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Richmond Parish Church, 1976
Thames Valley College Choral Concert
Richmond Parish Church, 1976
This concert took place in Richmond Parish Church on Sunday 11th April 1976, at 8 p.m.
The concert was given by the Thames Valley College Choral Society with a good
professional orchestra led by Irene Hughes and conducted by Angela Sleeman and John
Walker. It's a pity this recording doesn't really do it justice since there is a lot of
over-recording in the louder passages.
I see from the programme that I wrote the notes for the first two pieces. I was doing
A-level Music at the time and so was my friend Simon Broughton who wrote the notes for the
Haydn Mass. Obviously I didn't realise that Handel took his words from the Bible, or I
wouldn't have called them "tawdry"... Simon's notes were much better than mine.
G. F. Handel: Coronation anthem - "Let thy hand be strengthened"
Let thy hand be strengthened and thy right
hand be exalted
Let justice and judgment be the preparation of
thy seat! Let mercy and truth go before thy face
Allelujah
| This anthem, the last of four which he composed for the coronation of
King George II in 1727, is a magnificent specimen of Handel's grand ceremonial style. The
rather tawdry words are set for a 5-part choir (SATB) and orchestra. The first of the
three movements has an extended introduction which leads straight into the jubilant,
canonic entries of the choir. An ascending chordal passage, set fittingly to the word
"exalted", takes the music into the dominant key. After development of the
preceding material the movement ends, as it began, with the orchestra alone.
The second movement is in the relative minor key and is very reminiscent of Purcell,
particularly in its use of dissonances.
The final movement is one of Handel's typically exuberant "Allelujah"
choruses. |
Monteverdi: "Nigra sum" from Vespers of 1610
This wasn't recorded, and there were no notes, but it was sung by Clifford Armstrong
(tenor)
Jo Marmoy (soprano), Penny Vickers (alto), Clifford Armstong and Michael Carver
(tenors), Michael King (bass)
| This setting of Psalm 112 ("Blessed is the man that fearest the
Lord") was first published in the Selva Morale et Spirituale of 1641.
However, it is thought to have been composed some time about 1630. It is scored for a
6-part chorus (SSATTB), 2 obbligato violins, strings and continuo. The work falls into
three clearly defined sections, the last being a modified repeat of the first. It opens
with a descending phrase, used throughout the piece, first sung by sopranos alone and then
with the rest of the choir. The middle section, beginning with the words "Jucundus
homo qui miseretur" ("A good man showeth compassion"), is dance-like and is
in the relative minor key. It ends with a cadenza-like passage for two solo tenors, sing
to the word "Gloria". This leads straight back to a recapitulation of the music
of the first section, with different words. An effective piece of word-setting occurs at
the words "Peccator videbit et irascetur dentibus suis fremet at tabescet"
("The wicked man shall see it with rising anger and gnash his teeth in
despair".) The work ends with an impressive setting of the "Gloria Patri"
("Glory be to the Father") and a magnificent "Amen". |
Haydn: "Maria Theresa" Mass
Shelagh Molyneux (soprano), Susan Anderson (contralto), Clifford Armstrong (tenor),
David Wilson Johnson (bass)
© Chris Goddard, 27 November, 2004
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