On Sunday afternoon June 1 the closing concert of May was organized in the Mechelen Hanswijkbasiliek with the title "Stella Maris – ode to Mary". From the Netherlands, the Goylants Kamerkoor conducted by Bas Groenewoud and the brass ensemble Alta Capella Vianensis were welcomed for this contemplative concert.
During the welcome address, canon Steven Wielandts explained why "Stella Maris" remains urgently topical: we all live on the ocean, where sometimes storms and sometimes calm seas come our way. Mary serves as the "Star of the Sea" as a beacon for each of us. Between the different parts, contemplative texts were recited by Ireen Van Praet and Fernand Verreth. The intriguing text "Mother of a rebellious son" by therapist Hendrik Van Moorte can even appeal to a non-believer.
The Goylants Kamerkoor was founded in 1967 in Hilversum to promote and support singing in the Protestant church there, but gradually the group developed into an independent, fully-fledged chamber choir now consisting of approximately 25 singers.
Throughout the centuries, Mary, the mother of God, has inspired countless composers to create beautiful, memorable settings of various Marian hymns. The Goylants Kamerkoor brought this afternoon songs of praise to Mary from all corners of our continent in choral works spanning five centuries. A discovery for me was the "Ave Maria" by T. Dubois, which with a beautiful soprano solo and organ accompaniment by Richard Vos makes one want to hear more from this composer. Also "Lūgšana" by R. Dubra, a prayer based on psalm 25, is a piece I will listen to again. Of course, well-known and beloved works also resounded such as the "Ave Maris Stella" by E. Grieg, the "Ave Maria" by A. Bruckner and the "Salve Regina" by F. Poulenc. Particularly striking was the performance of "A Hymn to the Virgin" by B. Britten.
The chamber choir demonstrated that it was not only well-versed in polyphony, but also knows its way in Romanticism and contemporary works.
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© Fernand Verreth[/caption]
The Brass ensemble Alta Capella Vianensis is a young ensemble founded in 2020 in Vianen. An 'alta' goes back to brass orchestras that existed from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century everywhere in cities on the European continent. The core consists of a cornet player and three trombonists. The musicians play on (copies of) historical instruments. The ensemble introduced each of the three concert sections, whereby alongside works by F. Cavalli and J.S. Bach, especially the arrangement for brass of the "Ave Verum Corpus" by W. Byrd was deeply moving.
Brass ensemble and chamber choir also performed two polychoral works together. Under the cupola of the basilica both came into their own. The "Beata es Virgo Maria" by G.P. da Palestrina received the grandeur it deserved. A festive organ point and culmination of an inspiring afternoon was formed by the motet "Jubilate Deo" by P. Philips.
Every visitor to the concert can look back on an uplifting afternoon where both word and music gave cause for reflection.