Recital of Passion music by choir

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 18

Recital of Passion music by choir

The recital of Passion music given by the Christchurch Cathedral Choir last evening, quite apart from its seasonal religious significance, manifested musical qualities which are no less worthy because they are not so fashionable these days. Refinement of utterance and exquisite beauty of sound characterised every item in an exciting programme. The Master of the Choristers (Dr C. Foster Browne), and his singers were in their best form.

Moving through a range of composers as diverse as Vittoria,. Dvorak and Bairstow; Purcell, Charles Wood and Victor Galway, the choir sang each composition so that their respective atmospher - were enhanced. Nothing stood out, such was the general excellence of preparation and presentation. Much of the music has been sung before and last night’s congregation and audience benefited accordingly. Of the many points of interest, mention should be

made of Bairstow’s “Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” with its high-low pitch imagery and the innocent mystery surrounding Dvorak’s “Blessed Jesu.” Three Bach chorales were beautifully sung—at a sensible tempo, too—and, together with the same composer’s chorale-prelude, “O Man, Bewail thy Grievous Sin,” played with touching sensitivity by Dr Browne, they haloed that area of the service dealing with the temporal entry into Good Friday. This was the sort of performance which, through voice and verse, enhances the Church of England’s cultural image and upholds the virtues of worthy tradition and what is best of the conservative spirit at a time when anarchic elements or ideas seem to be trying to undermine most forms of institutionalism. The Cathedral’s choral foundation, which is the city’s joy, serves us well, positively and defensively. —J.A.R.