A whole evening of Purcell’s music is a bold undertaking but last Saturday Tyndale Choral Society produced a superb concert worthy of the excuse that it is 300 years since Purcell’s death. As the delightful sounds reverberated around Dursley Parish Church under the baton of their able conductor Michael Power we were drawn back in time and there was no problem acclimatising to the style and finding much subtle variety in the many delightful combinations of instruments and voices.

The chamber orchestra achieved a most professional ensemble and there was some sensitive continuo playing from the cellist and organist. So secure was the orchestra opening the concert with music from the Masque Dioclesian, that it was easy to relax and enjoy the well articulated string parts, delicate flute canons, expressive oboe passages and highlights of florid, brilliant trumpet solos and duets that continued throughout the evening. Just occasionally the splendid full toned tutti passages lacked weight due to the unavailability of timpani.

Helpful programme notes confirmed that the soloists (with links to Gloucester Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey) are used to singing together; their various duets, trios and quartets empathising well, and fully at home in the distinctive vocal demands of this period. Soprano Tina Power rendered a moving performance of Dido’s Lament with its text coincidentally appropriate for Remembrance Day. Her lovely solo Bid the Virtues from Come ye sons of art with its elaborate lines and ornaments was very well judged and most sensitively accompanied by obbligato oboe. The two contrasting countertenors, Philip Manser with soft rounded tone and Jonathan Milton with bright lively timbre, produced some exciting and pleasingly authentic performances especially in the duet Sound the Trumpet. The baritone Robert Marson and bass Philip Webb performed robustly and blended well and all the soloists executed impressive vocal melismas illustrating such words as ‘flew’ and ‘warbling’ with great panache. Tantalisingly, there was little opportunity to hear the mellifluous tones of the tenor Mark Davies but the duet In vain the amorous flute provided some gorgeous chromatic harmony to illustrate his talent. It must be hoped he will be invited to sing a more ample part in some future concert.

With so much music for soloists, the chorus was rather under-used, though the members of Tyndale Choral Society obviously enjoyed their contributions, entering heartily with the stirring dotted rhythms and other typical Purcell ‘clichés’. Especially enjoyable was the majestic chorus Soul of the World from Ode on St Cecilia’s Day. The facial expressions of the chorus members clearly indicated their keen commitment. Occasionally the hard worked detail sounded a little muffled and some of the ‘attacks’ were not quite crisp enough due in part to some sound getting acoustically ‘lost’ behind the chancel arch. Overall the choral movements were beautifully presented with full-bodied concerted sections, confident canonic entries and some exquisite pianissimo control in all voice parts especially in Evening Hymn on a Ground. Prolonged final applause indicated that everyone had been treated to a wonderfully indulgent evening commemorating the genius of this famous composer in fine style.

Lynn M James
November 1995