Music for Spirit and Soul
Tender and relaxing choral music for summer, interspersed with harp solos by Bethan Gostick.
Saturday 5th July 2008
St Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth
7.30 pm
PROGRAMME
| Finzi | I Praise the Tender Flower |
| Finzi | My Spirit Sang All Day |
| Lauridsen | Ave Maria |
| Whitacre | Flower Songs: With a lily in your hand, Go lovely rose |
| Whitacre | Sleep |
| Whitacre | This Marriage |
| Tavener | Song for Athene |
| Lobo | Missa Pro Defunctis: Introit, Kyrie |
| Byrd | Ne Irascaris, Domine |
| Byrd | Visita Quaesumus Domine |
| Lobo | Sanctus from Missa vox clamantis |
Review by Ian Schofield
"... conductor Peter Gambie tells us that he encourages professional standards and understanding from his singers. Judging from their performances of music, ranging from the sixteenth century Byrd and Lobo, to modern composers such as Tavener, Lauridsen and Whitacre, he has certainly achieved this. The choir is a group of some thirty singers and their sound is pure, well balanced and beautifully blended. In Byrd's 'Visita Quaesumus' the clear sound of the choir's upper voices was heard to telling effect, whilst Tavener's 'Song for Athene' showed the resonance and firmness of their bass line. New to me were four pieces by Eric Whitacre, these required (and received) sustained singing and careful tuning of some tricky dissonant chordal writing.
Between the choral items, harpist Bethan Gostick played works from the twentieth century harp repertoire. These were performed with both poise and style, and provided ideal contrast to the choral items.
This was a wonderful evening of music, with performances of a very high order."