Land and skies

This was a concert of open skies and land and nature, and not only of Australia. But there were Australian themes and local composers and the performers were obviously local and very worthy.  I like Canberra Choral Society and consider our annual outing of NCO/CSS in Llewelyn a highlight of my year.  This was accompanied by jsut piano, but the very worthy Anthony Smith with MD Dan Walker up front and featuring some of his arrangements and one composition and Mike Dooley in the room for a rendition of three movements of one of his works.  The concert started with Iceland, a capella with moving parallel fifths - stunning - and there was Philip Glass on piano and a Burt Bacharach South American gataway, a Swingle Singers lyric-free song from the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and a delicious Appalachian round, and a theatre piece from Kate Miller-Heidke and others on rabbits and colonialisation.  Then images of open Australian open spaces and big skies from Dan and trees and Norwegian tundra.  And Emily Dickinson on the Moon and sea and Lili Boulanger on the Sun in French.  Throughout, this was carefully expressed and well intoned and could be thrilling and fascinating.  For one, I loved the round.  So, another deeply satisfying outing for several mates and the CCS.

The Canberra Choral Society performed in Wesley church under Dan Walker (MD, conductor) with accompaniment from Anthony Smith (piano).