Download Inaugural Concert Nov 2007

Australian Chamber Choir
Directed by Douglas Lawrence
Inaugural concert
St Cecilia’s Day, 2007
Central Hall, ACU, Melbourne
PROGRAM
Giovanni Battista Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-94): Missa Papae Marcelli
Kyrie, Gloria
Organ interlude
Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643):
Canzona III in G major from the Second Book of Toccatas
Credo
Organ interlude
Girolamo Frescobaldi:
Toccata per l’elevazione from Missa degli Apostoli
Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei
Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612): Jubilate Deo
INTERVAL – 20 minutes
Jakob Handl (Gallus) (1550-91): Pater Noster
Brenton Broadstock (born 1950): I had a dream
Olivier Messiaen (1908-82): O Sacrum Convivium
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
THE CHOIR
Soprano: Felicity Bolitho, Madeleine Gardam, Deborah Kayser, Katherine
Norman, Nicole Spicer, Lenore Stevens
Alto: Elizabeth Anderson, Amelia Ballard, Niki Ebacioni, Leonie Tonkin
Tenor: Thomas Kristof, Vaughan McAlley, Loclan Mackenzie-Spencer, Timothy
Reynolds
Bass: Thomas Drent, Simon Gannon, Nicholas Howden, Grantley McDonald
The chamber organ was built by Hans Klop in 2003
www.AusChoir.org
Australian Chamber Choir Inc. No.A0049983Y
PROGRAM NOTES
Poor Saint Cecilia! We were to pay homage to her this evening with the singing
of Herbert Howell’s beautiful Hymn for Saint Cecilia, but sadly, the music has not
arrived from the publisher. The good Saint will need to wait until her special day
in 2008 to receive proper homage.
Tonight’s program ranges over 500 years of choir and organ music. The ebullient
homophony of Jakob Handl contrasts with the restrained but beautiful polyphony
of Palestrina. Venetian sophistication is demonstrated in the works of Giovanni
Gabrieli and Girolamo Frescobaldi. Bach the master, Messiaen the mystic and the
profound introspection of Brenton Broadstock complete the tableau.
Giovanni Battista Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-94): Missa Papae Marcelli
“ The whole plain of singing in musical modes shall be constituted not to give
empty pleasure to the ear, but in such a way that the words may be clearly
understood by all, and the hearts of the listeners be drawn to the desire of
heavenly harmonies, in the contemplation of the joys of the blessed.”
Extract from a canon of the Coucil of Trent (1582)
Dedicated to Pope Marcellus II, who reigned for only three weeks in 1555, this
mass holds a special place in Palestrina’s vast output. Manuscripts survive in
Rome in Palestrina’s basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore and in the library of the
Sistine Chapel. The work is often sung in both of these ancient edifices.
Missa Papae Marcelli is free composed, that is, it is not based on a recognisable
Gregorian or popular melody. Some commentators find in it references to the
fifteenth century folksong L’homme armé. If this melody is indeed used,
Palestrina was being very cheeky, even perhaps living dangerously, as the
directives of the Council of Trent expressly forbade the use of secular melody.
Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612): Jubilate Deo
Maestro di Capella at St Mark’s, Venice and teacher of Heinrich Schütz, Gabrieli
became famous throughout Europe. He made wonderful use at St Mark’s of
several musicians’ galleries and multiple organs, placing groups of singers and
instrumentalists around the cathedral. His music is often polychoral and always
polyrhythmic. The work we hear this evening sees Gabrieli at his most
exuberant. Jubilate Deo is written for eight voice parts. As with much of the
music of the period, this work may be performed with or without instrumental
accompaniment.
INTERVAL – 20 minutes
Jakob Handl (Gallus)(1550-91): Pater Noster
Handl is a direct contemporary of Gabrieli and it is therefore fascinating to
compare the music of these two masters. Both chose to write in eight voice
parts but whilst the Gabrieli has some lightness and even a madrigal feel about it
the Handl is solid, unrelenting, always pushing forward. The music of an
optimist. This Pater Noster uses the same thematic material as a mass by Handl.
It is one of my personal favourites from the vast repertoire of Renaissance
music.
Brenton Broadstock (born 1950): I had a dream
The composer dedicated this work to the memory of Melbourne composer,
Michael Easton, who died far too young in 2003. The Australian Chamber
Choir sang the work several times in Europe in July this year. One Danish critic
wrote “Thanks to the expressiveness of the music Brenton Broadstock’s I had a
dream was a most beautiful experience”. The text is by the composer.
Olivier Messiaen (1908-82): O Sacrum Convivium
Mystic, organist, composer, collector of bird song and inspiration to countless
composers, Messiaen sadly wrote little choral music. He said that the old
masters had “done it all” Well, not quite all, as this short masterpiece
demonstrates.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
The quartet in Verse 2 is sung by Katherine Norman, Elizabeth Anderson,
Loclan Mackenzie-Spencer and Grantley McDonald
If Bach had composed nothing more than his seven motets, his place in the
history of music would have been assured. When these motets peep out from
the enormous pile of Bach’s music, we are reminded of the indefatigable energy
and unequalled skill demonstrated by the greatest composer of them all.
I well remember a conversation with the late Manning Clark in which he
declared with utter conviction that “the two greatest products of the human
mind are Bach’s Mass in B minor and his Passacaglia for organ.” Bach fanatics
amongst you may well agree, although you might also mention the St Matthew
and John Passions, Christmas Oratorio, 300 or so cantatas, Goldberg Variations
and so on and so on!
Notes by Douglas Lawrence
*********************************************
All donations to the Australian Chamber Choir Support Fund are fully taxdeductible. We wish to thank Mr Bob Henderson, our first Diamond Donor
($15,000 or more) for his generous gift.
We would like to thank the following sponsors: Australian Catholic University;
Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
Counterpoint Vineyard; Lodge of the Golden Fleece; Move Records;
Scots’ Church; Stewart Organs, Harold Mitchell Foundation; Proactive IT
management www.coremind.com.au; 3MBSFM