Shattered Refraction and Ethereal Beauty
A concert I gave at St Martin's Stamford in August 2005 with the soprano Anna Belson*, as part of the Music at St Martin’s series. Anna’s high, ethereal soprano was perfectly suited to the soaring music we chose, and the freedom to play a largely contemporary programme allowed us to explore unusual repertoire.
Programme | Poster
Prelude, Fugue & Chaconne by Buxtehude
Toccata from Hommage à Buxtehude by Petr Eben
The Black River by Gavin Bryars*
Annum per Annum by Arvo Part
INTERVAL
Magnificat by Scheidt*
Three Songs*
- Ave Verum by Robert Meade
- Drop, drop slow tears by John Sowerbutts
- Wohl denen die ohne tadel by Max Reger
Joie, Douleur et Gloire de Marie by Daniel Roth
Stabat Mater by Estellet-Brun*
Suite Gothique by Boellman
download programme notes for this concert here
REVIEW from the Stamford Mercury
An organ recital at St Martin’s Church, Stamford, last Friday, contained quite a few surprises. Given by Fergus Black, resident organist, and soprano Anna Belson, the programme, with the enigmatic title ‘Shattered Refraction and Ethereal Beauty’, featured works by many modern composers, including the dramatic Annum per Annum by Arvo Part, where the organ could be heard to be doing some unusual tricks, in this case, creating a diminuendo by being turned off!
Novelty aside, this concert entertained and informed, with a fresh sound, in which the organ seemed to acquire a different personality to its usual churchy self – perhaps most of all in the pieces for soprano and organ where the ‘voices’ combined in a very attractive way. A memorable concert with many highlights, moments of high drama, quiet reflection, and even, at times, ethereal beauty.
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