We were delighted to return to St Michael's Church in Hernhill last Friday, for what proved to be an evocative combination of choral music and silence coming together in 'Breathing Space.' During the winter months, the fifteenth-century church hosts a series of Breathing Space events, each of which is an hour-long sequence of music and silence by candlelight. Usually recorded music is played, but last Friday we took the opportunity to sing several pieces from our repertoire this year at the service. After our rehearsal, candles were lit all around the church and the lights were turned off, creating a hushed atmosphere. We were seated in the choir-stalls behind to rood screen, and in the darkness it wasn't possible to see the congregation arriving, all that you heard was the click as the timbered door was opened and shut as people arrived. The service began at 7.30pm without preamble - at the appointed hour, we stood and launched James Webb's moving Blest are the Pure in Heart into the hushed darkness. Over the ensuing sixty minutes, we sang music by David Truslove, Anna Phoebe, Haydn, Pelham Humpfrey, and plainsong, concluding with Sarah Quartel's charming The Birds' Lullaby which emerged out of the sound of bird-calls being imitated by ocarinas and tiny recorders. There was a remarkable atmosphere ushered into existence by the combination of sound, silence and candles, as the music wove a meditative space rich in contrasting colours: the church bell striking eight during a moment of silence partway through was especially atmospheric, matched by the sighing of the wind in the roof, the creaking of the ancient timbers and the guttering candle-flames dancing in the draughty dark. Magical. The vicar stood at the end to thank the Choir and say a closing prayer, and then the congregation left the church to step out into the night. Afterwards, we talked about how effective the event had been, and how much we wanted to do it again. Watch this (breathing) space...
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Many thanks to everyone who came to our concert last Friday, in the wonderful acoustics of St Gregory and St Martin church in Wye. The programme was the first opportunity for us to present three movements from Between Worlds, a new piece for choir, solo violin and ensemble inspired by the intersection between music and science by composer and violinist, Anna Phoebe. Anna joined us towards the end of the first half to perform three inner movements from the piece, written for unaccompanied choir and violin, which take the listener on a cinematic sonic odyssey into the heart of sub-molecular scientific research. The concert also included James Webb's luminous Blest are the Pure in Heart, which we are thoroughly enjoying performing this year, as well as works by Haydn, Mozart and Vivaldi for which we were joined by a five-piece string consort. The first time you present a programme for public consumption is always a little scary; have we paced it suitably; is the repertoire interesting or varied enough; is the audience engaged by what we are performing; have we included too many modern pieces ?! However, the audience was hugely receptive to Friday's programme, and it was lovely to have the first opportunity to pace and measure it in a lovely sonorous and supportive acoustic. The three movements from Between Worlds created a wonderful atmosphere, pitching colourful choral writing against the solo violin line that lifted and skirled around the vaulted roof of the church.
Our next event is this Friday (15th March), when we travel to St Michael's Church, Hernhill, to perform an evocative sequence of music and silence by candlelight in the meditative Breathing Space; admission is free, more details online here. |
Daniel hardingPianist, conductor, Deputy Director of Music, University of Kent Archives
March 2019
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