I rejoined Birmingham Conservatoire Camerata for a concert in St Andrew’s Church, Cheddar later in the week. This was sacred and secular choral music loosely grouped by themes and interspersed with some solo items.<\/p>\n
There were a couple of pieces I’d heard others perform but never sung myself before: MacMillan’s Strathclyde motet O Radiant Dawn<\/i> and Barber’s To be sung on the water<\/i>. We repeated some of the music we sang on Tuesday in Wells, and a piece written by one of our conductors for his wedding.<\/p>\n
Most of the other pieces were classics of the repertoire such as Finzi’s God is Gone Up<\/i>, Haydn’s Insanae et vanae curae<\/i>, Bainton’s And I saw a new heaven<\/i>. Secular pieces included Ireland’s The Hills<\/i> and Elgar’s curious My love dwelt in a Northern land<\/i>. Where do you suppose this land is meant to be? Scotland? Scandinavia? The beloved was female in the original poem, and I think must have changed sex so that the sopranos become the ones telling the story.<\/p>\n
Much of this music took me right back to my own student days when I first encountered it. I don’t think I’ve sung Holst’s Turn Back, O Man<\/I> since then. Holst in hobnailed boot mode, and with a text by someone whose inspiration ran out halfway though each line!<\/p>\n
It was only over a drink at the end that I learned that Barry Rose, who has retired to a neighbouring village, had been in the audience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I rejoined Birmingham Conservatoire Camerata for a concert in St Andrew’s Church, Cheddar later in the week. This was sacred and secular choral music loosely grouped by themes and interspersed with some solo items. There were a couple of pieces … Continue reading