Ganddal Girls’ Choir

Press, 15 July 1983, Page 4

Ganddal Girls’ Choir

The Ganddal Girls’ Choir conducted by Audun Vagle at the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, July 14, 8 p.m. Reviewed by Philip Norman.

That Pikekor translated as Girls’ Choir and Ganddal Pikekor spells 12 charming Soung singers from Sandnes, lorway, were two of the lessons learnt at the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church recital last evening. The Ganddal Girls’ Choir is certainly an entertaining group. With five American, one Asian, and several European tours to their credit, they must rank as one of the most experienced travelling choirs in the world. When they perform, they wear the traditional costume of the county Rogaland, and include in their repertoire a number of Norwegian folk-songs and arrangements by Norwegian W P T rS this, and unfo| Ornately this alone, that self

the group apart from other such choirs round the world. Their basic repertoire is as bland as that of an average community choir. “Snippets from the classics,” reads the formula for a predictable programme, “should be used to S'uate brackets of tradifolksongs: if modernity is needed, then liberally offer Negro spirituals.” Thus it was with a sense of courtesy to the visiting group that one sat back to listen to “Barbara Allen,” “The Girl with the Buckles on Her Shoes,” the theme from Dvorak’s “New World,” Handel’s “Allelujah” chorus, “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “The Virgin Mary,” to mention but a few of the commonplace tunes offered.

While the sound of the choir is not startling, it is comfortable. It is the kind of sound that falls pleasantly on the ear’ and does

not grow wearisome through an evening’s listening. It is fresh and, particularly at a medium dynamic, full. The singers sparkle in their delivery, and the barest traces of a Scandinavian accent in the English songs imparts a subtle flavour to the language. The choir can certainly push out a big sound, but on occasions one feels that tone is sacrificed to volume, especially in the soprano section. The lower registers produce a wonderful resonance that belies the age of the singers. Interspersed between the choral offerings were pleasing solos from members of the choir, and a handful of bravura concert pieces from the choir’s. accompanist, Geir Arve Helvig. The Ganddal Girls’ Choir is scheduled to perform again at the State Trinity on Saturday even-