I was delighted to have been invited to attend the Reading Phoenix Choir’s Charity Concert in aid of the Alzheimers Society in St Nicholas Church on the evening of Saturday 1 March 08. When Edwina Cooper and I arrived, we saw from the programme that the Willink School Jazz and Choir would also take part. I knew nothing about the choir and I saw that it had been established some 40 years ago and although not stated in the programme, sings mainly sacred music but does also sing secular, both old and new. It is an amateur choir and raises money for good causes. The music began with a soprano singing an introit Beauty for Ashes accompanied by a tambourine . The choir, some 50 strong, then made a slow entrance one by one singing Welcome. It was a great and moving start to the concert.
The first four items were sacred music; the first William Bird’s O Quam Gloriosum; Crusifixus by Antonio Lotti; an excerpt from Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the Winchester Te Deum by John Rutter. All were sung beautifully. A complete change then came with the Willink School jazz band playing Down by the River to Play which got our feet tapping, and this was followed by Feeling Good by Newley/Bricusse. It was a splendid rendering which earned them great applause.
The Phoenix choir then sang a piece entitled Hambledon, the words of which indicates it has a canal so it cannot be the Hambledon of cricket fame which certainly has no canal. Hambledon was then followed by Bob Chilcott’s Come to the great World and Children go where I send Thee arranged by Norman Wallace, the conductor. The interval which followed was welcomed by everyone, the musicians in particular.
The second half got underway with an out of season Christmas song Hodie Christus Natus Est by Poulenc followed by a modern song Sleep composed by Eric Whitacre. Another Christmas song Alleluia! I bring you news of great Joy by Francis Grier followed and Choose something like Star composed by Randall Thompson then gave the choir a break to allow the Willink Jazz band to return with a number entitled Chain of Fools and Gershwin’s Summertime with two excellent soloists and some great backing from three trumpets, saxophones and two electronic guitars and percussion. It was a great performance from the young musicians who showed wonderful confidence and remarkable playing. They will go far if they continue with their music.
The end of the concert was not far away with the Phoenix choir singing Vaughan William’s The Lover’s Ghost and some light, pieces including When You’re Smiling and a traditional Samoan song Minoi with lots of swaying conjuring up palm trees and tropical sunshine. The climax of the evening was the gospel song You raise me up which was again arranged by Norman Morris.
We thoroughly enjoyed the concert and those who enjoy this type of music should go and hear the Phoenix Choir; their next major concert is at St Mary’s Minster in Reading on 21 June in aid of Cancer Research.
The first four items were sacred music; the first William Bird’s O Quam Gloriosum; Crusifixus by Antonio Lotti; an excerpt from Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the Winchester Te Deum by John Rutter. All were sung beautifully. A complete change then came with the Willink School jazz band playing Down by the River to Play which got our feet tapping, and this was followed by Feeling Good by Newley/Bricusse. It was a splendid rendering which earned them great applause.
The Phoenix choir then sang a piece entitled Hambledon, the words of which indicates it has a canal so it cannot be the Hambledon of cricket fame which certainly has no canal. Hambledon was then followed by Bob Chilcott’s Come to the great World and Children go where I send Thee arranged by Norman Wallace, the conductor. The interval which followed was welcomed by everyone, the musicians in particular.
The second half got underway with an out of season Christmas song Hodie Christus Natus Est by Poulenc followed by a modern song Sleep composed by Eric Whitacre. Another Christmas song Alleluia! I bring you news of great Joy by Francis Grier followed and Choose something like Star composed by Randall Thompson then gave the choir a break to allow the Willink Jazz band to return with a number entitled Chain of Fools and Gershwin’s Summertime with two excellent soloists and some great backing from three trumpets, saxophones and two electronic guitars and percussion. It was a great performance from the young musicians who showed wonderful confidence and remarkable playing. They will go far if they continue with their music.
The end of the concert was not far away with the Phoenix choir singing Vaughan William’s The Lover’s Ghost and some light, pieces including When You’re Smiling and a traditional Samoan song Minoi with lots of swaying conjuring up palm trees and tropical sunshine. The climax of the evening was the gospel song You raise me up which was again arranged by Norman Morris.
We thoroughly enjoyed the concert and those who enjoy this type of music should go and hear the Phoenix Choir; their next major concert is at St Mary’s Minster in Reading on 21 June in aid of Cancer Research.
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