Page 340 - FINAL_The Sixteen Coverage Book 40th Anniversary Year

1 March 2019

THE SIXTEEN
RIPON CATHEDRAL
THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

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The Sixteen are celebrating their 40 Anniversary and the have chosen this year to
come to Ripon Cathedral. We were ready for them, I’ve rarely seen the cathedral so
full in anticipation of a great evening of fine music making. One small
disappointment was that their founder, musical director and Conductor Harry
Christopher was unable to be present. However Eamonn Dougan Associate
Conductor took up the baton, literally and performed very well.

This evening’s concert was essentially to celebrate three of the most important men
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in the world of sacred music: Palestrini from 16 century. Gregorio Allegri from 17
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century and Sir James MacMillan a 20 century Scottish composer. There is a vast
amount of views and opinions as to the correct version of Miserere and some
extremely detailed and interesting information were provided in the programme
notes for the performance, together with a translation of all the works being sung .

Those of you, like myself, who have heard The Sixteeen perform before knew what
to expect. Those present for the first time were about to listen to one of the finest
sacred choral ensembles in Europe. I should explain that the title Sixteen is incorrect
as there are actually eighteen! I don’t think I have ever heard an choir quite so
glorious in their singing. The clarity, the tonality, the complete togetherness,
producing a sound to delight the angels.

There were twelve pieces in The Queen of Heaven programme, too many to mention
individually, but the ones that stood out were the major works of the composers I
mentioned above including Allegri’s Miserere the evolution version, Palestrina’s
Stabat Mater, and Macmillan’s version of Miserere. I have to say that I really
enjoyed MacMillan’s Miserere, which I haven’t heard before. I also thought his O
Radiant Dawn was beautiful. Palestrina’s Agnus Dei I-III from Missa Regina caeli
completed the performance.

A wonderful evening of music, The Sixteen got deservedly enthusiastic applause
from an entranced audience. We went on our way thoroughly uplifted. It is not
often that we have such a performance to enjoy. I do hope it’s not another forty
years before we see them in Ripon again. As a final note I should like to commend
the authors of the programme notes, very detailed and informative.

GEORGE PYMAN

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