Among choral society’s finest hours
REVIEW: Market Harborough Choral Society at Harborough Methodist Church, March 24
This was one of the Market Harborough Choral Society’s finest hours.
An evening of music entitled Music for Inner Peace; of warmth and mellow singing; soothing and sonorous sounds.
We were treated to four pieces in various forms interspersed with some lively music from the local modern day quartet - The Clack Hill Recorder Consort whose choice of music encompassed moods from around Britain.
The opener, Ave Verum by William Byrd, a melodious very sophorific number set the mood.
Had you listening to this at home, in a dimly lit room, you perhaps would be forgiven if you had drifted peacefully between the harmonies such was the timbre of the choir.
Later we enjoyed the same titled piece interpreted by both Mozart and Edward Elgar.
But more was to come - it was a competition evening too!
Bach (1685 - 1750) v Handel (1685 -1759), contemporaries yes; one German, the other English (1966 World Cup comes to mind) with each composer using the same liturgy - Worthy is the Lamb - for inspiration.
I think the German won this time although the Messiah excerpt ran it close.
It was also (Antonio) Lotti v Lotti; the same author but his six-part ‘Cruxiifixus’ challenging his eight-parter. Evens!
And there was more. Composers Kendal Kirkland and Rod Illiffe were in the audience to listen to their own composition - Magnificat.
I think here the choir exceeded all expectation pulling out all the stops (yes, the organ was used as accompaniment during the evening) to wake us from our slumbers and in doing so showing off their vocal expertise.
Thank you. Far from going home tired and sleepy we were invigorated and ready for another dose of Inner Peace. Well done all concerned!
Stephen Poyzer
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Harborough
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
