On Saturday, 9 September 2006

The Llewellyn Choir

with

The Canberra Chamber Ensemble

Conductor—Rowan Harvey-Martin

and

The ANUSOM Brass Ensemble

Director—Dominic Harvey

presented

Towards Perpetual Light

Organist—Peter Ellis (from Sydney)

REVIEWS

Review in Canberra Times: Peter J Casey

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or image to view large version.

Review: Don Whitbread OAM

‘Towards Perpetual Light’ was the title given to an unusual yet entertaining concert of contrasting works and styles. presented by The Llewellyn Choir with the support of the ANU School of Music Brass Ensemble in Llewellyn Hall last Saturday night (9/9/06).

The title may have seemed strange to some as the concert featured works written about death – Henry Purcell’s ‘Funeral Music for Queen Mary’ and John Rutter’s ‘Requiem’ interspersed with Benjamin Britten’s somewhat quirky ‘Rejoice in the Lamb’.

However the structure of the program, commencing with the Purcell of the 17th century, moving to the mid 20th century with Britten (although the text came from an 18th century poem ‘Rejoice in the Lamb’ by Christopher Smart) and concluding with Rutter’s late-20th century ‘Requiem’ maintained our interest and enjoyment throughout.

Each half of the concert was opened by a Fanfare performed by the ANUSOM Brass Ensemble comprised of SOM students directed by Lecturer Dominic Harvey. The first half opened with the Fanfare from Purcell’s ‘Funeral for Queen Mary’ commencing antiphonally with six players on the floor in front of the stage and another six at the rear of the auditorium, thus giving a stereo-like effect which was quite arresting, especially when these players processed down both aisles to join the ensemble at the front and commendably playing from memory.

The Llewellyn Choir under the direction of their Music Director Rowan Harvey-Martin then continued with the ‘Funeral Anthem of Queen Mary’ with only organ accompaniment. The Choir appeared slightly under the note at the start but this could have been due to the placement of speakers from the electronic organ which were facing the audience. Fold-back speakers for the choir would have helped in this regard. Nevertheless there was a nice balance between the parts with a consistent and pleasing tonal quality.

The major work in the first half was Benjamin Britten’s ‘Rejoice in the Lamb’, which had been performed only a few weeks ago by the Canberra Choral Society. It’s a pity there isn’t more liaison between our major musical groups to avoid such programming clashes.

However under Harvey-Martin’s clearly defined conducting the Choir gave a highly commendable performance, handling Britten’s challenging harmonies and time with aplomb and showing close attention to the dynamics. This work also featured four local singers, (soprano Tanuja Doss, alto Leila Fetter, tenor Greg Wallace, bass Peter Laurence) all of whom are at various stages of their development. Their solos were quite short but effectively oerformed and TLC is to be commended for giving them the opportunity to perform with a large Choir in a large auditorium.

The Fanfare that opened the second half was actually the ‘Divertimento’ for brass ensemble and percussion by British composer Richard Peaslee. Again the ANUSOM Brass Ensemble gave a very impressive performance of this work which features intriguing percussion off beats and changing time signatures.

The major work was the inspiring ‘Requiem’ of John Rutter, directed by Harvey-Martin, accompanied by a chamber ensemble of seven players, all of whom feature in Rutter’s writing (especially the cello, harp and oboe). There were some very beautiful moments throughout, including the second movement ‘Out of the Deep’ where the Choir maintained a lovely well-balanced tone with the appropriate dynamics ranging from pp to ff and back.

Soprano Tanuja Doss brought a well-rounded vocal tone with an attractive vibrato and clear diction to her solo in the ‘Pie Jesu’, and balanced well with the Choir backing. The ‘Sanctus’ which followed had some lovely moments and a fine ending. A similar problem to that of the first half was evident in the Choir’s entries with organ in the ‘Agnus Dei’. However with other instruments entering (eg. harp) pitch was soon restored. Rutter’s beautiful setting of the 23rd Psalm written earlier was inserted in the ‘Requiem’ in 1985 and features a wonderful melodic line for the oboe, woven throughout the choral parts. This is a highlight in the score and the Choir did not disappoint. And although they may have been tired they concluded the final ‘Lux Aeterna’ with fine choral tone which brought this challenging concert to a successful conclusion. It is just a shame that there wasn’t a larger audience. It deserved better.

Don Whitbread OAM
13 September. 2006
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Don Whitbread is a well-known Canberra conductor and adjudicator.

Please note that The Llewellyn Choir asked Mr Whitbread to prepare this review and he asked that, in turn, the Choir make a donation to Lifeline Canberra.

Poster (PDF 500kB)

Rutter's "Requiem"

Wikipedia.org in its entry for John Rutter says of him:

Rutter's music is very popular, particularly in the USA (NBC's Today Show called him "the world's greatest living composer and conductor of choral music")....

In terms of performances he is undoubtedly the most successful choral composer of his generation, and probably of the past century. For example, his Shepherd's Pipe Carol, written while he was still at school, is reputed to have sold well over one million copies in sheet music alone.

Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb"

Rejoice in the Lamb (op. 30) is a festival cantata for four soloists, SATB choir, and organ by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), based on the poem Jubilate Agno by Christopher Smart (1722-1771). The poem, written while Smart was in an insane asylum, is a highly idiosyncratic and ecstatic praise and worship of God by all created being and things, each in its own way. The cantata was commissioned by the Rev. Canon Walter Hussey for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of St Matthew's, Northampton, England.

Purcell's "Music for Queen Mary"

Baroque composer Henry Purcell wrote the funeral music for Mary II who died of smallpox in 1694. Upon her death, Purcell was commissioned to write her funeral music, titled "Music on the Death of Queen Mary". (The ominous March has subsequently been used in other mediums such as the main theme in the movie A Clockwork Orange.) At this concert the Brass will be processing through the concert hall, and two other pieces will be sung by the Choir.