I Was Glad – Cathedral Classics
In the words of Brett Weymark – conductor and Artistic and Musical Director of the Philharmonia Choirs – “this concert explores cathedral music from evensongs to coronations”. I use the present tense, because this isn’t a “one off”! Weymark and the Symphony Chorus will perform this incredible concert again next Saturday 5th April at All Saint’s Cathedral in Bathurst and on Saturday 12th April at St Peter and St Paul’s Old Cathedral in Goulburn. How wonderful for the choir to have two repeat performances – and take their “cathedral classics” to audiences in such historic places of worship.
In Sydney they sang to the accompaniment of the Opera House’s Grand Organ, played by internationally renowned Australian organist David Drury, who will also accompany the choir in both Bathurst and Goulburn. Yvonne Frindle’s elegantly written notes to the program describe the organ as “the king of instruments” and Drury certainly proved its stunning power especially in Cecilia McDowall’s Celebration and Ralph Vaughn William’s much loved Old Hundredth, composed for the coronation of Elizabeth II.
Coronations have been the inspiration for other compositions in the program, including Hubert Parry’s anthem I Was Glad that gives the concert its title. I was Glad was composed for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and, as Frindle notes “expanded to thrilling effect” for the coronation of his son, George V. Parry also composed Blest Pair of Sirens for another royal celebration, the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.
Another coronation tribute, Coronation Sanctus, composed by Roxanna Panufnik, “may be too new to be a classic” Frindle suggests, because it was written only two years ago for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. However, the choir certainly proved that it exemplifies all the combined features of “sacred choral music”.
British composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange takes Weymark’s place on the podium to conduct five pieces from A Season to Sing, her tribute to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Her delicate choice of words from poetry, hymns and passages from the bible cleverly prove L’Estrange’s girlhood feelings that “Vivaldi’s melodies were so good that they ought to be sung”. The fact that are mixed with contemporary musical ideas makes some of them very special – like the sound of whistling birds, the notes of the cuckoo, and a body percussion that charmingly introduces a Summer Storm. It was a thrill to see Forbes L’Estrange inspiring the choir with her own gentle interpretation of her work.
Brett Weymark always reaches out the audience, and in this concert he invites them to join the choir in two of the best known classics. Song sheets for William Henry Monk’s Abide with Me and The Old Hundredth were provided for those who wished to sing along – and most of the audience did so wish! It was wonderful to be part of such a huge group led by Weymark, the choir and the awe-inspiring music of the organ.
These are just some of the fifteen “classics” that are included in “I Was Glad”, all of which showcase the amazing voices of the 130-strong Symphony Chorus, the largest auditioned of the Philharmonia Choirs, and the Grand Organ. It is a wonderful, uplifting program – and a brilliant choral harbinger of the 2025 concert program.
Carol Wimmer
Photographer: Keith Saunders
Discover Sydney Philharmonia Choirs at sydneyphilharmonia.com.au/
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