This Worlde’s Joie

We’ve have Daniel staying overnight - a flying visit for a catch-up with a friend - so he returns home after lunch. 

Then it’s over to Bangor where G has a rehearsal for this evening’s concert, leaving me to spend the afternoon with him mum. I’m hoping for a chance to rest, but she’s in a very chatty mood! 

Finally it’s the concert itself - a very grand affair to celebrate 100 years of music at Bangor University. The programme’s made up of works by past professors, ranging from the lyrically romantic to the bombastic clashes of 1970’s modernism. As the programme notes so rightly put it, ‘how could art and music be the same after Passchendaele, Dresden, Hiroshima and Auschwitz?’ 

The main piece, ‘This Worlde’s Joie’, is fascinating - if not tonally beautiful; William Matthias’s work is performed by the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, Cantorion Menai (a local community choir), Bangor Cathedral Choir and three soloists. The sound really is amazing - but for both G (who is playing violin in the orchestra) and for me, it’s the purity of the choir boys’ voices that is the highlight! 

Apologies for the really rubbish photo, taken before the Matthias started - I must admit to being really tired, and it’s the best that  I can manage!