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| 06/09/2007 18:36:00 | ||
| NYCoS Training Choir and NBC Changed Voices, BFYO August 2007 | ||
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The stalls in the Central Hall were full for this lunchtime concert by two of the feeder choirs for the National Youth Choir of Scotland, and what a treat it was for all those who braved the rather inclement Edinburgh weather on this dull and dreich day. There may not have been much brightness and light outside the hall, but there was certainly plenty inside it for this hour-long concert. Many people complain about the behaviour and standards of our young people today, but yet again, music and music-making worked its magic. Every year I am delighted to listen to the music made by the young people who play in the different music groups performing at this marvellous Festival of British Youth Orchestras. The standard just seems to get better and better and I don't think that we have to worry very much about the future of British music. Every Festival of Orchestras, the organisers invite some vocal groups, and it is always a delight to listen to them. This concert was no exception. The standard of singing of these two groups of young people, aged between 15 and 19, was of the highest. Every aspect of the singing was excellent: the intonation, the balance, the breathing, the diction and the expression. So often when one listens to choirs one cannot make out the words, which are just as important, sometimes more so, than the music, but there were no problems today. It was a joy to listen to. The concert started with the National Boys Choir of Scotland - Changed Voices Section. The change of voice that happens at puberty is always a problem for boys, one never knows what the voice is going to turn into: tenor, baritone or bass. This choir gives the boys a chance to continue singing through the change of voice until it settles down; they can then move on to either the Training Choir or the Senior Youth Choir. One might expect a few cracks to appear but no, not one crack appeared. The Boys Choir started with four unaccompanied songs: a part song, Pastime with good company, by King Henry VIII (of England), who was quite a musician; followed by another 16th century song, Sonatemi un Balletto, by the Italian composer Giovanni Gastoldi (c1555-1622). An old German Christmas carol, Lo Ho a rose e'er blooming, followed in a modern arrangement by Emerson (Keith Emerson of ELP fame?); finishing with an arrangement of the Irish folk song Salley Gardens, by Gormley (John Gormley of Glasgow?). Two modern works followed: Sunglasses by Oliver Searle; and Refuge by Howard Goodall. The boys finished their concert with the popular Italian song Funiculi, funicula, and an arrangement of the Frank Sinatra favourite, My way (arr. Arch). It was obvious from the expressions on the boys' faces that they enjoyed their singing, and it certainly sounded like it. The second part of the concert was given by the Training Choir, a mixed choir made up of about 40 girls and 30 boys. Everything I have said about the boys' choir applies equally as much to this mixed choir. They gave excellent renditions of their varied programme. They started with two movements from Pergolesi's Magnificat, followed by a lighter song in French by Arcadelt, a composer of Dutch extraction who worked in Rome and in Paris during the 16th century. These were followed by two unaccompanied songs by the modern composer Alan Bullard: Cantate Gloria and Broom-Pedlar's song. The boys on their own then sang an arrangement (by Emerson) of the Dowland song, Come again sweet love. Then it was the girls' turn. They sang, unaccompanied, a most interesting and intriguing piece called The cat came back, which was full of extraneous animal noises as well as some interesting harmonic singing, not an easy piece. The choir came together again to sing a lovely tender song, Dirait-on in French, by a Swedish composer who now lives in the USA. They finished with arrangements of two traditional Scottish songs: The Skye boat song and Westering home, the latter being taken at a cracking pace. The direction by the two conductors, Gordon Jack of the Changed Voice Section, and Dominic Peckham of the Training Choir, was excellent; clear and precise, so that the boys and girls knew exactly what was required of them, and how well they responded! I mustn't forget to mention the accompanist, Stuart Hope. His accompaniment was also excellent, sensitively blending in with the voices and never dominating. Overall this was a delightful concert and one to make everybody who was involved be proud. These boys and girls could certainly give some of today's adult choirs something to think about. I hope they return next year. © Charlie Napier 18 August 2007. First published on www.edinburghguide.com. |
