighton’s final compositions.
The second part of the concert started with the lyrical “Cantique de Jean Racine” by Gabriel Faure. The translation of the French words speaks of the prayer for divine inspiration, and that we may live by God’s laws to avoid damnation. This was followed by a motet by Mendelssohn setting words by Martin Luther. Sung in German, “Verleih uns Frieden” asks the Lord to grant us peace throughout all generations. The texture builds up from a single vocal line to full four part harmony by the work’s conclusion. The organ was put through its paces again by Daniel Justin, Organ Scholar at the Cathedral and tonight’s choir accompanist, who performed the third Organ Sonata by Mendelssohn, in A major, a bi-movement work which demonstrates the Cathedral’s five manual Compton organ at its colourful best. The powerful first movement uses the chorale melody “Aus tiefer Noth” which appears in the pedal part during the fugue, after an initial triumphant opening. The second movement of the work is much more tranquil, and brings the work to a peaceful close. The Consort then revisited some arrangements by John Holt. I am grateful to John, as he filled in most effectively as director of the Consort before I was able to start. His clever arrangements of three well known melodies proved popular with those demanding more music in a lighter style. We concluded the concert with the joyful “Let all the people praise thee, O God” by William Mathias, composed for the marriage service of the Prince and Princess of Wales in July 1981. Introduced by a fanfare feature on the organ, the work gets off to a boisterous start. The middle section is much calmer, with an ethereal melody sung first by sopranos, then joined by the rest of the choir. This passage asks for God’s mercy upon us, but the rousing song of praise which opens the work returns, with a high descant for soprano superimposed over it. Monday 2nd November 7.00 pm in Wakefield Cathedral Durufle Requiem Mass for All Souls Day Friday 6th November 2009 Joint concert with Loretto School, Edinburgh at St Peter & St Paul Catholic Church, Wakefield
Carols for Christmas Monday 14th December 2009 at Dewsbury Baptist Church (in aid of Macmillan Nurses) Wednesday 16th December 2009 at St. Mary's Church, Horbury Junction
|
 |
|  |
