Waverley Singers

Waverley Singers

The following review was contributed to the Farnham Herald by Max Hadfield; we do not know whether it was published, and if so, when.

The Waverley Singers summer concert was held at All Saints Parish Church Odiham on Sunday 7th of June. They offered no major work but, under the inspired conducting of Malcolm Hicks, gave a full programme of choral styles ranging from the Italian renaissance to modern English.

A large choir in a parish church usually has problems with balance. The sopranos and altos at the front tend to dominate, while the men are lost in the architecture at the back. The Waverleys had given some thought to this; the sopranos and altos produced a full round tone, while strong singing from the tenors and basses provided a satisfying balance.

The programme began with “Lauda, Jerusalem” from Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers and then moved on to four very beautiful motets by Palestina. Their spacious counterpoint was a delight, and the sopranos and altos were particularly moving in the beautiful “Ave Regina Coelorum”.

Purcell’s anthem They go down to the sea in ships proved a tour force for the basses, stretching them from bottom D to top F. This dramatic work, almost operatic in style, was obviously enjoyed by the choir. It was followed by Purcell’s contrasting motet Jehovah quam multi sunt hostes.

Four Latin motets by Duruflé brought us to 20th century France, and these were followed by three excerpts from Rachmaninov’s Vespers, perhaps the most beautifully sung pieces of the evening. Complete control underpinned by deep Russian style basses reflected the Orthodox liturgy.

The last work was Herbert Howells' Te Deum, firmly sung by the Waverleys in English cathedral style, with marvellous contrasts in expression between the various sections.

Special mention must be made of the organist, Paul Griffiths, a pupil of Malcolm Hicks. Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor was brilliantly played, while Herbert Howells’ Prelude on Psalm 130 took us with great sensitivity through the range of quiet emotions using soft organ registrations.

The next concert on Saturday 14th November when the Waverley Singers will perform Bach’s Mass in B minor with the Tilford Bach Orchestra at St. Andrew’s Garrison Church, Aldershot.