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| Charlie Napier - Edinburgh Guide Review | Central Halls, Edinburgh | |
| 08/08/2007 17:45:25 | ||
| Aberdeen International Youth Festival | ||
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Music at the Mitchell, Mitchell Hall, Marischal College NYCoS Edinburgh Choir Monday night offered the contrast of a string chamber orchestra from Switzerland with a chamber choir from Edinburgh. Grieg's Holberg Suite was the centrepiece of the programme from Orchestra d'archi Giovanile della Svizzera Italiana, conducted by Anna Modesti. The attention to dynamic contrast in the music was remarkable, although some of the more extreme pianissimos lacked the necessary projection to fill the Mitchell. The string sound was well focused and the performance of the Holberg Suite was perhaps more elegant and gentle than the more folksy elements in Grieg's music might demand. Neither Mozart's Adagio and Fugue KV546 nor Mendelssohn's Sinfonia No 10 are the most compelling examples of music by these composers. Both were well done, but it was with Piazzola's Libertango that these young players captured the audience. The NYCoS Edinburgh Area Choir, conducted by Mark Evans, radiated enjoyment throughout. They opened with a splendid Gloria by Vivaldi. Nicely balanced part-singing and lovely solos, all with precise entries and clearly projected words, made this a joy. The soft-hued harmonies of Morten Lauridsen's Dirait-On for full choir contrasted nicely with the transparent unison of girls' voices in two songs by Savourna Stevenson, while the choir's rendition of four African Songs was heartfelt and quite moving. A tingling, upbeat setting of The Dark Island by the choir's accompanist, Stuart Hope, was followed by Ken Johnston's Johnnie Cope, sounding even finer on its second outing this year. |
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| Alan Cooper - The Herald | Aberdeen | |
| 06/08/2007 07:30:01 | ||
| Aberdeen International Youth Festival | ||
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Aberdeen IYF: World Music Night, Music Hall The ultimate source of the special atmosphere surrounding Aberdeen Youth Festival is its capacity for bringing together young musicians from every corner of the world in a spirit of co-operation. World Music Night was the very embodiment of this ideal. Ceol Mor, the Festival's Trad Music Big Band, featured performers from as far apart as Easter Ross and San Francisco, the Isle of Lewis and British Columbia. Their music is a fusion of many influences, Celtic, rock, jazz, classical, Latin and more. Aidan O'Rourke's Coriolis brought together Celtic fiddles and minimalism, while Corrina Hewat's The Wife O' Kelso underscored a Scots ballad with Latin rhythms. Harris Playfair's Movement 4 was the most convincing merging of rock, jazz and Celtic music. It sparked wild applause before an encore brought all the players together and lifted the roof. Performers from various countries demonstrated the finest of their chosen musical styles... the Edinburgh Area Choir of NYCoS conducted by Mark Evans also swung with two traditional African songs and Ken Johnston's magnificent setting of Johnny Cope was their highlight.... |
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| Alan Cooper - The Herald | Aberdeen | |
| 15/07/2007 22:40:22 | ||
| NYCoS/NYCoS Training Choir Saturday 14th July 2007 | ||
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National Youth Choir of Scotland, City Halls, Glasgow Rating: **** WHEN NYCoS artistic director and conductor Christopher Bell starts talking about fashions in music, you can be fairly confident we are at the couture end of the market. So American composer Eric Whitacre's setting of a single verse in Second Samuel in the Old Testament is of distinctive cut and demands superlative dynamic control as well as honed musicianship. It fitted the young choristers of NYCoS perfectly. Having apparently given a fine account of Thomas Tallis in Edinburgh on Friday evening, his 40-part motet Spem in Alium was dropped from this concert to make room for an appearance by the NYCoS training choir, leaving the senior outfit with a very modern programme. Whitacre's voice was the youngest, but most of the music was by living composers and arrangers, from the familiar Bob Chilcott, to the esoteric Estonian Veljo Tormis, whose musically complex - if lyrically naive - Calendar Songs for Midsummer were delivered with great confidence by the young choristers. The appearance of the apprentice ensemble was instructive, an earlier version showing the development of that NYCoS sound, with a natural balance that comes from strength in numbers across the sections. Only occasionally in both groups did the altos lack the power to match the sopranos and the men. |
