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Evening Echo
By Kevin Power
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
Canadians hit all the right notes for audience
The Canadian choir ‘musica intima’ may number only 12 singers, but they can range in sound from the most delicate whisper to a full orchestra and that without the aid of microphones and amplification of any sort. Last night’s concert was a heady mix of musical styles down the centuries. It began in sixteenth century with Thomas Tallis Loquebantur variis linguis and immediately after embraced the twentieth century in Arvo Part’s austerely beautiful Magnificent.
The second half offered fresh delights, the highlights being Bruce Sled’s song Ice and the superb performance of an Inuit hunting song that was transcribed from an Inuit hunter by Derek Healey. A Charming version of Loch Lomond and Down to the River brought the concert to a close, but the singers were prevailed upon to give an encore and brought the house down with an affectionately comic version of the Good night song from the Sound of Music.
It was also interesting to note that there is no conductor. The singers rely on each other’s innate musicality and this diversity brings about a unique unity in performance. The group originally met on an irregular basis to drink inexpensive wine and just enjoy singing. They sat around the dining table facing each other and just sang.