CHORALE’S CONCERT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 5

CHORALE’S CONCERT

Fresh, Clear Singing

The chorale group of the Christchurch Harmonic Society sang in the University Hall yesterday afternoon. The programme began with six Choral Dances from “Gloriana” by Benjamin Britten. The first, “Time,” was sung with eclat in very bright tone well knit together. It was strong and brilliant music. The second “Concord,” in quiet vein with lovely blending, made excellent contrast. The words were much clearer in this movement. The third, “Time and Concord,” had lively pastoral quality, and “Country Girls” —sung by the women of the choir—was fascinating and most refreshing in character. The men followed with “Rustics and Fisherman”— sophisticated they were—and sang with splendid agility. The final “Dance of Homage” had the dignified grace of a sarabande. Together these little compositions were most attractive and were sung with freshness and excellent creation of atmosphere. Stravinsky’s anthem “The Dove Descending” was written to a text by T. S. Eliot in 1962. The choir handled the dissonant but telling harmonies with confident skill and sensitive balance. Britten’s “Hymn to St. Cecilia”—sung by the choir on its tour of Britain—was sung with charming and clever expressive response in delighting timbres. There was splendid flexibility and rhythmic control, but little clarity of enunciation—not that the hall gives any help in that, although it is most sympathetic to tonal quality. The last item was “The Holy Mountain,” written by John Joubert in 1964. This was accompanied on two pianos. It was stark music, convincingly conveying the atmosphere of the words, declamatory and forthright in prophetic fire. It could not be said to be attractive at a first hearing, but certainly gave in-

dication of reward on further acquaintance. Mr Hawkey conducted with technical skill which steered his singers through all shoals and straits with confidence, and I with an artistry that found the beauty and shapeliness of every phrase. —C.F.B.