Rutter fable perfect for festive theme
End-of-year concert spans the centuries
JohnRutter is one of The Linden Singers’ favourite composers andamonghis prolific output are three delightful “musical fables” for children— andeavesdropping adults. Oneof these, Brother Heinrich’s Christmas, is the centrepiece for this concert.
Brother Heinrich lived in a monastery, where his jobwas to look after the wine press, which juiced grapes sourced from the monastery vineyards andwas worked by his companion, Sigismund the donkey.
Brother Heinrich also ran the monastery choir and sometimes the donkeywas allowed to attend choir practice, even though he could only sing two notes.
With the Archbishop coming to the Christmas morning service and staying for the Christmas dinner, the Abbot insisted the choir must sing “better than they had ever sung before”. Healso instructed that
Sigismund must be cut from the choir.
Everyone missed Sigismund and rehearsals started to go badly, so the choir asked Brother Heinrich to compose anewcarol as they were bored with the sameold songs. Sadly, he could find no inspiration— until he heard the angels singing on Christmas Eve.
The narrator for this performance isKenKeys. Accompanying the choir are local musicians Sally Davies (flute), Nigel Purdie (bassoon) and pianist Elizabeth Curtis.
The first half of the concert features choral masterpieces, both old andnewopening with Peter
Philip’s 16th-century motet for five voices Ascendit Deus. The translation of the title is “God is gone upwith a merry noise”, which suggests a lively motet and the audience will not be disappointed.
This is followed by Rejoice in the Lord Always, alsoknownas The Bell Anthem for itsdownwardpeals of bells. Composedin the early 1680s by Henry Purcell, it reflects the taste of King Charles II.
Mozart provides two anthems to the programme. His well-known Ave verum corpus (Jesu, LambofGod) is followed by LaudateDominum(Praise the Lord) featuring wellknown
Hawke’s Bay soprano soloist Caroline Hickman.
Other masterpieces include a charming anthem byG PTelemann (1681-1767) called Laudate Jehovam, omnes gentes (O praise the Lord, all ye heathen) and John Rutter’s joyful anthem Look at the World. Most items in the first half will be accompanied by the Cathedral Strings.
Caroline Hickman returns in the second half with a bracket of songs composed by Australian composer F S Kelly, anice contrast with the choir’s choral sound. Rounding out the afternoon are a couple of advent carols ahead of the festive season.