Portsmouth Baroque Choir does not fully embrace historic performance practice nor insist on the use of period instruments but their partial inclusion in any concert can make a noticeable difference, for both performers and audience. And so it was with our concert Bach Connections at the Fareham United Reformed Church on March 22nd when our singing was supported throughout by wonderfully energetic playing from members of The Consort of Twelve with Philip Drew on organ continuo while Rachel Haggarty’s dulcian helped conjure up the sound world of Buxtehude and Kuhnau’s time. Some pieces involved treble recorders, played by singers Pru Bell-Davies & Franceska Dante and oboes masquerading as trumpets (better for the audience in such a confined space) by Wendy Carpenter and Franceska.
Added sparkle from Rachel Haggarty’s dulcian – photo by Graham Smith
Programme
Buxtehude – Ihr lieben Christen, freut euch nun BuxWV 51; In dulci jubilo BuxWV 52
Kuhnau – Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (soloists Chris Clark, Jane Hoskins, Julia Spurgeon); Ich habe Lust abzuscheiden (soloists Iain Renfrew, Chris Clark, Sarah Simojoki, Dave Ramey); Gott, sie mir gnädig (soloists Kathy O’Hanlon, Ruth Sands, Dave Eamey, Iain Renfew, Lucy Bradley, Alastair Forrest)
Buxtehude – Jesu, meine Freude BuxWv 60 (soloists Jenny Barton, Iain Renfrew, Jane Hoskins)
Kuhnau arr. J S Bach – Der Gerechte kömmt um
Buxtehude (attr.) – Magnificat
Eight works seldom heard, especially in these parts, so a special round of applause for the Choir’s musical director Malcolm Keeler for masterminding this first in a series of concerts devoted to Bach Connections.
Local author and critic David Green is a fan of Buxtehude’s “rich austerity” and it was good to see his reassuring fedora among the audience. His review duly appeared online within hours of the end of the concert.