Anyone who missed the opening concert of the new Hornsea Music Society season missed a real treat. The singers of the SVES Quintet sang a wide range of unaccompanied pieces, getting their notes by using tuning forks.
The opening piece was spectacular, as they each entered from different points in the building, singing as they walked to their places. Once behind their music stands, they sang Monteverdi, Palestrina and Italian madrigals, before moving on to perhaps more familiar items from John Bennett, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Then we came much more up to date, with a composition celebrating the lives of St George and St Thomas by David Lancaster, on his 58th birthday.
In the second half, we had more Palestrina, a setting of words from the Song of Solomon, the well known Gibbons madrigal The Silver Swan, and an unusual arrangement of Never, Weather Beaten Sail by Parry, in 5 parts as opposed to the more usual Campion arrangement in 4 parts. We had two contrasting arrangements of I am the Rose of Sharon, and a traditional Scottish tune, arranged for the upper three voices. After Haste on, my joys! for the Finzi fans they finished with an arrangement of Fever.
It is certainly a long time since the URC hear so much unaccompanied vocal music in one session. This talented group at the beginning of their careers certainly have bright futures.
The next concert is at the Hornsea United Reformed Church at 7.30 on Saturday 20th October, when we will be entertained by Ronald Willoughby on the viola and Nigel Willoughby on the violin. Tickets are £10 each and are available from The Town House, Newbegin, Hornsea, or from Roberta Loades on 07816 863222. Saturday 29th September 2018 Hornsea Music Festival Celebration Concert at 6.30 pm in URC. Donation entry £6 includes programme and refreshments. Over thirty superb performers of all ages.
