Performances of "Complete Works" (continued)
The choir has many concerts throughout the year
In 1992 we performed a work that we had been gradually learning, piece meal, over some time. This was the famous Requiem in D for Male voices and orchestra by Italian composer Luigi Cherubini. At the time of composition he was director of the Paris Conservatoire and had already written a Requiem Mass for mixed voices. This had earned the disapproval of the Archbishop of Paris for its lack of gravitas in using female voices. Cherubini then wrote this Requiem for male voices as a response. It is a substantial work and contains many great moments of choral and orchestral writing.
It was a thrilling occasion at the Risca Leisure Centre with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra and our performance has stood as a major achievement by any standard, for a male choir.
Another suite of pieces that the choir performed on only one occasion that I can remember was the one by Edward Elgar, From the Greek Anthology. Its rather Victorian salon style, I know, did not appeal to the choristers; but again we sang at least two of the pieces (including the famous Feasting I watch) from the suite on many occasions.
It was another especially composed work that gave us one more memorable musical experience. Mervyn Burtch scored a large scale piece for brass and male voices with Risca Male Choir and Tredegar Town Band in mind. It was a dramatic setting of the confrontation of Beowulf and the monster, Grendel. The piece was most satisfying to work on and the two performances of Beowulf and Grendel gave us a chance to feel a great sense of achievement.
Copyright © 2008 Risca Male Choir
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