Article: The Winter Singers - Tavener: Western Wind Mass, Byrd: Four Part Mass - July 1991

The Winter Singers’ second Canberra concert for 1991 will be at St. Christopher’s Cathedral in Manuka on Tuesday July 23.

The program comprises Masses by two English composers, John Tavener and William Byrd.

COMPOSERS

Both composers lived in times of political and religious turmoil.

In 1528, Tavener (1495-1545) was imprisoned for possessing heretical books, but was later pardoned. In 1538, he apparently gave up his musical appointments to become a political agent.

William Byrd (1543-1623) was a survivor. A Catholic in Protestant England, he was often  subjected to persecution, but lived to the age of 80, protected in part by his reputation as a composer.

SECULAR

Tavener’s “Western Wynde” Mass is based on a secular tune which was well known in the 16th century. The use of secular tunes in sacred works was eventually banned by the Catholic Church. This is not surprising - the original words of the “Western Wynde” were about decidedly worldly pleasures and desires!

In the Mass, the tune is repeated many times in amongst changing counterpoint and harmony.

Wilfrid Holland

In contract, Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices (composed about 60 years after Tavener’s death) displays a quite different approach to counterpoint and word-setting.

SINGERS

The Winter Singers were founded in 1962, and perform three or more concerts each year. Their repertoire includes sacred and secular chamber music of all periods. Their director, Wilfrid Holland, composes many works especially for the choir.

The concert at St. Christopher’s commences at 8.15pm on Tuesday July 23 and admission is by program. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for concessions and can be obtained by phoning 295-1463 or 266-3526.

Originally published in The Queanbeyan Age, July 10 1991.