Friday 7th December 2007 ST. PETROC’S CHURCH BODMIN
More musical delights from East Cornwall Bach Choir ECBC and its musical director, Paul Ellis, do not believe in repeating the better known Christmas music in its Christmas concerts. Last year they introduced a delighted audience to some superb South American Baroque music and carols and this year again chose some unusual and challenging works to those who braved the weather to come to St Petroc’s Church Bodmin The programme comprised music appropriate to Advent and Christmastide beginning with Palestrina’s Matin Responsory, traditionally sung on the first Sunday in Advent, which transported the audience back to the late 1500’s. The choir continued with atmospheric versions of Adam lay ybounden and The truth sent form above by English composers Boris Ord and Ralph Vaughan Williams of the 20th century. Then came Alleluia by American composer, Randall Thompson, which is a sparkling ribbon of a piece which floated lightly up into the nave. The major work in the first half of the concert was the Four Christmastide Motets by François Poulenc written in the 1950’s. Poulenc’s unmistakeable, often startling, harmonies wove though all four, capturing the astonishment of the birth in the stable in O magnum mysterium, the disbelief of questioners of the shepherds in Quem vidistis pastores dicite, the stately dignity of the Wise Men in Videntes Stellam and the jubilant announcement of Christ’s birth in Hodie Christus natus est Other highlights of the first half of the concert were the 2 organ solos of music by J S Bach and Olivier Messaien by guest organist and accompanist, Simon Dunbavand. Those familiar with John Rutter’s delightful Christmas carols but who had not heard either his Gloria or Requiem may not have been prepared for the exciting spiky rhythms and Broadway pizzazz contrasting with the more reflective moments of the various psalm settings of his Psalmfest. Choir members Bianca Phillips (soprano) and Will Doney (tenor) featured as soloists in Rutter’s version of Psalm 23 but the audience’s favourite was probably the snap and crackle of Psalm 47 O clap your hands all ye people By the end of the evening, ECBC had once again proved why it is the premier choir in East Cornwall and if you missed this concert there is still time to catch its Christmas Carol concert at St Wyllow’s Church Lanteglos on Wednesday 19 December at 7.30. If you are a singer there is a chance to take part in Mozart’s Requiem at the Choral Singing Day with Musical Director, Paul Ellis, on Saturday 1 March 2008. The May Festival at St Germans will be taking place over the weekend of 9-11 May 2008