Before the start of the season it was agreed that our Musical Director would have a sabbatical for the first term to allow him time to concentrate on some other activities. We were extremely fortunate that Michael Smith, now well established as our permanent accompanist agreed to take charge for the Autumn term and under his guidance we put on two very well received concerts.
First in November in St Mary's Standon we performed Music for Remembrance
The sublime, plainsong-inspired Duruflé Requiem was beautifully performed enhanced greatly by David Poulter's assured playing of the virtuosic organ part and a spine-tingling performance of the Pie Jesu by Lizzie Howard.
The concert also included the first 3 of Parry's Songs of Farewell, Mark Blatchly's For the Fallen, and Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure.
It was very exciting to return in December to St John the Baptist in Royston for our Christmas concert. We had last performed there in November 2018 and the following month there had been a devastating fire. The restoration work had taken the intervening time but was stunning. As well as much improved lighting, seating and accoustics there was a new digital organ.
It all made for a very festive Christmas concert where we were joined by organist Oliver Lallemant (who had been our pianist for last season's Mass in Blue - what a versatile player he is!) and the ever-popular J5O Brass Ensemble. As well as carols for choir, others with audience participation the centre piece of the programme was Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols in which the solo was sung by Ian Boughton from our own bass section.
In March, with Andrew now returned from his sabbatical, we were again in St John the Baptist for Haydn's The Creation.
It was one of the largest groups of singers the choir had ever performed with having attracted a number of new members over the season. Combined with excellent soloists and very fine orchestral players it made for a wonderful concert very much enjoyed by the nearly full audience.
In the summer we celebrated English Music.
A diverse programme, the first half presented Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor in a semi-liturcial format. The various movements of the mass were interspersed with other piece representing other parts of the liturgy - the introit, gradual, offertory etc. In this way we were also able to accentuate the links between the musical eras by including plainsong, music by Tallis and Howells Master Tallis's Testament played by Huw Jenkins. The first half came to a jubilant conclusion with Parry's I was glad.
The second half opened with Ian Boughton performing some of the Songs of Travel by Vaughan Williams followed by another couple of very typical English organ solos by Vaughan Williams and Frank Bridge. It ended with the spirituals from Michael Tippett's A Child of our Time.