Music / “B.A.C.H.”, Luminescence Chamber Singers. At Drill Hall Gallery, August 6. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

JS BACH’S passion for numerology and the frequent encoding of his name in his music, is no secret. 

The B.A.C.H. motif is perhaps the most famous musical cryptogram, but it was by no means the first.  From Josquin de Prez to Heinrich Schütz, composers have weaved their own name into the fabric of their music.

Joining with guest artist Anna Freer (violin/soprano), the Luminescence Chamber Singers, AJ America (mezzo soprano), Lucien Fischer, (baritone), Veronica Milroy (soprano), Alasdair Stretch (bass) and Dan Walker (tenor), performed a works with these musical cyphers.

Commencing with “Das ist je gewisslich wahr” (This is a faithful saying) a 17^th century work by Heinrich Schütz, the singers presented choral works by Guillaume de Machaut, Adrian Willaert and Josquin de Prez that ranged from the 14^th to the 16^th centuries.

Two works by Bach followed and then Anna Freer played four movements of his “Partita No. 2 in D minor” on the violin.  Between these movements, the singers performed more choral Bach works.

Then the singers and the violin of Anna Freer combined to present a new arrangement by Christoph Poppen and edited by Dan Walker for violin and voice of the final movement of the “Partita, the Ciaccona”.  The concert ended with another choral work, “Selig sind die toten” (Blessed are the dead), by Heinrich Schütz.

The overall performance of these works was exceptional.  Haunting, ethereal and even dream-like, the singers were remarkable for their clarity and the depth of colour in their vocal combinations.

Anna Freer’s fine soprano blended well with the singers and her violin playing of the “Partita” movements was accurate, sensitive and a highlight of the concert. Other highlights were the male voices singing with a touch of humour “Ma fin est mon commencement” (My end is my beginning) by de Machaut and the electrifying moment in the “Ciaccona” when Veronica Milroy’s beautiful soprano unexpectedly rang out above the other voices.