2023

A Birthday a Funeral and a coronation.

On the 13th of May, The Ruddington and District Choral Society, invited soloists and the splendid Ruddington Chamber Ensemble performed some of the greatest works in English music from Henry Purcell and George Frederic Handel. Both these composers had, and still have, huge reputations: Purcell arguably the greatest English composer and Handel a German who became a naturalised English man are both buried in Westminster Abbey – a fitting place for their interment since their music has become synonymous with the fabric and pageantry of English history; these two composers really did walk with Kings.

Music Director Paul Hayward reminded the audience that the programme had been scheduled many months prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth and this year’s Coronation of King Charles III – it was a happy coincidence that this evening of “royal music” took place within a week of the Coronation. The programme: “A Birthday, a Funeral and a Coronation” was a treasure trove of Baroque music with all its ornate intricacies – and the performers carried it off to perfection reflecting the confidence and exuberance which, characterised the age in which it was written.

From the first bars of Purcell’s Birthday Ode to Queen Mary, “Ye Sons of Art”, the choir, the orchestra and the soloists were on top form, as one. The warm, baroque sound of the orchestra would, I’m sure, have been recognised and approved of by Purcell.

During the second half of the evening – the performing of Handel’s great “Coronation Anthems”. This was, both from the Ensemble and Choir, a jubilant celebration with both on the top of their game. “The King shall rejoice” was sung with a real sense of joy and one only had to look at the faces of the choir as they sang to see that they were genuinely rejoicing and enjoying this.

The Anthems are Handel at his finest and most magisterial and Paul Hayward brought this out to perfection working both choir and orchestra hard to bring out every word and note. The ladies of the choir soared and the gentlemen provided exactly the right balance of depth and gravitas to the occasion. The brilliant and rousing “Allelujah” was followed by the exquisite “My heart is inditing” with its gentle reflective sound in which the ladies and gentlemen of the choir wove a lovely musical tapestry. So we moved through the other Anthems, the Choir and Ensemble never flagging, Paul Hayward gently driving them – he and they must have been exhausted! – and into “Let thy Hand”, with its lilting and lyrical melodies beautifully interwoven by the Choir.  On and on we went, towards the climax, to the magnificent finale “Zadok the Priest”.

Here is a link to The King Will Rejoice from Handel's Coronation Anthems. The King Will rejoice