In this hour long lunchtime concert, the Wordsworth Singers verified the health and vigour of the contemporary choir scene in England. Singing tunefully and with a sensitivity unexpected of an amateur choir, the singers led the audience through a concert comprised of cleverly selected choral works which explored the doctrine of transubstantiation.
The decision to sing pieces by different composers which all used the same liturgical segments (composed for the show by Thomas Aquinas) was inspired. We heard several versions of O Sacrum Convivium, for example. It really was fascinating to see how Morales and then Messiaen or Hassler approached the same text but came up with such varied results.
The choir was at its best when singing around mezzo-piano. Any louder and some voices stood out somewhat, making the singing feel lopsided. However, when softer, the parts mixed beautifully and the choir managed to get to the heart of the music and the gorgeous liturgy.
The highlight of this concert was the Tantum Ergo by the little known French composer Déodat de Séverac. It was in this piece that the orchestra and their conductor Mark Hindley really showed their strengths, producing a delicate and warm sound.