Review Details
MUSIC IN THE UNIVERSITY ALTERNATIM! 8 ROGER B. WILLIAMS Organ THE FRIDAY SCHOLA
Alan Cooper
20 November 2009
KING’S COLLEGE CHAPEL
Friday’s Alternatim performance continued to explore Couperin’s Messe pour les Couvents. This was with the Gloria, one of the greatest of all examples of the format. It began with the Friday Schola singing the plainsong setting of the words Gloria in excelsis Deo before the organ entered with its colourful expostulation of the next section of text: Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Here the full organ gave voice to a regal sounding processional with wonderful imitative two voice counterpoint.
For Benedicimus te, reed stops provided a splendid continuation of some of the same musical ideas, already suggesting the thematic unity that would run through the entire Gloria. For the words Glorificamus te the organ began in march-like mood with added ornamentation that gradually infected the whole movement with ever more ornate writing.
For Dominus Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens, flutes were set against powerful reeds in the bass. In the French tradition, changes of registration were an intrinsic part of the music lending a variety of colour changes to match the most magnificent rose windows in the great French Cathedrals. The tremulant added a shimmering quality to a crumhorn melody that floated above flutes. A hollow sounding blend of flutes and reeds or a mixture supporting sturdy counterpoint, a wonderfully decorative rendition of Tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe and finally a full throated organ Amen which lived up to the whole idea contained within the very word Gloria itself, brought this marvellous music to its triumphant conclusion. This was another fine demonstration from Dr Williams of the Aubertin organ at its colourful best and his “everlasting arms” musically speaking, gave much appreciated support to the Friday Schola in their hour of need.
We look forward with anticipation to next week’s contribution from Kyle McCallum who was also present in Friday’s audience.