To tell you the truth,
I thought that this was a disc likely
to appeal to people directly connected
with or supporting the Ackworth Youth
Choir. This is not a bad thing in itself,
of course, but of a limited interest.
I must now confess that I have listened
to it on several occasions, with consistent
enjoyment and admiration for these young
singers’ skill and dedication. A further
point of interest is the inclusion of
works especially composed for this choir,
among others, by their musical director
Anne Henshaw. I must again confess that
this composer was completely unknown
to me. On hearing her pieces recorded
here, one may unerringly say that she
knows how to write for young singers,
devising catchy tunes that, once heard,
stick in the ear. Though fairly simple
and straightforward, they are nevertheless
likely to challenge young singers’ or
amateurs’ skills in matter of rhythm
and intonation. This is particularly
evident in the first and last sections
(actually a repeat of the opening section)
of Nights Are Dawning
on words by Ian McMillan. The opening
item setting Sir John Betjeman’s In
the Licorice Fields of Pontefract
is a jolly good piece of quite entertaining
music. Triple Bill, setting
three familiar songs by Shakespeare
(hence the title), does not aim at competing
either with Warlock and Finzi, but is
perfectly happy providing attractive
settings.
Bob Chilcott, too,
has the knack for memorable tunes and
is not afraid of letting some refreshing
humour slip into his music, as in the
delightful Laugh, Kookaburra!
Most other items are
in a popular idiom that must be quite
appealing to young singers as they should
be to unprejudiced audiences. These
include various arrangements of a spiritual,
a Lennon-McCartney song and of the Zulu
Freedom Song, the latter sung with obvious
conviction and enjoyment.
None of these works
makes any great claim at profundity
or at groundbreaking originality, but
all of them are quite well-made and
hugely enjoyable. One can not but relish
the refreshing optimism of such youthful
music making. Everyone here sings and
plays with a most communicative enjoyment.
A pity, though, that no words are printed,
particularly those of the Betjeman song
and the McMillan suite; and that we
are told so little about the composers
and their works. However, this is a
delightful release to be relished for
all it is worth, enjoyable from first
to last, and a marvellous tribute to
these young singers’ commitment and
conviction.
Anyone interested in
the Choir’s activities and recordings
should have a look at the Choir’s website
http://www.ackworth.w-yorks.sch.uk/ack/ayc/
Hubert Culot
Eleanor Spencer (cello)ab; Laurence
Barker (trumpet)a; Anna Scott (violin)b;
Sara Woodhead (flute)b; Helen Issitt
(piano); Anne Henshaw (director) 