WADHURST SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
2009

Saturday 13 June - Parish Church - 19:30

Polyphony Concert
Michael Fields’ Midsummer Mass

This 45-minute tour de force for choir, soloists and orchestra is recognisably modem, yet completely appealing and approachable. Influences on Michael's composing style range from Monteverdi to Simon and Garfunkel and have led to a work which finds a unique place in the sacred music repertoire.

Laudamus te

Michael Fields

Michael Fields

Soloists Ansy Boothroyd, Elizabeth Sterling and Nigel Richards joined the choir and a chamber orchestra of local musicians for a very special event. The concert also featured John Rutter's Magnificat and a string quartet 'for Judie' by Tunbridge Wells resident (and member of Polyphony) Guy Faulkner.

REVIEW

The centrepiece of this concert was a performance of the Midsummer Mass, written by the choir's conductor, Michael Fields.
The Midsummer Mass was preceded by the world premiere of Guy Faulkner's string quartet For Judie. It left the writer wanting to hear much more of Mr Faulkner's music. For Judie was very accessible and a delight to the ear. John Rutter's Magnificat followed. This is a work of some substance but, as we have grown to expect from Mr Rutter, it was full of good 'Rutter tunes' - in particular the Esurientes sent us away humming.

The Midsummer Mass formed the second half of the programme. Polyphony had performed this two years ago - but without orchestra, so this was the work's premiere with orchestra. It was a delightful piece containing, as it did, so many different musical styles within each section. The playing of the orchestra was very accomplished indeed, since much of the writing, in all probability, was not the style of music they would play in the normal course of events. There was plenty of opportunity for some excellent solo playing from some of the orchestral musicians. The vocal soloists did good work though the baritone was somewhat strident compared to his two female colleagues. (The decibels coutd have come down a notch or two - for comfort.) It was clear that the choir knew their work well and were enjoying it immensely. The only disconcerting thing was visual. A left-handed conductor is like having your shoes on the wrong feet - because the beat is Inside out' - but the choir is clearly used to this and the orchestra seemed to accommodate it. The large audience was very appreciative of an excellent performance.                       JS

 

 

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