Anthony Ritchie: Survivors.
Aquarius Choir.
Attol
Reviewed by Geoff Adams
Well-known Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie presents eight interesting and enjoyable works of choral music (in 15 tracks) recorded in Belgium by Aquarius, Belgium's exciting chamber choir founded in 1966.
In the informative album booklet, Ritchie explains that three of the works were composed specially for Aquarius, inspired by their singing, and the four-part Salaam (a longer work based on poems about Guantanamo that was requested from him by the choir) led to this CD being recorded in August 2016. The album theme is survivors, of all types.
Of particular interest to New Zealand listeners is the splendid settings of poems by Cilla McQueen in Timepiece and three choral gems (from Widow Songs): Over the back, Bread and Frost, a Sam Hunt poem inspired We Could Just Disappear, and Denis Glover's Mountains and Rivers led to the final two items, Prayer and The End.
All the other music is also cleverly derived from contemporary poetry and forms a most ingenious and moving programme.
Musical director of Aquarius, Marc Michael de Smet, quotes Salaam as an example of perfect choral writing.
"The vocal lines are perfectly shaped for the singers, the use of the harmonic and rhythmic spectrum is never over complex, and the structures are very clear. Anthony Ritchie has the gift of expressiveness and of straight and strong communication.''
He compliments the composer highly: "[He] is not the type of composer to be losing himself in intellectual highbrow experiments. His art couldn't be clearer and more effective. He is sincere and you can rely on him.''
Verdict: Great praise for performers and composer.
