The Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral
In Concert – Saturday 7th
June
 |
Around 100 people were richly entertained by 20 choristers of Canterbury Cathedral under David Flood on a lovely summer evening in All Saints on 7 June. They sang 14 pieces (including the statutory unprogrammed encore, this time ending ‘If you want any more, sing it yourself’), varying from Purcell and Gibbons to Tim Noon (Dr. Flood’s former Assistant at Canterbury). |
It was immediately obvious that Dr. Flood has a very close, and effective, rapport with the boys and this shone through in the full and instantaneous response to his always under-stated direction. This was most obvious in the tonal quality he achieves with them and, even though I was sitting next to 1½ square miles of polythene, generally very good diction. It is all very well cantering through rollicking pieces like Purcell’s ‘Sound the Trumpet’ or Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ (which they sang, of course, very well, and which, rightly, earned respectable, and respectful, rounds of applause) but the test comes in something like the slow, unaccompanied , and on this occasion, at least, intensely moving ’Drop, drop slow tears’ by Orlando Gibbons. The silence at the end of the latter was such that none dare break it, until Dr. Flood said ‘Ah, stunned into silence, eh?’ And we were.
| It was noticeable that, apart from Franck’s ‘Panis Angelicus’, the items sung were written entirely by British composers – a deliberate policy, we were told, and one which drew comment when, apparently, much the same programme was performed recently on the Continent. We were treated to some of Britten’s ‘Missa Brevis and the lovely ‘Maria Matrem’ by Michael McGlynn (well, all right, he’s Irish, but that’s near enough. He incidentally, sings with the Irish group Anúna, a not well-known fact). |  |
Two Rutter numbers – including the obligatory ‘All things bright and beautiful’ - were more than competently handled, and other less ubiquitous items like Bryan Kelly’s ‘Jamaican Magnificat’ and (in the interests of the All Saints’ link), Antony Piccolo’s ‘Wonder’ intrigued at least some of us.
Matthew Martin, Dr. Flood’s present Assistant, gave us two vibrant, and technically superb, organ solos, and his sensitive piano and organ accompaniment was a major factor in the success of the evening.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and instructive evening for us all. But there would have been room for plenty more to listen .....
Over £300.00 was raised for All saints Restoration Trust
Gover James