Red Priest http://redpriest.zooglelabs.com ,
comprising Piers Adams (recorders), Julia Bishop (violin), Angela East (cello)
and David Wright (harpsichord) is probably the only early music group in the
world to have been described by critics as ‘visionary and heretical’,
‘outrageous yet compulsive’, ‘wholly irreverent and highly enlightened’,
‘completely wild and deeply imaginative’, with a ‘red-hot wicked sense of
humour’ and a ‘break-all-rules, rock-chamber concert approach to early music.
If you like your
entertainment to include the upmost in virtuosity combined with energy and
humour then do try to hear this ensemble live. If you can’t then a new release
from Red Priest Recordings www.wyastone.co.uk/all-labels/red-priest.html
entitled
Handel in the Wind will give you a
good idea of what to expect. I should point out to those not familiar with Red
Priest that some purists may not be best pleased by these arrangements of much
loved works. Nevertheless Red Priest bring great virtuosity and terrific
musicianship to these arrangements.
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| RP012 |
Red Priest begin their new disc with their own Suite from Handel’s
The Messiah with the Overture receiving
a syncopated opening before it races off with some of the most spectacularly
virtuosic playing you are likely to hear from all these fine musicians, always
full of fun yet thoroughly musical. Comfort
ye opens with violin, cello and harpsichord before the recorder of Piers
Adams enters. Even birdsong is included, before bringing the main theme which
continues to be interspersed by trills as well as quieter passage for strings
and harpsichord with Adams finding some fine textures from his instruments.
Equally spectacular is Ev’ry
valley, vibrant and full of the most virtuosic passages and decorations
with terrific ensemble between these players. Shepherds & Angels, taking the music from Handel’s Pastoral Symphony (Pifa), rises up from a low recorder with an almost Arabic flavour before
Handel’s theme appears. There are sudden changes of tempi with Adams changing
recorder for And lo the angel of the Lord
came upon them with the other players taking the theme. There is even a
quote from Jesus Christ Superstar
making this occasionally more a case of variations around Messiah.
Eternal Source of
Light takes the music for A man of
sorrows with a mellow recorder theme picked up by the cello with
harpsichord accompaniment providing some exquisitely beautiful playing. The Jaws of Darkness actually threatens
to bring the theme from Jaws before the
cello bounces a dramatic rhythm with the others joining before slowing with
some fine blends of sound in a lovely Handelian melody.
Lost with blindness
is a remarkable variation on Handel’s The
people that have walked in darkness with lighter, faster moments before
being subjected to jazz variations. Jaws
Returns forms a link with a short flourish from the soprano recorder to
lead into The Recorder Shall Sound, Red
Priest’s take on The trumpet shall sound
bringing some phenomenal soprano recorder playing from Piers Adams with no less
fine accompaniment from Julia Bishop, Angela East and David Wright. Adams’ articulation
is breathtaking.
Despised &
Rejected, an arrangement of A man of
sorrows brings fine interplay between recorder and harpsichord before all these
players weave the melody before leading to a fast and furious section. The
music for the comically titled Siciliano
Pedicuro is taken from Handel’s How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and allows
the cello and harpsichord to open solemnly before the violin joins showing just
how fine these players are in this rather more conventional arrangement.
Piers Adams returns for a furious The Raging Nations (Why do
the Nations so furiously rage) with more spectacularly fine playing from
all and leading straight into
Breaking the Bonds (Let
us break their bonds asunder) where each member of this terrific ensemble shows
an equally fine virtuosity. The Potter’s Vessel
(Thou shalt break them with a rod of
iron) brings staccato phrases that slowly lead on to some fast and furious
playing. What can I say about Handel’s Hallelujah
Chorus given a jazz rhythm and some spectacularly humorous moments where one
can’t help but laugh along with the players. Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright side of Life
appears as this over the top arrangement goes through some crazy variations, including
a Hungarian Dance and the tune Happy Birthday. You really have to hear
it to believe it.
Throughout this suite one can hear all of Handel’s melodies
revealed through a variety of sensitive, virtuosic and often wild arrangements.
Next on this disc we then come to some more conventional
Handel arrangements though not without their moments.
With Handel’s Lascia
ch'io Pianga from Renaldo cello and harpsichord lead forward in a slow pace
before the violin joins to weave a lovely melody. The Larghetto from Handel’s Trio Sonata in F major Op. 2 no.4 rises
beautifully with Piers Adams’ recorder shining over these fine players, exquisitely
done showing that behind all the showmanship these are first rate musicians of
the highest calibre. The Vivace again
highlights the tremendous virtuosity of these players whilst the Adagio brings some very fine, though
unexpected flourishes, exquisitely done. The Alla breve is full of joy as it moves quickly ahead with a terrific
conclusion before the
Allegro with an exaggerated
rhythmic opening and some unexpected flourishes and interruptions of flow. Unconventional
but very musical.
Red Priest’s arrangement of Handel’s The Harmonious Blacksmith Variations from his Keyboard Suite
in E will delight and surprise in equal measure with these players giving
the music a terrific lift. There are fine textures and the most lovely recorder
phrases, speeding as the piece progresses with a hornpipe and vocal
contribution before the terrific coda.
There is a mellow flowing Largo from Handel’s Concerto
Grosso Op.3 no.2 out of which the violin rises, beautifully done whereas Handel’s Passacaglia from his Keyboard
Suite in G minor has pizzicato strings and tapping of instruments before
this piece develops with harpsichord joining, the strings weaving the melody as
the recorder joins. A very fine arrangement brilliantly played that races to
the coda in spectacular fashion.
Strings and harpsichord weave a lovely lead up to the main
tune of Zadok the Red Priest based,
of course, on Handel’s Zadok the Priest.
The recorder takes the theme over the opening sounds of the strings before
the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Handel’s Solomon races away in this great
set of variations.
As an encore Red Priest include Handel’s Aria Amorosa from Trio Sonata Op.2 No.1 previously
released on their Priests on the Run
album. This is a pure delight as the pizzicato cello, beautifully mellow recorder
and violin take the lovely melody underlined by the harpsichord.
Such is the feeling of spontaneity and enjoyment of these
performances they have the feel of a live performance. The recording is first
class and there are useful booklet notes.
If you wish to get to one of Red Priest’s concerts then
click on the link http://redpriest.bandzoogle.com/#/tour-dates
to see where they are next appearing.
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