On Sunday afternoon, June 1st, the closing concert of the month of May was held in the Mechelen Hanswijkbasiliek with the title "Stella Maris – ode to Mary". From the Netherlands, the Goylants Chamber Choir conducted by Bas Groenewoud and the wind ensemble Alta Capella Vianensis were welcomed for this contemplative concert.
During the opening remarks, canon Steven Wielandts explained why "Stella Maris" remains urgently relevant: we all live on the ocean, where sometimes storms come, sometimes calm seas. Mary, as the "Star of the Sea," continues to be a beacon for each of us. Between the different parts, contemplative texts were performed by Ireen Van Praet and Fernand Verreth. The intriguing text "Mother of a rebellious son" by therapist Hendrik Van Moorte can even appeal to the unbeliever.
The Goylants Chamber Choir 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 that now consists 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 Chamber Choir presented this afternoon hymns 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 leaves one wanting 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. The performance of "A Hymn to the Virgin" by B. Britten was particularly noteworthy.
The chamber choir demonstrated that it was not only well-versed in polyphony, but also at home in Romanticism and contemporary works.
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© Fernand Verreth[/caption]
The wind ensemble Alta Capella Vianensis is a young ensemble founded in 2020 in Vianen. An 'alta' goes back to wind orchestras that existed from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century throughout cities in continental Europe. The core consists of a zinck player and three trombonists. The musicians play on (copies of) historical instruments. The ensemble introduced each of the three concert sections, where in addition to works by F. Cavalli and J.S. Bach, the arrangement for winds of the "Ave Verum Corpus" by W. Byrd particularly tugged at the heartstrings.
The wind ensemble and chamber choir also performed two polychoral works together. Under the dome of the basilica, both came into their own beautifully. The "Beata es Virgo Maria" by G.P. da Palestrina received the grandeur it deserved. A festive organ point that concluded an inspiring afternoon was the motet "Jubilate Deo" by P. Philips.
Every visitor to the concert can look back on an inspiring afternoon where both word and music provided food for thought.