Consort dazzles with tribute to celtic roots

The Southern Consort of Voices giving a recital at St Joseph’s Chapel. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The Southern Consort of Voices giving a recital at St Joseph’s Chapel. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Across the Sea, Southern Consort of Voices, St Joseph’s Chapel, Sunday, October 6.

The Southern Consort of Voices gave a recital yesterday afternoon in St Joseph’s Chapel.

As usual, an almost capacity audience revelled in the beauty of unaccompanied choral music and the tightly blended harmony this relatively small group produces.

Their director Daniel Kelly’s motto is always "if you want to make good music, surround yourself with good musicians".

Mr Kelly creates themed 90-minute recitals, researching for unusual and unfamiliar works.

Yesterday was a programme entitled "Across the Sea — The Beauty of Celtic Song" and indeed many of the song settings were exceptionally beautiful.

The consort of 16 members were joined by three local guests who soloed with many of the 14 numbers, opening with a Gaelic-texted traditional Irish air Mo Ghile Mear from soloist tenor Jesse Hanan, and a second Jacobite air Bo na Leathadhairce with soloist tenor Teddy Finney-Waters.

Enya’s song May It Be , Pippin’s Song The Edge of Night (soloist Kieran Kelly) and Into the West (soloist Clare Lewis) were contemporary pieces from Lord of the Rings.

A bracket of well-known songs was The Parting Glass (Hanan), a Vaughan William arrangement of Scottish air Loch Lomond (Kelly) and Danny Boy (Finney-Waters).

Clare Lewis sang an Irish arrangement of Courting is a Pleasure.

Consort soprano Kathryn Gardner contributed Black is the Colour of my True Love’s Hair and a lullaby Arrane ny Clean in "Manx Gaelic" with drone-like backing from the Consort.

They also accompanied soprano Kathy Highton-Sim with strong balanced harmony for Sleepsong — a dedication for a daughter leaving home.

All these and several more solos featured superb choral support.

Dulaman in Irish Gaelic ended an exceptional recital.

Mr Kelly was an inspiring compere.