Wordsworth Singers, St John’s Church, Keswick
On a dark, blustery evening in mid-October, a large and appreciative audience gathered in the warmth and light of St John’s Church, Keswick, to hear a concert of mostly Tudor music performed by the Wordsworth Singers under their director, Mark Hindley.
The programme of ten inspirational choral compositions by John Sheppard (1515-58), John Taverner (1490-1545), Christopher Tye (1497-1573) and Hugh Aston (1485-1558) was sung with great clarity and musicianship.
The choir coped magnificently with the many contrasts in tempo, rhythm, texture and volume of the music, while maintaining pitch and the balance between the parts.
Early English music has seen something of a revival in recent years, no doubt helped by the likes of The Sixteen, who recently sang in Carlisle Cathedral.
Their programme also included works by Sheppard and that concert certainly bore comparison with the Wordsworth Singers’.
A special feature of this concert was the two sets of lute solos, performed with great delicacy and precision by lutenist Alex McCartney, and forming a delightful contrast to the more full-bodied sound of the 30-strong choir.
By Mike Town
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