Image: Introduction of the Friday Rorate with the illumined initial “R” in the book of morning advent songs of the Velvary literati
Early Music for Advent and Christmas
VOICES & INSTRUMENTS
Tutor: Roger Wilkes
Location: St John’s Church, Knutsford
Reviewer: Rhoda Bramhall
We enjoyed some iconic renaissance Christmas pieces from late16th /early 17th century; some very familiar (e.g. Heinrich Schutz Also Hat Gott die welt geliebt) and one or two new to me. The Schutz was not confined to Advent and not on our information sheet, but a good way of warming up voices.
We took some time to get under way as some expected people did not arrive (e.g. a base viol), some instruments did not arrive (e.g. tenor recorder) and some people expected to play opted to sing! So allotting music and scores was difficult at times, and curtailed our singing/music time.
We sang in the newly refurbished church, not in the usual ”parish room” with low ceiling and poor resonance; a mixed blessing, as it was almost an echo chamber effect, and the seating configuration “not to be meddled with” meant that the singers were too far apart to enjoy each other.
Despite all these trials, we got through most of our schedule. After the Schutz, another German composer Hans Leo Hassler (1562-1612) gave us the time honoured Verbum Caro Facta Est. Then a more difficult Francesco Guerrero Pastores Loquebantur, which drew forth from Roger, at the first sing through, the ambiguous compliment “The sopranos have been exemplary UP TO NOW “. We persevered, even enjoying the result! Then came Giovani Gabrieli (1554-1612) Hodie Christus Natus Est and finally, nothing short of a romp through Ecce Dominus Venit (Hieronimus Praetorius). This last I probably enjoyed the most as it was new to me and exciting in its speed and exultant urgency.
We tried to savour the familiar with the challenge of new surroundings and hope the three new-comers will come again.
Rhoda Bramhall
First published in December 2014 Newsletter