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| Keith Bruce, THE HERALD | City Halls, Glasgow | |
| 14/07/2007 07:03:43 | ||
| St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh 13/07/2007 | ||
| What a great concert! The variety of styles allowed the quality of both the teaching and the singing to shine last night. Tallis, Chilcott, Whitacre (yes I wept with David)allowed the choir to show what they are capable of. The sound was magnificent, both in quiet and full passages. We particularly enjoyed the Hungarian works. We have sung some of them, and agree that Hungarian music is worth working on. We have just welcomed 32 Hungarian visitors to Glenrothes for a week, and will certainly be letting them know about your tour of their beautiful country. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Mary McIndoe | Glenrothes Scotland | |
| 30/05/2007 12:11:54 | ||
| NYCoS Alumni Choir Concert 26th May 2007 | ||
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Congratulations on the splendid concert on Saturday at Coats Memorial Church. I was one of the St James' Handbell Team, a former lecturer in music at Jordanhill College of Education, and have worked with choirs and choral music all my life. I found the performance of Cloudburst was one of the most exciting experiences I have had for many years. It takes a lot to stimulate my old jaded palate, but you achieved it, and gave me back that youthful enthusiasm when a riveting performance would have me sitting on the edge of my seat. The St James' Handbell Team was thrilled to take part in such an electrifying experience, and wish you to know that if ever you are performing it again they would love to take part, whether it is in Falkirk or Chicago. They will follow you to the ends of the earth. |
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| Gordon Mabbott | Paisley | |
| 06/05/2007 18:06:29 | ||
| EDINBURGH CHORAL UNION | ||
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As a parent of a NYCOS member (Jemma) it has always been a priveledge and a great pleasure to attend the concerts over the years. The Choral Union event in the Usher Hall was no exception, although not strictly a NYCOS event it proved once again the talent contained within NYCOS as, joining another, bigger choir, they made their presence felt. From the very first to the final note the second half of the concert swept you along on a tidal wave of sound, the substained applause at the end proving yet again that Christopher Bell demands and gets the very best from his singers. You really must start to do encores!! Sadly our daughter may not get to sing with the choir again but I hope I may still get to more NYCOS concerts in the future. May I wish everyone in NYCOS all the very best for this season, you are all stars. Ivor Wells |
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| IVOR WELLS | KIRKMICHAEL | |
| 26/04/2007 18:25:41 | ||
| NBC Changed Voices | ||
| Many thanks to all at NYCOS for the brilliant course at Easter. It was my first year with NBC Chenged voices. It was a brilliant experience and I can't wait to sing again in August. The two Christophers were brilliant. I am definately going to audition again for next year. | ||
| Jack Beaven | Watten Wick | |
| 26/04/2007 13:15:15 | ||
| National Girl Choir | ||
| The NGC weeek away was one of the best weeks of my life! I made loads of friends, learnt loads of fabulous music and generally had a great time! I would like to say thanks to everyone, especially the staff, Christopher and Steven. and the shirts were great too!!!!!! xx | ||
| Felicity Tolley | Edinburgh Scotland | |
| 23/04/2007 19:20:53 | ||
| National Girls Choir | ||
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Getting into the first ever national Girls Choir was amazing! The course was so much fun and I've made loads of amazing new friends. I would just like to say a HUGE thankyou to the music teachers, the house staff, the kitchen staff (who made delicious food by the way!) and last but most definately not least, Christopher Bell. Without all of these people we could not have made this amazing concert happen. I really miss you all and I hope to get in next year and see everyone again. Thanks so much! Bye! Rachel xxx |
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| Rachel Cram | Comrie Scotland | |
