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Review of CD “Full of Wills!”
29th November 2007
Dr. Arthur Wills succeeds again. His CD “Full of Wills!” (which follows
his autobiography “Full with Wills”) brings out the best of his
compositional skill. Although Arthur has written for most combinations of
choral voices, this CD is a testament to the liturgical choral tradition and
features a thoughtfully designed programme of music highlighting the
role of the boy choristers. The Choristers of Ely Cathedral, conducted
by Paul Trepte, current Director of Music at Ely Cathedral, leaves us in
no doubt that they are ‘real’ boys and in this CD there are many magical
moments that remind us of their well deserved reputation for sounds of
great strength, purity and beauty.
Works include “Te Deum Laudamus”,, “Missa Brevis”, “Ave Verum”,
“The Carol of King Canute”, “Ely”,” There is no rose”, “Sing a new
song” “Evening Canticles” and Caedmon”. Organist and pianist,
Jonathan Lilley, accompanies with his usual phenomenal dexterity and
flair providing a magnificent pivotal organ interlude in the programme
with his performance of the grand “Organ March” from “City of Ely” from
the Symphonic Suite “The Fenlands”.
Highlights of this CD are “The Lord’s Prayers” in Missa Brevis, “Ely”, a
part song for treble voices and piano, “There is no rose” and the final
“Caedmon”.
The spine-chilling effect of the pure focussed tone of the boy sopranos
and the prayerful soft smooth sustained lines of “The Lord’s Prayer” are
enhanced further by Arthur’s undoubted empathy with the words.
Similar contemplation and beauty permeate “There is no rose”.
One of the most evocative contributions is Arthur’s “Ely”. With Debussy-
like fluidity, Arthur and the accomplished musicians evoke moving and
mystical reflections of the beauty of Ely and its surroundings. With
sounds reminiscent of Debussy’s “Submerged Cathedral” it is easy to
recall the unique splendour of Ely Cathedral standing tall on the Isle of
Ely rising above the surrounding flat countryside, once no more than
water-logged marshes. Visions of a wide open skies and golden sun
rises are readily created. Arthur’s ability to reinforce the wording colours
the texture exquisitely.
The final composition, “Caedmon” a children’s cantata which tells the
story of Caedmon who was miraculously given the gift of singing, is a
testament to boyhood and well suited to these young singers. The text
by James Tilly, a former Housemaster of the choristers, revels in boyish
delights ranging from expressing childhood fears of exclusion to
uninhibited fun of feasting on “crisps and buns”. Arthur’s music matches
the wording of the texts phenomenally well, incorporating a strong
recurring theme that is readily adopted by these fine choristers.
Pianist fortitude and magical turns admirably performed by Jonathan
Lilley, raise the level of excitement or despair. The supplementary notes
to the CD are remarkably comprehensive with the texts to all the works
provided along with fascinating notes about the compositions written by
the composer himself. This is definitely a CD worth adding to your
collection.
Rosemary Westwell
Dr. R.J.Westwell (PhD, MA TESOL, MA Ed, B Mus, BA Hons)
29th November 2007
Dr. Arthur Wills succeeds again. His CD “Full of Wills!” (which follows
his autobiography “Full with Wills”) brings out the best of his
compositional skill. Although Arthur has written for most combinations of
choral voices, this CD is a testament to the liturgical choral tradition and
features a thoughtfully designed programme of music highlighting the
role of the boy choristers. The Choristers of Ely Cathedral, conducted
by Paul Trepte, current Director of Music at Ely Cathedral, leaves us in
no doubt that they are ‘real’ boys and in this CD there are many magical
moments that remind us of their well deserved reputation for sounds of
great strength, purity and beauty.
Works include “Te Deum Laudamus”,, “Missa Brevis”, “Ave Verum”,
“The Carol of King Canute”, “Ely”,” There is no rose”, “Sing a new
song” “Evening Canticles” and Caedmon”. Organist and pianist,
Jonathan Lilley, accompanies with his usual phenomenal dexterity and
flair providing a magnificent pivotal organ interlude in the programme
with his performance of the grand “Organ March” from “City of Ely” from
the Symphonic Suite “The Fenlands”.
Highlights of this CD are “The Lord’s Prayers” in Missa Brevis, “Ely”, a
part song for treble voices and piano, “There is no rose” and the final
“Caedmon”.
The spine-chilling effect of the pure focussed tone of the boy sopranos
and the prayerful soft smooth sustained lines of “The Lord’s Prayer” are
enhanced further by Arthur’s undoubted empathy with the words.
Similar contemplation and beauty permeate “There is no rose”.
One of the most evocative contributions is Arthur’s “Ely”. With Debussy-
like fluidity, Arthur and the accomplished musicians evoke moving and
mystical reflections of the beauty of Ely and its surroundings. With
sounds reminiscent of Debussy’s “Submerged Cathedral” it is easy to
recall the unique splendour of Ely Cathedral standing tall on the Isle of
Ely rising above the surrounding flat countryside, once no more than
water-logged marshes. Visions of a wide open skies and golden sun
rises are readily created. Arthur’s ability to reinforce the wording colours
the texture exquisitely.
The final composition, “Caedmon” a children’s cantata which tells the
story of Caedmon who was miraculously given the gift of singing, is a
testament to boyhood and well suited to these young singers. The text
by James Tilly, a former Housemaster of the choristers, revels in boyish
delights ranging from expressing childhood fears of exclusion to
uninhibited fun of feasting on “crisps and buns”. Arthur’s music matches
the wording of the texts phenomenally well, incorporating a strong
recurring theme that is readily adopted by these fine choristers.
Pianist fortitude and magical turns admirably performed by Jonathan
Lilley, raise the level of excitement or despair. The supplementary notes
to the CD are remarkably comprehensive with the texts to all the works
provided along with fascinating notes about the compositions written by
the composer himself. This is definitely a CD worth adding to your
collection.
Rosemary Westwell
Dr. R.J.Westwell (PhD, MA TESOL, MA Ed, B Mus, BA Hons)