Fretwork with the Tougaloo College Concert Choir at Woodworth
Chapel, Nov 7, 2006
Fretwork is a group of five viol players known collectively as a
viol consort, and playing bowed stringed instruments called
viole da gamba (viols of the legs), because they are played between
the legs in a vertical fashion like a violoncello. The 'cello,
however, is not a part of the gamba family, but of the viole da
braccio (viols of the arm), which includes the violin and the viola,
and it would be played in a similar horizontal manner if it were
not so large! The viole da gambas come in various sizes. Each
has six strings and frets (like a guitar), hence the name Fretwork.
The choir - with 18 singers - opened the program with music of
Orlando Gibbons, Great King of Gods, accompanied by
three of the viols. The balance and blend were excellent, with
the viols providing support. Next was what was called Fantasia
in three parts, & In nomine. For viols alone, it appeared
at three different places in the program. The Fantasia in
three parts - a polyphonic passage - referred to the groupings
of three instruments (not always the same) and the In Nomine
to several different musical settings (by Gibbons) of the
passage In the name of the Lord from the Benedictus of the
Mass, with one viol playing the cantus firmus and the
remaining four a polyphonic accompaniment. The choir - again
with viols - then sang Thomas Tomkins' Rejoice, rejoice and
singe. After the second Fantasia in three parts / In Nomine,
the choir sang This is the record of John, with a fuller
sound and a pleasing stereo effect (my seat was only a few rows
back and the choir was spread out horizontally).
After the intermission the choir sang Gibbons' Almighty and
Everlasting God, which again was quite pleasing. The last of
the Fantasia in three parts / In Nomine was next, and
followed by Thomas Lupo's Two Fantasies in 5 parts,
polyphonic works for the viol consort. The consort then played
Thomas Tomkins' Pavan in 5 parts: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la,
based on the first 6 notes of the diatonic scale. The program
closed with Gibbons' See, see, the Word is Incarnate,
for choir and consort, with a full and satisfying sound.
Fretwork - in partnership with the Tougaloo Choir, directed by
Kathy Castilla, - gave a memorable performance, and I thank
the Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music and Rich McGinnis
for their untiring efforts at bringing the best to Mississippi.
- Glenn A. Gentry