The great crowd puller is likely to be the three Monteverdi pieces, Cantate Domino, Domine ne in furore tuo and Adoramus te, performed by the Hastings Philharmonic Chamber Choir, but the concert includes a rare opportunity to hear some beautiful 20th century music based on chant and quasi-Renaissance counterpoint. It will be an even rarer opportunity to hear a religious piece by José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767–1830), a Brazilian classical composer, one of the greatest exponents of Classicism in the Americas whose style was strongly influenced by Viennese composers of the period, such as Mozart and Haydn.
The main work to be performed by the main Hastings Philharmonic Choir will be Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem Opus 9, which was first performed in 1947. Themes in the work come mainly from chant; there is a calmness that reflects the flowing, easy quality of its Gregorian chant origins. This is mixed with the serenity of quasi-Renaissance counterpoint, and rich harmonies influenced by Debussy and Ravel. Chant formed a large part of Duruflé’s musical upbringing as a boy chorister (1912-1918) at the cathedral in Rouen, where the services were almost entirely chanted, and his professional education was at the Paris Conservatoire, where harmonizing chant melodies was a large part of his training as an organist. Duruflé’s clear Gregorian themes are also found in his ‘Four Motets’. His music is sometimes compared with that of Vaughan Williams, who briefly studied in France but the latter’s modal melodies, counterpoint and archaic-sounding techniques were inspired by English folk music and the composers of the Tudor era, whereas Duruflé’s modal counterpoint is supported by rich, and very French, added-note harmonies. Duruflé’s wife has said that, while composing his Requiem dedicated to the memory of his father, he “cried several times” appropriately for one of the most moving religious works of the twentieth century.
Last but not least, twentieth century German composer, Franz Biebl, produced many works for children, men’s, and mixed choruses but his best known composition is his ‘Ave Maria’ which is performed here too. It might have languished in obscurity but for the ‘Glee Club’, a Cornell University choir who popularised it in America as a result of its beautiful multiple harmonisation. It’s now very popular with choirs and often performed in Germany and America. Biebl took two Marian texts – the Angelus and the Ave Maria and joined them together producing a hybrid text for his work.
The concert will feature as soloists, soprano Lin Westcott, baritone Marcio da Silva and will be accompanied by Richard Leach on organ.
Church music, Monteverdi, Duruflé and others, Saturday 15th July, early start 5pm, at St Clements Church, Swan Terrace/High St, Hastings TN34 3ES – Tickets: £15/£12.50 under 16 £5