Officium live - a triumph of music theatre

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1115278989707825972005-05-05T07:54:00.000+01:002005-10-20T09:47:35.376+01:002005-10-20T09:47:35.376+01:00Officium live - a triumph of music theatre<img alt="Example" src="http://www.jazz-kalender.de/~upload/BandBilder/PFWIXYYJBWOVCMRBGESALQBATVMTJT.jpg" /> <a href="http://www.hilliardensemble.demon.co.uk/">The Hilliard Ensemble </a>with <a href="http://www.musicolog.com/garbarek.asp">Jan Garbarek</a> I have been having a friendly debate with fellow blogger <a href="http://blog.willbenton.com/">Will Benton</a> on the merits of <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/New_Series/1500/1525.php">Officium</a>, the best-selling <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Startseite/startseite.php">ECM</a> CD made by choral group with the <a href="http://www.hilliardensemble.demon.co.uk/">Hilliard Ensemble</a> and jazz saxophonist <a href="http://www.musicolog.com/garbarek.asp">Jan Garbarek.</a> Will thinks <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/New_Series/1500/1525.php">Officum's</a> mixture of medieval polyphony and jazz improvisation represents dumbing down, I think it is a valid destination on the overgrown path of music exploration. A new viewpoint was given on this debate when we saw <a href="http://www.hilliardensemble.demon.co.uk/">the Hilliards</a> and Jan Garbarek performing music from <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/New_Series/1500/1525.php">Officium</a> and its companion CD Mnemosyne in <a href="http://www.cathedral.org.uk/pages/html/">Norwich Cathedral</a> last night in the opening concert of the <a href="http://theovergrownpath.blogspot.com/2005/04/brilliant-norwich-festival.html">Norfolk and Norwich Festival</a>. Increasingly I find the performance space for a concert is as important as the repertoire or performance standard. <a href="http://www.cathedral.org.uk/pages/html/">Norwich Cathedral Priory</a> was the perfect foil for the soaring music, with the Norman roof of the former Benedictine Abbey gently reflecting and prolonging the wonderful sounds. The five performers (plus sparing percussion for a couple of pieces) held the audience spellbound. A shining example of 'less is more' - no amplification, no spotlights, no supporting musicians, just four voices, an acoustic sax, and candlelight. What was unexpected were the spatial and theatrical touches. The cathedral lights were darkened, and illumination was provided by a multitude of white candles. The singers and <a href="http://www.musicolog.com/garbarek.asp">Garbarek</a> processed around, and between the capacity audience, and the sound of David James' countertenor coming from behind literally made the hairs on my neck stand on end. The performers used both their musical and theatrical skills to produce a masterpiece of music theatre. It may be dumbing down, but it made for one of the most moving performances I have attended for years. <a href="http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/New_Series/1500/1525.php">Officium</a> started at 8.30 and ended at 10.00 with no interval. It was then a brisk walk up the hill to the mighty perpendicular chuch of <a href="http://www.norwich1.com/churches_mancroft.htm">St Peter Mancroft</a>. The Benedictine Abbey church was part of the monastery buildings built near the river to provide drainage for the rere-dorter (lavatories). <a href="http://www.norwich1.com/churches_mancroft.htm">St Peter Mancroft</a> was the town church built on the defendable higher ground, and is the venue for <a href="http://freespace.virgin.net/alex.balanescu/alex.htm">Alexander Balanescu</a> to perform two late evening (10.15) concerts of Bach solo violin sonatas and partitas. This wonderful performing space with its breathtaking hammer-beam roof is in darness with a cluster of candles supplying the only illumination; white candles are this year's black in Norwich! <a href="http://freespace.virgin.net/alex.balanescu/alex.htm">Balanescu's activities span classical, folk, jazz and pop</a> (On his web site that that link opens I am afraid black is the new black). He starts with the B minor (BWV 1002) and empahasises the dance and improvisatory elements of this great work. The B minor partita (BWV 1002) rounds off a perfct evening of music making in perfect surroundings. The path of Bach and improvisation will lead us back to <a href="http://www.norwich1.com/churches_mancroft.htm">St Peter Mancroft</a> tomorrow for Jacques Loussier and his Trio; welcome relief from the tawdry UK General Election campaign which comes to an end with the voting tomorrow. The following night the riches continue with the <a href="http://www.thetallisscholars.co.uk/">Tallis Scholars</a> singing Tallis and Shepherd in the same exquisite performance space. <img alt="Example" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/funstuff/galleries/images/forum_interior_270.jpg" /> St Peter Mancroft viewed from the new Norwich Millenium Library <a href="http://www.statcounter.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="invisible hit counter" src="http://c6.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=669796&java=0&security=77843562&invisible=1" border="0" /></a>Pliablenoreply@blogger.com