Philharmonic Choir: A testimony of spirituality and masterly performance
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Heralding the coming of Christ in music: The Colombo Philharmonic Choir
Advent and Christmas usher in a range of musical events celebrating the birth of Christ. The icing on the cake was ‘What sweeter music’ -an evening of carols and verse by the Colombo Philharmonic Choir on December 16 at St Andrew’s Scots Kirk, Colombo.
The evening was one of musical contrasts of unusual anthems interspersed with verse and congregational hymns. The fitting opening anthem, Introit of Matin Responsory for Advent, of Palestrina’s mastery of contrapuntal ingenuity, an ability to ornament and decorate a solemn medieval plainchant. A perfect example of counterpoint demonstrated to the fullest; the decorative features showcasing the independence yet interdependence of the choral parts through melodic contours.
The Matin Responsory is a rare choral performance in Sri Lanka, and understandably so as the piece for ‘double choir’ is challenging both harmonically and melodically, with the texture being so rich it sometimes lulls the melody, but the intent is clear to add depth, and is for advanced choirs. The choir had set the stage; the evening of choral song was to be unusual and the challenge undertaken under the able leadership of Harin Amirthanathan.
It was clear that the congregation was to be engaged and included through artfully chosen verse and fitting carols as the first carol ‘Lo! he comes with clouds descending’, an austere yet popular carol. The evening followed on through the interweaving of medieval music through the resonance of the liturgical chant of ‘Adam lay ye bounden’ by Boris Ord. The doctrine of the song is perfectly orthodox depicting the fall of man, but here is expressed very individually and humanly. The movement of the song reproduces very surely the movements of humanity of birth, life and death presenting a musical treat that beautifully executed and captured much of the medieval form.
‘Bethlehem Down’ by Warlock and Blunt, a choral arrangement for unaccompanied SATB choir is characterised by long phrasing of lines with melancholic modal harmony in a largely homophonic texture. The finely crafted melody and imaginative and sensitive phrasing was perhaps one of the highlights as chromatism was so well delivered by the able choir. The other anthems of ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ by Woodward and Wood, ‘What sweeter music’ of John Rutter and Virga Jesse by Bruckner with a capella feel showcased the strength of the choir. The strong melody from the sopranos was scaffolded well with the strength of the basses and tenors.
Records show that the Philharmonic Choir rehearsed at St Andrew’s from its inception in 1957 and Warlock was a favourite of the choir in the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally Vaugh Williams was a patron of the choir and the thoughtfully chosen Christmas Hymn was a fitting tribute his 150 birth anniversary. The careful phrasing, counter subject and an anthem which appears to be specifically written for bass and tenor, featuring the tenor as subject, with all other choir parts as counter subject requires solid voices to execute. This anthem appeared as the highlight and a fitting tribute to the former patron of the choir.
The concert as a whole, heralding the coming of Christ in music, of great devotional fervour, was exquisitely sung, with anthems wonderfully controlled and shaded, and a beautiful evenness of line from tenors and basses. On the subject of basses, Harin did warn that the choir could never tune to a G as the frequently passing train utters a lusty horn in G# and the choir in the past has been known to start on G# taking the cue from the train! But this won’t deter them from returning to perform at St Andrew’s with its shell altar which creates the perfect acoustics — delightful venue for future performances.
Again, it was immaculately done, the playing on the organ and piano sensuous and detailed, the singing matchless in its intensity. The sequence of music was challenging yet the choice of congregational hymns drew in the congregation through well-known but poignant carols.
Overall the evening’s performance was a testimony of spirituality and a commitment to execute the highest standards of performance from a dedicated choir and choirmaster. The Colombo Philharmonic Choir has truly raised the bar.
-Shalini Wickramasuriya
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