2004-2005
Review of Egham and District Choral Society Christmas Concert Saturday 18th December 2004
The Spirit of Christmas
Amidst all the kerfuffle of shopping, food and card writing, it is heartening to find so many people willing and able to give time to preparing and performing as demanding a programme of choral music as was given voice on Saturday 18 December in Royal Holloway College chapel by Egham and District Choral Society under their conductor Henry Macey.
The evening began with the first of Bach's six motets, "Jesu Meine Freude" (Jesus my Joy) composed in Leipzig for the funeral of a well-known local figure. The chorale (or hymn tune) which begins and ends the work is interspersed with passages from St Paul's epistle to the Romans, and provides reflections on the Biblical text in a symmetrical form the central section being an extended fugue of some complexity, making this an ambitious choice requiring considerable vocal stamina. In spite of a few anxious moments, the choir were in good voice, and the opening chorale set the tone in its full and intense sonority. The choir were accompanied on the organ by Dr Lionel Pike, who, it goes without saying, gave excellent support. A virtuosic rendering of Mulet's Carillon-Sortie for organ solo followed, after which came a performance of Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols, where the choir was joined by Paul Robertson (baritone), Andrew Adams (cello) and David Darby (piano). The work is originally for choir, orchestra, solo cello and baritone. The solo cellist opens the work with an elaboration of "This is the Truth Sent from Above" which the baritone then develops. The choir follows, weaving a pastoral sound-tapestry around several carol melodies with parts for the solo cello and baritone interspersed. The cellist and baritone played and sang musically, though neither had a large sounds, but they blended well with the expressive and stylish singing of the choir.
The next performance was of Rutter's "Te Deum Laudamus" (We Praise Thee O God), the words forming a part of the Easter vigil since the fourth century. This version was commissioned for a special service in Canterbury cathedral in 1988. This work presented no problem for the choir, who sang throughout with the necessary aplomb.
After the interval the audience joined the choir in singing some traditional carols with organ, interspersed with carols for the choir alone, include "Mid-Winter" in a rather jazzy setting with piano accompaniment by Bob Chilcott, "All This Time" by Sir William Walton and "What Sweeter Music", a setting of a poem by Robert Herrick by John Rutter. An interlude of unaccompanied Bach from the cellist gave choir and audience a peaceful "breather", and this joyful evening concluded with the choir wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" in return for a helping of figgy pudding in the usual manner. Well done sopranos on (was it?) your final Bb! There's nothing like ending on a high note. A good evening! However the choir really needs more men, so why not dash back that bit earlier from the City or the airport or wherever on a Monday evening and head for St Paul's, Egham Hythe where the choir rehearse? It'll do you a power of good.
Valerie Ward
Mostly Mozart-Mostly Magic
In spite of its title, the most substantial work in Egham Choral Society's Spring concert was the cantata "St. Nicholas " by Benjamin Britten , which took up the second half of their concert on April 16th. The instrumentalists were the West London Sinfonia (their excellent percussionists very much in evidence in this unusually-scored work) and piano duettists Stephen Lea and David Darby, (the latter being the choir's rehearsal pianist.) The tenor soloist who represents St. Nicholas was Roy Rashbrook who sings with the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and the King's Consort as well as giving solo recitals and singing in oratorio. He gave a most committed and moving rendering of his role, and trebles from Papplewick school took the roles of the young saint (Mansur Batchelor) and the pickled boys in the bizarre and highly dramatic section where these boys are brought back to life by miraculous intervention of the saint. The choir were in excellent form under Henry Macey's baton, and the girls of Langley Grammar School Voices also sang really well in their separate chorus sections. The piano duet part was excellently played and integrated with the whole ensemble, and the excitement and drama of the whole work clearly transmitted itself to the audience, who joined fervently in the two hymns incorporated into the work.
