FAIRHAVEN SINGERS - MUSIC FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
The Christmas concert by Fairhaven Singers is always a high spot in the Advent season. This year’s concert at Trinity College Chapel was no exception offering a lovely and diverse programme under the direction of Ralph Woodward (seen above). It had everything you might want from a traditional Yuletide recital: favourite carols, grand organ runs and melodious Nativity settings. Yet the Woodward approach has a distinctive edge marking the Fairhaven’s programming from the norm. Firstly, his concerts are relatively short (75 minutes) and spiced with unfamiliar yet attractive pieces. It is both bold and trad. That the singers’ standards were of the highest goes without saying. They have a strong muscular sound equally at home with powerful musical drama as with tender harmony.
The gorgeous chapel of Trinity was packed (OK not to its rafters that would take some doing) and hushed as the first piece began. With ethereal echoes of the ‘Royal David City’ – ‘Nine Carols’ moment , high sopranos invisible somewhere high in the organ gallery piped out a strange but haunting little tune that immediately got the audience collectively geese bumped. Richard Lloyd’s ‘Advent Piece’ – mostly unfamiliar, created an electric effect – tender, sorrowful and deeply moving as the choir came in with its Jeremiah-like text. We were in for quite a night.
Amidst the essential carols (including a rousing Wenceslas), there were many works that I can’t wait to hear again. Top of this reviewer’s long list was Stopford’s take on the Coventry Carol – a truly gorgeous tune sung (naturally) with such fine detail and emollient harmonies. This should become a Christmas favourite or at least accompany some great romantic Hollywood movie. Another refreshing work as a different version of ‘Away in a Manger’ by Ian Shaw. Drawing on an old Scottish folk tune, it created an atmosphere as still and deep as an Hibernian loch.
The conductor’s indelible mark was also heard in the choice of solo organ pieces. These were exquisitely played by John Cotterill and included Bach, Saint-Saens (a piece like a gentle breeze) but also a more challenging choice – Messiaen’s spiky and oft discordant ‘La vierge et l’enfant’ which gave the old ears a bit of rhythmical rinse aid. Another inspired choice was a carol by Dave Brubeck - yes, he of ‘Take 5’ but his time offering a calming Habanera with a touch of the maracas.
Lots of lovely short pieces – a stunning bit of Palestrina included - works old and new (twas new to me at least), all beautifully presented and gift wrapped in that stunning setting, meant that the evening seemed to fly by and Fairhaven Singers left us gasping for more.
