Review: SYF Choral Presentation

Programme:

SYF Choral Presentation Combined Choir (conducted by Stephen Leek) - White Horses by Stephen Leek

Anglican High Sch - Sleep by Eric Whitacre

Commonwealth Sec Sch - Jaakobin Isot Pojat by Pekka Kostianen

Nanyang Girls' High Sch - Zima (Winter) by Lojze Lebic;
The Typewriter by Leroy Anderson (arr. Ko Matsushita)

Catholic JC - Jauchzet dem Herrn by Felix Mendelssohn

Victoria JC - My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land by Edward Elgar

The Australian Voices Ensemble (conducted by Stephen Leek):
Coonawrin (from Glasshouses) by Stephen Leek
Southern Garden (from My Country) by Stephen Leek
Tides of Ocean by Matthew Orlovich
Wirindji (from Great Southern Spirits) by Stephen Leek
Waltzing Matilda arr. Stephen Leek

---Interval---

Victoria JC - Sounds of Joy by Zechariah Goh;
Hana by Ko Matsushita

Catholic JC - Mayila by Chen Yi;
Pokpok Alimpako by Francisco Feliciano

Nanyang Girls' High Sch - Aitakute (I Want To See Them) by Ko Matsushita

Commonwealth Sec Sch - Meplalian by Budi Susanto Yohanes;
Ashita wa Hare kana, Kumori kana by Toru Takemitsu

Anglican High Sch - Maiden of Miao arr. Nelson Kwei

SYF Choral Presentation Combined Choir - A Singaporean Medley arr. Zechariah Goh

Review:

As with any other concert, it had its highs and its lows. I enjoyed the presentation of pieces put forward by Nanyang Girls', especially so for the full sound they produced. It is truly difficult to obtain a full sound from an all girl's choir, simply due to the lack of TBs. They were, for the most part, brilliant. In addition, despite the errors, I enjoyed CJ's Jauchzet dem Herrn. The tight and warm sound was a nice contrast against Nanyang Girls' fuller, broader sound. Some of the schools disappointed us and didn't perform up to par with the standard in which they had done so during SYF. Some recovered in the 2nd half, some didn't. Perhaps they haven't sung for a long time since the competition, I don't know, but it was indeed a little disappointing to listen to.

The programme put forward by the Australian Voices was interesting. It's always something special to have the composer conducting his own piece. Out of the five pieces which they performed, Wirindji truly evoked an image of death in the wilderness. I was almost conned by the ending when I thought I heard overtones, only to realise someone was actually whistling. Oh well haha.

All in all, it was a decent concert. I liked the idea of separating Asian music and Western music. However, the time in which it took to change from one choir to the next really set back the programme. In doing so, we probably ended abt half an hour later. Perhaps this is something for the organisers to note for future presentations :)