Ramsbottom Choral Society & Orchestra

The new season opened with a performance of the Requiem by Johannes Brahms at Bolton Road Methodist Church, a venue where there is space and comfort for all. In the past, Mary Newton catered for all our needs admirably but sadly she died recently and so Barry decided to dedicate this concert to the memory of her who did so much for us and the Church itself.

The evening commenced with the orchestra playing Beethoven’s Egmont Overture starting with its slow beginning and ending with its thrilling finale in a stirring performance to banish the wintry night outside.

The German Requiem is memorable for its sheer beauty in that Brahms was expressing his ardent sorrow upon coming face to face with the death of his Mother and his sorrow upon the death of Schumann previously. Whilst Brahms was inspired by the music of Bach and Handel the work itself seems beyond their influence as the work unfolds through the composer’s genius

The music starts off in a reflective mood with the choir singing beautifully to set the tone for the rest of the evening. Indeed, they need congratulating performing a very difficult work and only having one rehearsal with the orchestra.

Movements 1 to 3 give voice to mourning whilst sections 5 to 7 changes to faith and the certainty to eternal life. We were fortunate in having Maurice Rushby and Suzanne Mather to sing the solo parts with seemingly ease in their demanding parts. Maurice reminded us of the fear of death accompanied by the cries of the chorus before the tension was released by the woodwind resembling a lyrical idyll in the familiar ‘How lovely is thy dwelling‘. Here the orchestra and chorus demonstrated the depth of feeling felt by all. This was followed by Suzanne Mather’s solo accompanied by muted strings and transparent choral sound. In the sixth movement the trumpets of doom announce the dramatic climax. Finally, Brahms ends the work in a striking and resonant manner.

Both choir and orchestra responded to the music with real commitment through the joy of making music and working with Barry whose unstinting loyalty to all is an inspiration. Thanks too, to Patricia, the leader of the orchestra and to Judith Mitchell together with those members of other orchestras who find the time to augment the ranks.

Apollo.

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