The first half of the programme was indeed mainly Mozart , starting with two delightful works of this composer's youth , the Te Deum ( "We Praise Thee O God") written when he was a mere 13 years old. This was accompanied by the strings of the West London Sinfonia , but with no parts for violas , plus organ played by Howard Parkhouse, who also completed the continue section in the Missa Brevis (Short Mass) which followed. This latter work includes vocal solos which on this occasion were bravely sung by members of the choir. This music, which sets the ordinary of the mass briefly and simply , but very effectively , was written when Mozart had reached the mature age of 18!
A charming rendering of "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (Mozart's No. 1 hit) from the Sinfonia followed, and then came a work for choir, orchestra and mezzo soprano solo (excellently sung by Hilary Jane Andrews) by the English composer Michael Hurd (born 1928 and probably better known for his lighter works for schoolchildren such as "Jonah-Man Jazz"). This rather lugubrious setting of Shakespeare's strange and sad poem was sung expressively by both choir and soloist, and the orchestra provided a sensitive accompaniment. This was an ambitious piece in a full programme, all of which was excellently presented. We are lucky to have music-making of such a high standard here in Egham, and the capacity audience were clearly well pleased with their evening. The final piece before the interval was another well-known Mozart item , "Ave Verum Corpus."
Written by Valerie Ward (01784 436541) - Picture below
Review of "Music for a Summer Evening" Concert Saturday 18 June. Fleming Theatre, TASIS School, Thorpe
"Some Like It Hot!"
A sultry summer evening on this occasion compensated for two previous years of cloudy, rainy skies, so that in spite of some brow mopping and fanning with programmes during the first part of the concert (held indoors) a capacity audience and the choir and other participants were able to fully enjoy their Glynebourne-style picnic on the lawns, accompanied once again by music from Celebration Brass, and followed by Last-Night-of-the-Proms-type singing to close the evening (complete with Union Jack waving.)
This was both a happy and sad occasion, being Henry Macey?s last concert with the choir before his move to Norfolk later in the year. Henry has been extremely popular with the choir, who showed their appreciation partly by singing so magnificently, and also with gifts and fond farewells. As well as conducting the choir, Henry joined with David Darby, the choir's accompanist to perform various piano duets with amazing enthusiasm and feeling. These included the well-known Berceuse from Faure's "Dolly" suite, "Italian Polka" by Rachmaninov, and a Slavonic Dance by Dvorak.
The evening began, however, with a boldly sung medley of Andrew Lloyd-Webber songs from the choir, followed by "Stranger in Paradise" (Kismet/Borodin) sung by the young baritone John Holland-Avery, a music scholar at St. George's, Weybridge, who sounds as though he has a bright singing career ahead of him! He also sang with the choir for solo passages in "The Turtle Dove", a traditional tune arranged by Vaughan Williams, and a further solo "On the Street Where You Live" from Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady". Other items in the programme's first part were another arrangement by Vaughan Williams, "Linden Lea", beautifully sung especially by the tenors in the verse where they took over the melodic line, a charming version of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" and a lush arrangement of David Raskin's song "Laura" by Roderick Williams. This was no soft option, with some complex part-writing, but the choir coped well, and David Darby's inimitable piano playing came to the fore. "The Silver Swan" by Gibbons added a more serious note, and other lighter arrangements were Geroge Gershwin's "S'Wonderful" and a medley from "Oliver" by Lionel Bart.
Drummer Nick Long joined the choir and their accompanist to add rhythm to the musical numbers from Lloyd Webber, Lionel Bart etc. and also backed up the later community singing.
As well as "Rule Britannia", "Land of Hope and Glory" and "Jerusalem" it is only fair to mention a work specially commissioned from its composer Guy Bunce for "Celebration Brass" in 2002, and performed during the picnic interval. It is called "Ode to Broadway" and is in Jazz style with hints of Cole Porter.
The choir's next concert will be on December 17th under the baton of their new musical director, Dr Lionel Pike, whom they happily welcome following his retirement from Royal Holloway.
Magna Carta Day 2005
The sun shone on Egham's annual Magna Carta Day celebrations this year - and some of the choir joined in with some spirited singing. Pictures below.
2004
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