Pegasus Chamber Choir
Gabriella Swallow cello
Gloria Rappo harp
Squeaky Kate Music CRCD14
Colin Riley is Reader in Composition at Brunel University. His music draws on a range of elements including new technologies, improvisation, song-writing and large-scale classical form. This album consists of his choral music with harp in the case of the first work, It Speaks Without Answer, and cello in Roads Shining Like River Up Hill After Rain.
The first group of songs are described as ‘Six river songs for choir and harp’. The texts are by the composer himself, rich in imagery which, to me, recalled the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, with the sound of the words having as much of an expressive importance as the musical setting. Experienced as a set, one is conscious of a desire for rather more textural variety. Much of the music is in slow-moving chords in speech rhythm. As part of a concert programme, there would be a need for other items which would form a strong contrast in mood and style.
The second work which is described as ‘Five ghost shards for choir and cello’ does afford some more variety. The libretto was compiled by Robert Macfarlane based on fragments of poetry by Edward Thomas. Here the composer uses a solo cello and solo voices, and this allows for different sonorities used expressively. Again, much of the music is slow, but the changes in sonic colour, with the cello used in combination with the solo voices, and then the full choir, maintains the listener’s engagement.
The Pegasus chamber choir make light of the formidable technical and expressive challenges. Tuning and intonation throughout is above reproach and the blend of voices is excellent. This is music which makes absolutely no concession to vocal or technical frailty, and the authority with which this group performs this music is extraordinary. Both Gabriella Swallow, cello and Gloria Rappo, harp, make distinguished contributions to the whole. An intriguing disc to which one will want to return.
Review by Martyn Strachan