Fine First Performance By Tudor Singers

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32298, 16 May 1970, Page 12

Fine First Performance By Tudor Singers

Yesterday afternoon, in the ( gallery of the Canterbury' Society of Arts, a new group of 10 very experienced vocalists, the Tudor Singers, presented so meritorious a first public performance of music from England’s great madrigal period that 50 year old memories of the English Singers were recalled. Like the latter, this new group has the true “chamber music” spirit of those for whom the madrigals were written: men and women meeting in companionship to sing. Sitting round a table with their books in front of them and unobstrusively dir ! ected by one of their numberl (Mr Deryk Rogers), they sang! four-part compositions by Fateson. Bennett, Dowland, Farmer. Farnaby, Morley and tVibye, and two for different

i combinations by Weelkes: /“Strike it up Tabor” (three , male voices) and “Welcome Sweet Pleasure” (five-part). Everything was unaccompanied. The leader gave a ' pitch note which was followed ' by precise entry notable for good intonation and confident ’ attack. The artistry of each ' singer and of all in combination captured the spirit of the music and so gave an impression of the period’s musical culture. Some of the most effective results were heard in both of the Weelkes madrigals, Dowland’s “Come Again,” Morley’s “April is in my Mistress’ 'Face,” Bennett’s “Ye Restless Thoughts,” Farmer’s “Fair j Phyllis,” and the one Famaby example, “Pearce Did Dance with Petronella.” The acoustics of the gallery suited this music well.—V.G.