Schutz 'Passion’

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 6

Schutz 'Passion’

By . C. Foster Browne The Jubilate Singers, con-1 ducted by Martin Setchell, sang the “Passion According to St Matthew,” by, Heinrich Schutz, one of Bach's immediate predecessors, in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament yesterday afternoon. This setting is movingly beautiful and is a welcome addition to the musical settings of the story of Holy Week and Good Friday performed in Christchurch. The .setting is for unaccompanied voices, and pitch was creditably maintained. The Evangelist, sung with clarity and with dramatic flow by Neville Paris, and the Christus, sung with dignified and well chosen timbres by Martin Thortas, created and sustained the burden of the narrative convincingly. The supporting parts were sung by Alex Bartie, Franz Kney, Mark Chignall, Judy Bellingham, Jillian Bartrum, and Analeas Pekelharing, all of whom gave dramatic life and interest to

.their work and unity to the narrative. I Martin Setchell’s directing ■was of high order in establishing continuity of moods and fervour without sentimentality; his choice of tempi showed regard for 'atmospheres and for ease of : singing, and his drawing of expression from his forces I was always effective, reverlent, and convincing. The standard of chorus singing was good, care being i taken in matters of alertness | in leads and endings, and especially in blend and in phrasing. Pitch was good, and the tone was suited to the changes in text. It was careful singing showing good training. The work was sung in German, which allowed for correct phrasing, but to those not familiar with the language this could be only of marginal interest. A copy of the score was needed. However, the translation given kept all in touch from time to time.

The singing of the peroration was in keeping with good choral tradition.