The Armed Man - a Mass for Peace
St Mary's Church, Thirsk
This
North Yorkshire Chorus concert opened with Chilcott's Requiem in
beautifully expressive style, with fine singing by soloists soprano
Rachel Little and tenor Christopher Steele. Chilcott's
work is a standard presentation of the requiem,, working through the
usual form of the mass. It is a fine, sensitive piece of much
sweetness, and also busy rhythmic passages punctuated by trumpet and
drums, not to mention competition on this occasion from Guy Fawkes
fireworks in close vicinity. For
this performance, the chorus was enhanced by instrumentalists of the
Pro Musica Orchestra, which made a pleasing contribution. Karl Jenkins's Mass for Peace
is a very powerful work - almost Brechtian in its contrasts and shocks.
It has a great entry with a rising military theme of drums
building to the choir's entrance. Among
other musical devices is the Moslem Call to Prayer, which was
beautifully delivered by Imam Waleid. This had an almost hypnotic
effect, completely stilling the audience. In
this work Jenkins casts his net wide, bringing in references from
Christian, Moslem and Hindu religious disciplines as well as an excerpt
from a Japanese poem. Under
the direction of the excellent Gregg Smith and Andrew Christer,
accompanist and deputy chorus director, both gifted musicians, the
North Yorkshire Chorus did full justice to Jenkins' composition
The choir's next concert is Baroque Music for Christmas in All Saints' Church, Northallerton, tomorrow, Irene MacDonald
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