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Music for Christmas, 16th December 2000

This year our full Christmas program was performed by the choir and orchestra without the aid of soloists. The main segment of the program comprised a number of extracts from Bach's Christmas Oratorio, including the choruses: Christians Be Joyful; Break Forth O Beautious Heavenly Light; With All Thy Hosts; Hear King of Angels; Come and Thank Him; and Beside Thy Cradle Here I Stand. The Orchestra, under the able leadership of George Simpson performed the Pastoral Symphony.

Interspersed with many favourite carols was a varied repertoire of Christmas music from home and around the world. From New Zealand, we sang Te Harinui a favourite Maori carol, which had been arranged by our conductor Ray Jones. Although not strictly from another part of the world the Calypso Carol by John Bertalot evoked thoughts of the Caribbean, and the well known Negro Spiritual carol Mary had a Baby (the Malcolm Sargeant arrangement) was well received. Then we moved to Spain for La Nita Nana.

No Christmas Concert would be complete without contributions by John Rutter, and this one was no exception. The Donkey Carol was an original Rutter work and Christmas Night, O Holy Night, What Sweeter Music and The Twelve Days of Christmas had all been contributed to by John through arrangements, words or music.

As has already been mentioned our conductor Ray Jones arranges works for the choir. The men sang unaccompanied Sweet Chiming Bells by Miriam Richards, which was arranged by Ray. The ladies sang a rousing version of the Gloucestershire Wassail, arranged by Michael Neaum. The Orchestra performed Noel by Judith Bailey. Some nine carols in which the audience participated rounded off the evening.

Once again, this concert was a pleasure to perform and we believe the packed audience enjoyed a suitably professional festive evening. The choir for their part regularly and enthusiastically attend their rehearsals and perform to a consistently creditable standard. We also recognise that the continuing success and growth of the choir is due to the professionalism, leadership and dedication of our conductor. Thank you Ray.

January 2001
Paul Warren