It was a cold December Sunday, ideal to warm yourself at a Christmas concert in a devoutly polished and excellently preserved neo-Gothic chapel. It is the one of the Psychiatric Hospital Onze Lieve Vrouw in Brugge. It is a Christmas concert by the Bruges choir ensemble Bladelin, a mixed choir conducted by Patrick Beuckels. The conductor himself is primarily known as a flute soloist and traverso player with the Collegium Vocale of Philippe Herreweghe. For the occasion, his choir was supplemented with, among others, the violinists of the Bruges string ensemble Arcando, including his sister Ludwine Beuckels.
They present a programme with old and new music, from past and present on this second Sunday of Advent. "Advent" means "coming," of Christmas Day of course. A programme thus full of hope and warmth that starts with the Lutheran chorale Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland. First in a version by Michael Praetorius, followed by that of Bach, who used it a couple of times in a cantata. And that immediately sounded much more complex and jubilant than its predecessor Praetorius. It was a perfect interpretation by the choir supported by strings, organ, and harpist.
Much more intimate were three heartfelt songs by John Tavener. The British composer, converted to orthodoxy, who later also paid much attention to the music of non-Western religions. And of course that familiar gem was among them, The Lamb set to a simple text by William Blake. First notes that softly gnaw homophonically seeking harmony and that reach it modulating in a touching melody.
With Christmas compositions by another Brit, Benjamin Britten, another sound world emerged. The eleven-part A Ceremony of Carols. Largely based on old British Christmas carols but set to music in that typical Britten idiom that is not so easy to perform and does not sound simple.
Finally, the choir sang a work by the contemporary Norwegian choral composer Ola Gjeilo: Luminous Night of the Soul. Beuckels conducts his choir and musicians with flair through the music. With his tall stature, balding grey head, and conducting fingers, he looks like a second edition of his teacher Herreweghe. After such a charming choral concert with such an old poetic-religious text as in this final song "Long before music was sung by a choir..(......) You were the spirit of all that art is", the question lingers with me: what magnificent instrument can equal the human voice….?
WHO: Bladelin Ensemble and Arcando Ensemble conducted by Patrick Beuckels with Aryna Tsytlianok [organ], Ludwine Beuckels [violin], Kris Janssens [violin], Koen Bultynck [viola], Peter Devos [cello], Eline Rowaert [harp].
WHERE: Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis Onze Lieve Vrouw, Koning Albertlaan 8, Brugge
WHEN: Sunday 4 December 2022
WHAT: Michaël Praetorius: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (1607); Johann Sebastian Bach: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61); John Tavener: The Lamb, Mother of God, here I stand, The Lord's Prayer; Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, opus 28; Ola Gjeilo: Luminous Night of the Soul.