Music / Chant, The Tallis Scholars. At Canberra Theatre, October 7. Reviewed by GRAHAM McDONALD.

On a musical level, this was a performance nigh on perfect. The program was based around chant, the monodic melodies of medieval European church music, and the way that became the basis of Renaissance sacred vocal music and what it can become with 20^th century ideas of harmony and rhythmic complexity.

The program was in two halves, each bookended by a Renaissance work from around the 16^th century, the music for which the Tallis Scholars has become renowned.

The middle of each half of the program were works by the 12^th century theologian and composer Hildegard of Bingin either side of compositions by the contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Part. Within Part’s wonderously complex music are the same style of melody that Hildegard used, but overlaid with nine  centuries of musical evolution.

The ensemble uses  a simple stage set up. Five low music stands each used by two of the singers with another in front for director Peter Phillips. He does not so much conduct as guide the four sopranos, two altos, two tenors, baritone and bass. The singers rearranged themselves for different work, with the Hildegard chants sung in unison by the sopranos alone. It was almost like one voice, such was their tightness, even to their use of a intriguing stuttering grace note that seemed to signify the end of the song.

The three Arvo Part compositions are endlessly fascinating, using syncopated rhythms on repeated phrases in Triodon and the opening soprano parts of his Magnificat using such close harmonies that the notes interfered with each other causing a pulsing “beat” effect.

This concert was part of the Canberra Theatre Centre’s 60 years celebration, which can be the only reason that this concert was programmed in the Canberra Theatre. This is music written to be sung in large reverberant spaces such cathedrals or other big halls. Peter Phillips, in his “thank you” and merch spruiking at the end of the concert noted that in their eight previous visits to Canberra they have performed in Llewellyn Hall and perhaps hinted that would have been his preferred venue. Still, a performance to be savoured and remembered as a notable musical event.