Review : Christmas Joy - Saturday 16th December 2017 at St Andrews’s Church
This was the Choral Society’s traditional Christmas Concert – always a popular event in the local pre-Christmas calendar as was evident from the packed church. The concert fell into two sections: the first had two substantial choral works accompanied by the Henham Orchestra and the second consisted of well known carols sung by choir, soloist and audience and accompanied by pianist Emma Davis.
Cantata 63 by JS Bach – one of his Christmas Cantatas – was a demanding work for choir, soloists and orchestra. The first and last movements involved complex choral writing and, singing in German, the choir did well to maintain a lively sense of direction and a strong rhythmic impulse. There was some dynamic playing from the orchestra with sparkling trumpets in the first movement and some challenging violin playing in the final chorus. Rebekah Smith soprano partnered Michael Lafferty (bass) and Laurence Panter (tenor) in the two duets which were well projected if just a little unsteady – possibly under rehearsed. The recitatives told the story effectively if sometimes proving a little awkward for the accompanying orchestra.
The evening saw the premiere of Heaven Hath Answering Music by James Corse, a member of the Choral Society. This was a substantial Christmas trilogy set to texts by Christina Rossetti with three contrasted movements. The musical language was familiar, and the choir clearly enjoyed the rich textures and warm harmonies of this engaging piece – there were just a few uncomfortable moments in the lower registers for altos and basses. They sang with enthusiasm and commitment and the soprano solo of Rebekah Smith blended beautifully with the choral parts. A special treat was provided by the solo cello part played by the young cellist Gemma Preston. She performed with great poise and assurance and an admirably secure technique – we shall look forward to hearing more from her in the future. The final section ended with an impressive build up as some members stepped forward to form a double choir.
After the interval – always an enjoyable and efficiently managed event – the choir was able to relax and throw themselves into their favourite carols. The orchestra having departed, the accompaniment fell to the Society’s new regular pianist Emma Davis, who provided excellent support for the choir and a sensitive accompaniment for Rebekah Smith’s beautifully sung “O Holy Night”. Joy to the World introduced the second part of the concert and set the upbeat tone for the remainder of the evening. The carols were varied, ranging from the beautiful Coventry Carol where the major third at the end of each verse just needed a little more care, to an effective arrangement of Silent Night sensitively sung and including the always popular Shepherd’s Pipe Carol written by John Rutter as long ago as 1967. The audience proved to be in good voice and the evening finished with a rousing rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing with the choir providing the soaring descant for the final verse.
The whole evening was beautifully managed by the Choir’s Conductor, Kevin Ashman. He provides just the right amount of guidance and encouragement for the performers and audience and coordinates the quite complex logistics of the programme. Above all he is a skilled and experienced musician who can combine attention to musical detail with a sense of the overall musical direction of each piece. The choir are fortunate to have him as their leader and conductor.
Marjorie Ayling
This was the Choral Society’s traditional Christmas Concert – always a popular event in the local pre-Christmas calendar as was evident from the packed church. The concert fell into two sections: the first had two substantial choral works accompanied by the Henham Orchestra and the second consisted of well known carols sung by choir, soloist and audience and accompanied by pianist Emma Davis.
Cantata 63 by JS Bach – one of his Christmas Cantatas – was a demanding work for choir, soloists and orchestra. The first and last movements involved complex choral writing and, singing in German, the choir did well to maintain a lively sense of direction and a strong rhythmic impulse. There was some dynamic playing from the orchestra with sparkling trumpets in the first movement and some challenging violin playing in the final chorus. Rebekah Smith soprano partnered Michael Lafferty (bass) and Laurence Panter (tenor) in the two duets which were well projected if just a little unsteady – possibly under rehearsed. The recitatives told the story effectively if sometimes proving a little awkward for the accompanying orchestra.
The evening saw the premiere of Heaven Hath Answering Music by James Corse, a member of the Choral Society. This was a substantial Christmas trilogy set to texts by Christina Rossetti with three contrasted movements. The musical language was familiar, and the choir clearly enjoyed the rich textures and warm harmonies of this engaging piece – there were just a few uncomfortable moments in the lower registers for altos and basses. They sang with enthusiasm and commitment and the soprano solo of Rebekah Smith blended beautifully with the choral parts. A special treat was provided by the solo cello part played by the young cellist Gemma Preston. She performed with great poise and assurance and an admirably secure technique – we shall look forward to hearing more from her in the future. The final section ended with an impressive build up as some members stepped forward to form a double choir.
After the interval – always an enjoyable and efficiently managed event – the choir was able to relax and throw themselves into their favourite carols. The orchestra having departed, the accompaniment fell to the Society’s new regular pianist Emma Davis, who provided excellent support for the choir and a sensitive accompaniment for Rebekah Smith’s beautifully sung “O Holy Night”. Joy to the World introduced the second part of the concert and set the upbeat tone for the remainder of the evening. The carols were varied, ranging from the beautiful Coventry Carol where the major third at the end of each verse just needed a little more care, to an effective arrangement of Silent Night sensitively sung and including the always popular Shepherd’s Pipe Carol written by John Rutter as long ago as 1967. The audience proved to be in good voice and the evening finished with a rousing rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing with the choir providing the soaring descant for the final verse.
The whole evening was beautifully managed by the Choir’s Conductor, Kevin Ashman. He provides just the right amount of guidance and encouragement for the performers and audience and coordinates the quite complex logistics of the programme. Above all he is a skilled and experienced musician who can combine attention to musical detail with a sense of the overall musical direction of each piece. The choir are fortunate to have him as their leader and conductor.
Marjorie Ayling