Wordsworth Singers bask in musical glory of Spain (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Wordsworth Singers bask in musical glory of Spain

8:20am Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Music By Gazette newsdesk

The Wordsworth Singers Chapel of Austin Friars' School, Carlisle Few people I suspect know much Spanish sacred music other than that of Tomas Luis de Victoria, whose monumental Magnificat Primi Toni and resplendent Salve Regina constituted the finale of a fascinating journey through two centuries of rich musical tradition. The rawness of a rousing 14th Century Virelai gave way to the quasiplainsong O virgo splendens in which the Wordsworth Singers’ unanimity of pitch and blend enabled the round’s striking dissonances to be keenly felt despite the chapel’s generous acoustic. Likewise, there was commendable clarity in the densely packed vocal lines of two pieces for lower voices by Penalosa.

The return of the sopranos heralded a heightening of emotional intensity in Morales’ O sacrum convivium whilst the stark simplicity of Parce mihi Domine tested the singers’ ability to maintain perfect intonation without rhythmic stimulus. Guerrero’s 12-part Duo seraphim provided a stunning start to the second half, and in the six part Maria Magdalena a thrilling climax at the word surrexit was heightened by the restrained opening section.

Gordon Ferries gave the singers a well deserved break with his flawless playing of Spanish baroque guitar music.

Conductor Mark Hindley is to be congratulated on resurrecting so much unjustly neglected music and for eliciting from the choir performances of which many professional ensembles would be proud.

Jeremy Suter