Gilbert Concert: Blue Heron Choir
Drawing both students and town residents to Phillips Church this Tuesday, the voices of the Blue Heron Choir transcended centuries as they retold divine 15th century narratives through French and Latin polyphonies.
The eight Boston-based musicians, skilled in the performance of Renaissance period music, visited Exeter as a part of the Gilbert Concert Series. The vocal ensemble’s showcase did not disappoint; it captured the audience’s attention with its individuality, a distinction in both ability and artistry.
Founded in 1999, the Blue Heron choir formed with the aim of bringing Renaissance music to the 21st century. The choir focuses specifically on the works of composer Johannes Ockeghem and his contemporaries. With each vocalist’s high level of musicianship and director Scott Metcalfe’s deep understanding of the music, the Blue Heron choir is known for its mesmerizing performances.
The Jane and Clint Gilbert ’47 Music Fund made this concert possible; this fund gives the gift of music to the Exeter community each year by allowing the music department the privilege of bringing “the music of the world’s most prestigious concert halls to our own performance spaces,” as described by concert series manager Vanessa Holroyd. The Gilbert Concerts are free and open to the public for all to enjoy.
In deciding the Gilbert performers, Holroyd takes into account the impact the musicians will have on her current students. Its unusual sound and genre distinguished the Blue Heron choir from other musicians during the selection process. Holroyd believed that the Blue Heron choir would not only deliver a stunning performance but would also “present a repertoire that is rarely heard live,” therefore giving students the opportunity to listen to and appreciate a genre they may have never come in contact with.
As Holroyd had hoped, the performance’s unconventional quality enchanted students. “I have never listened to 15th century music, and I loved it!” prep Safa Firas said.
Instead of shying away from the unfamiliar nature of the performance, the audience embraced the intensity of the style. “I really enjoyed the exposure to a less popular genre of music,” prep Hanna Pak said. With Metcalfe’s notes and song introductions, the audience felt properly situated in the historical and theological context of the music.
Notably, listening to the performance in French and Latin rather than English enhanced the audience members’ engagement. “I was accustomed to listening music only in English, but it was a whole new experience when I had to look through the program paper to understand what the lyrics actually meant,” lower Sofia Yoon said.
Upper Brandon Liu was impressed by the stylistic accuracy of the performance, “I thought the director’s inclusion of the vielle and 15th century harp was fantastic; it really brought me into music’s the time period and setting,” he said.
The expertise in which the performers delivered the music was just as noteworthy as their style.
“At first, I liked the music but didn’t really listen hard to it, but once I did, I realized how difficult each part was. I have a great deal of respect for people who can perform this level of music well,” Pak said.
The characteristic echoing of words enhanced the narrative aspect of the works. “The harmony created by the singers was very soothing,” lower Jane Li said. Additionally, the vocalists’ call and response style kept a distinct momentum to the performance.
“The Blue Heron countertenor was fantastic, and the low bass notes gave the performance a lot of variety,” senior Mei-An Nolan said.
Weaving in and out of each other, the layered harmonic voices sang to the audience of love, religion and battles.
“ While the musicians were singing, I felt like they were telling a story to me,” lower Lily Friedland said. “There was definitely something more in it than me just listening to music.”