Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Monday 6 June 1994, page 32


Evoking a certain spirit

CLASSICAL

I Heard The Owl Call My Name: Works by! Bach, Josquin, Poulenc and Nunri. The Choir of. Ormond College conducted by Douglas Lawrence...Move MD3130. ' " ;

THIS very fine disc of choral music was recorded'

in Denmark while .the Melbourne choir "wasr oii '

a European tour last'year. It offers excellent performances of four: a capella works, starting with

Bach's lovely five-part, motet Jesu, Meiiie Ffeude. This long and demanding work is in 11 sections

grouped around the central movement Ihr aber seicl' nicht fleishlich which is Bach at: his most sublime. -

Then follows one of the greatest of air Renaissance masses, JosquiiVs Missa Pange Lingua written between 1515 and 1520 arid unique in its expressive power. Poulenc's sacred music was a significant part of his output but is unfortunately somewhat underrated. His Quatre motets pour un temps de penitence are a distinctive example of the motet in 20th century form, musical word-paintirig of consummate skill and beauty. ' ~

Finally, the piece which gives the disc its title. Melbourne composer Philip Nunn based this unusual work on the novel of that name by Margaret Craven. It uses no text but effectively evokes the spirit of the novel from the atmospheric sounds of the wordless choir. This excellent .disc offers notable singing from this Australian choir in music of constant beauty and power.

•Still Moving. Performed by Moving Harps...Sand

stock Music SSM 049.

HERE is something different for light and re

laxed listening. Moving Harps is a harp trio

formed in 1991 by three Australian musicians. They play Bardic, Celtic and Paraguyan harps in a selection of traditional and original pieces.

There are Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Northumbrian tunes, and pieces from Macedonia, Armenia and Paraguay. Also included are original pieces by the

members of the trio, Andy Rigby, David Alleway 1 and Dave Rackham, who are quite well known in '

Canberra.

Like a Bird. Satsuki -Odamura & Kazue Sawai (ko

tos), Riley Lee (shakuhachi), Cleis Pearce (violin), '; Ian Cleworth (percussion)...Tall Poppies TPO 44. r '"PHIS week it is alternative music, with each of

A the three discs reviewed offering something dif- ferent and distinctive coming from today's Austra

lian music scene. Compositions by Japanese composers and a set of improvisations for koto and .percussion by Satsuki Odamura arc lyrical and

evocative and match delicacy with rhythmic preci

- sion.

- W.L. HOFFMANN