MADRIGAL SINGERS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 8

MADRIGAL SINGERS

Concert At University

The University of Canterbury Madrigal Singers, conducted by Mr Brian Barrett, sang three madrigals by Farmer, Wilbye and Tomkins, two part songs by Edmund Rubbra and Bach's motet, “Jesu Meine Freude” in the University Hall yesterday afternoon before a large audience.

The madrigals were sung with tone which merged well but kept delineation of parts clearly heard. The phrasing was excellent and it was ,a pleasure to hear singers who have sensitive regard for the niceties of verbal accentuation. The rhythm had supple flow and the words were as clear as the lively acoustic properties of the hall would allow.

“Fair Phyllis I saw” might have had more liveliness of tone at the end. The other two were of sombre character and came gently to the ear.

Rubbra’s two songs, “Leave Prolonging Thy Distress” and “So Sweet is Thy Discourse,” although short, were interesting, both harmonically and rhythmically. The Bach motet was splendidly and most satisfyingly sung with well-blending tone that had more vitality than that heard in the earlier part of the programme. The chorale had warmth and dignity and the florid choruses were sung with neat precision in technique and with conviction. Expression, appropriate changes of timbre, and subtle tics of phrasing all combined to make this a fine and rewarding. performance. All the technical difficulties had been cleverly mastered and the choir responded excellently to Mr Barrett’s dear direction, which toept a unity of spirit in the interpretation. -CXB.