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It is always a special occasion when you have the opportunity to hear a successful composer perform his own pieces. This was definitely the case when Gavin Bryars and his ensemble came to the sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall to pair up with The 24 for a performance of his Cadman requiem and Laude.
The program began with a number of Laude, vocal and instrumental music based on 14th century Italian sacred songs. Without actually writing in a genuine medieval style, Bryars managed to capture the spirit of this music with great authenticity. By using long deep lines of his double bass with on top of that beautiful melodies of choir or viola, he created a mystical and mysterious feeling.
The quality of this music was done justice by an impressive performance by The 24. John Potter and his singers combined dignity and dynamics in a way that suited the composition well. Moreover, their unusual positioning, all voices mixed instead of grouped together, greatly improved the ensemble.
In both the Laude and the requiem, Bryars shows himself a master in matching music and lyrics. The translation of the Italian, Latin and old English texts were provided in the program, but were hardly needed. The message was clearly expressed by the music, with the ecstatic ‘O divina virgo’ (O blessed virgin) for women voices only, the loud and dark ‘Omne homo’ (let all mankind with loud voice praise the true cross) and the loving ‘Amor dolce senca pare’ (Sweet love without equal) as striking examples.
Bryars managed to capture the spirit of this music with great authenticity.
After the break, the Cadman requiem, a piece that Bryars wrote in memory of a friend, was performed. To three common parts of a requiem, a seventh century poem by the English writer Caedmon was added, both in the original version and in Latin. In this piece, emotional and serene all the way through, not a single moment of lightness could be found.
Again, the slow long lines, which are so characteristic for Bryars work, added greatly to the weight of the piece. Moreover, the development of the piece was excellent, leading from the mystical ‘Requiem Eternam’ via the ’Caedmon Paraphrase’ to a climax in the dark and heavy ‘Agnus Dei’ and back again to the nervous ‘Creation Hymn’ and finally to the gentle ‘In Paradisum’.
The emotional development of the program performed by the skilful musicians of the Gavin Bryars Ensemble and The 24 made for an emotionally heavy but utterly enjoyable musical experience.
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