Woking Choral Society - Elgar & Orff

The programme for Woking Choral Society’s summer concert on 30 June in the H G Wells, comprising Elgar’s ‘From the Bavarian Highlands’ and Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ brought to mind that educational examination instruction ‘compare and contrast’. The Elgar work is more familiar in its orchestral version, but here it was given in the relatively infrequently performed original piano setting of 1895, which allowed more of the detail in the choral writing to be appreciated. Commencing with the Elgar, the fresh, joyful sound of the ladies section of the choir in the lively, well-known initial song ‘The Dance’ created an appropriately bucolic, open air ambience. In the more lyrical second and third songs the choir’s enjoyment of Elgar’s gentle setting of the words was evident and in the fourth and fifth there was good intonation in the familiar warm harmonies of this composer. The final song, ‘The Marksman’, with a busy piano accompaniment in vigorous triple time and with contrasting sections, was given a rousing performance which certainly hit the mark!


In almost every way, Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ could hardly be in greater contrast to the Elgar work, obviously musically but also texturally and in ambience. Here we have somewhat basic medieval texts set in a pseudo-archaic style in which pounding, repetitive rhythm is all-powerful, inspired by Stravinsky’s ‘Les Noces’ as stated in the excellent programme notes, but in my view not as successful. Under the vigorous baton of Ben Palmer, the choir was successful in creating the obsessive, almost African, motor rhythms and this version for two pianos, timpani and percussion seemed a very effective accompaniment, although on occasion, the enthusiasm of the timpanist tended to overwhelm the proceedings. The boys’ choir from the Royal Grammar School Guildford clearly enjoyed making their contribution ,and the soloists, notably the bass David Neal who had the most extensive part, were fully up to the challenge. This concert was much appreciated by the large audience present as demonstrated by the volume of applause. The choir has demonstrated that it can tackle this style of work so how about a performance of Stravinsky’s masterpiece at a future Woking Choral Society concert?



 --- Lewis Orchard