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The first song, dedicated to Vince Fronza, is a setting of the traditional "Ave Maria" with occasional words interspersed.I do not know this composer's work,but these songs were copyright in 1995 and 1996, respectively.The "Ave Maria" I must confess,tended to elude me on my first run through,and also when I first sang it.For my own taste,the introduction is rather too long,and it seems to me that,in the first verse,the words "Ave Maria" become a little repetitious.This does not happen in the second verse, where these words are interspersed with "Salve Me".In addition,my accompanist wife feels that the stretch needed in the right hand,especially in the introduction,is at times unwieldy and uncomfortable.On further playing and singing this setting of one of the finest Latin prayers,it started to work for me,and with a goodly number of years of experience in church music to bolster my opinion,I feel that this setting has a place,at a Mass during Communion,for instance,in one of the larger churches. As the music progresses,the tension increases,and with a competent soloist in a choir gallery and the voice 'tunneling' down a long nave,this setting should work very well indeed.
The second song is a setting of words by Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson,and dedicated to Peter Sculthorpe."Love's Stricken 'Why'" is such a startling contrast with "Ave Maria" and demonstrates such a great versatility by this composer that one wonders what next? Unlike the fulsome piano part in the former work,this piano part is stark to a degree.It reminds me strongly of Priaulx Rainier's "Cycle for Declamation" for unaccompanied voice, which I sang in London many years ago,yet puts me in mind of some of Vaughan-Williams'"Ten Blake Songs" for voice and oboe.It sounds very modal,yet conjures up thoughts of troubadour songs.A curious combination indeed,yet interesting,and well written for medium voice,as is the "Ave Maria".To be frank,there are not many more melodic notes and range that one would find in plainsong,yet it works!So well,in fact,that I intend to sing it at a future concert,some time this year.
Reviewed by HENRY HOWELL
Review Source:Music Teacher Magazine,Vol 6 No.3,1998 |
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