Fresh 'Seasonal Roundelay'

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 6

Fresh 'Seasonal Roundelay'

By-

C. FOSTER BROWNE

Elizabeth Wemyss and her, singers, the Aurelian Singers,; directed by Mary Adams Tay-. lor. and Ben Ayre, who read poetry, presented a well-; prepared programme en-l titled “A Seasonal Rounde-i lay,” in the State Trinity.’ Centre last evening. Wide use was made of j “Folk Songs of the Four Seasons,” arranged bv Vaughan; Williams, both choral groups' taking turns in performing' from the collection, and Mr Ayres reading some of the songs by way of variety. ; It was all very well done and one regrets having to; “make a mild moan.” To obtain the best effect from such a programme it is

(necessary that it should be | fast-moving and without in- ; terruptions. Songs must be i handed from one group to the • next smoothly and with despatch. There was weakness 'here. Applause should have |been kept until the end of leach group of songs at the; (very least, and the male! i quartet should have been; (given a permanent position; I somewhere in the theatre and 5 (should have stayed there.! ! Much time would have been; saved and the continuity of: the programme would not: have suffered disruption I • every time they came on to 5 the stage and 'left it again, I Elizabeth Wemyss directed; her singers with artistic! acumen, keeping essential simplicity in performance —

difficult though this is top -'create and to maintain cred-;< slibly. There was clarity of 5 ; ; s words, smooth and simple! -•flow of melody, and appro-11 ppriate expression. There were IJ times when there was tools f I much vibrato. Rhythm and|t j cohesion in singing were!; ? i mostly very good. p il The Aurelian Singers —(s 11 Peter Williams. John Harker, 5 , IlMalcolm Anderson, and.J .(Howard Harvey — sang with j i(excellent rhy’thm and credit-’ Table clarity of words. Unfor-’t t'tunately most of what they;! ijsang were transcriptions I > 5 from S.A.T.B. settings, andp .'were not entirely happy in; [| their new guise. When joined c J by Ann Price in singing;j“Airs for Five Voices,” the; 1 15 Aurelians were in splendid;! •'form. Ann Price has a de-is

ilightfui voice and sang most (Charmingly and with fine ■poise. In honour of his fiftieth (birthday; songs by David (Farquhar were sung. They (showed sensitivity in the setting of words. Three were to poems by Denis Glover, their atmospheres very cleverly; and convincingly captured, end five were settings of j Shakespearean songs — all: as fresh as spring roses. The programme ended with; three extracts from Vaughan! Williams’s “In Windsor; Forest,” which were very s well done indeed. The concert was most creditably performed with fresh and well-prepared singing creating most enjoyable atmosphere.