hatam_soferet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hatam_soferet) wrote2004-03-13 10:29 pm
hatam_soferet) wrote2004-03-13 10:29 pm
concert
Apparently Jerusalem *does* have a madrigal group (why did I only find out about this now??). We've just been to a concert. Nice programme of madrigals - the usual suspects - and pareve religious music - and Beatles settings. Funny choir - very effeminate weedy men, and very aged women, for the most part. Fantastic tone, very very smooth, and terrible words, as in, you couldn't hear them unless you knew them. On the whole, satisfactory.
I couldn't make out where the volume was, though. They started with God Save the Queen, and it was *very* quiet. I thought they just had amazing dynamics, but they didn't get a lot louder. The hall had a huge dome - sort of Anglo-Arab architecture - and a half-curtain over the stage, so perhaps they got swallowed by that - but when they got to one of the Beatles pieces, they let go, and there was more texture, therefore it can't all have been the venue. They were mostly very restrained - this is connected to having fantastic tone - but it does mean you lose a lot of passion. This suits religious pieces, but the madrigals lost a lot, especially the more suggestive ones (Now is the month of Maying, Pastime with good company, Thy shining eyes, etc), which need some kick.
Audience also very funny - perhaps 200-250 ppl there, and three guys in kippot. Great - like being at home!
I couldn't make out where the volume was, though. They started with God Save the Queen, and it was *very* quiet. I thought they just had amazing dynamics, but they didn't get a lot louder. The hall had a huge dome - sort of Anglo-Arab architecture - and a half-curtain over the stage, so perhaps they got swallowed by that - but when they got to one of the Beatles pieces, they let go, and there was more texture, therefore it can't all have been the venue. They were mostly very restrained - this is connected to having fantastic tone - but it does mean you lose a lot of passion. This suits religious pieces, but the madrigals lost a lot, especially the more suggestive ones (Now is the month of Maying, Pastime with good company, Thy shining eyes, etc), which need some kick.
Audience also very funny - perhaps 200-250 ppl there, and three guys in kippot. Great - like being at home!