Appreciative Audience At Liederkranzchen Concert

Press, Volume C, Issue 29695, 13 December 1961, Page 19

Appreciative Audience At Liederkranzchen Concert

The Christchrrch Lieatrkranzchen, conducted by Mr Clifton Cook, and accompanied by Mr Brian Kinley, gave a concert .n th‘ University Hall last “venmg to an appreciative aud ente The programme beian with the cantata. “A Christmas Garland” by Dr. George Dyson. Excellent poems from various sources have been chosen for setting to mus.c — effective and rtrongly constructed music it is. too, and a most useful addition to the repertoire of choirs of women s voices. It was sung with full atte-ition to the many subtle nuances of expression demanded by the composer The phrasing was well thought out and shined with care and musical feel’ng The tone of the choir was clear and free in scft work, but in loud passages ’here was a certain thickness wh.ch militated against perfect clarity. Vowels tended to he formed rather far back—especially from the contraltos. Some members need to use more control of vibrato. for excessive use ot it detracts frem clarity of line. However there were nary virtues also in the singing and the technical difficulties had all been solved and there wis artistic integrity in the interpretations. Alistair StoKes. with Mr Cook playing the accompaniments, sang “O Death, How Bitter” and “Though I Speak With the Tonguts of Angels”

from ‘‘Four Seri us Songs'' by Brahms—a somewhat darklycoloured choice foi a programme predominancy of Christmas music Apart from soma forcing of tone whmh caused a certain distortion at ‘imes, he sang with rhythmic control and expression “Come to Bethlehem,” bv Peter Warlock was sung with charmingly expressive effect by the choir, and John Ritchie’s arrangement of the Czech carol. “Rocking,” was sung tenderly. Dr. Griffiths's arrangement of "Ding Dong Merrily On High” was sung with spirited feeling. The Boys’ High School string orchestra, with Richard Warnock as soloist, played Alec Rowley's “Miniature Concerto” with commendable quality of tone and fair intonation. There was considerable energy in the playing and care was showm in the phrasing. ’ After the interval they gave a spirited performance of Haydn’s “Toy Symphony.” Intonation suffered a bit here. Considerable enthusiasm was shown by the choir in the “Wassail Song” from Vaughan Williams’s "Folk Songs of the Four Seasons.” Pleasing tone was heard in “God Bless the Master.” The concert ended with Reger’s “Maria Wiegenlied,” which was sung with pleasant blending of voices, and a robust performance of "Puer Natus” by Norman Gilbert. —C.F.B.i