Brilliant start to the festive season
BRIGHOUSE Central Methodist Church certainly heard sounds of Christmas on Saturday evening with the Marsh Ladies Choir, directed by Ian Abbott and accompanied by Kim Kaye, and Musica Kirklees, Holme
Valley Big band performing a selection of songs by John Rutter, D Willcocks and Huddersfield musicians and composers Alan Simmons and Kenneth Rothery.
Val Coles, a soprano in the choir was the compere for the evening, holding the concert together beautifully with interesting introductions to the band and conductor Gavin Brown.
The choir started the programme in sparkling form in their sequined jackets with Alan Simmons’ Deck the Hall, followed by the beautiful story telling of Willcock’s How Far is it to Bethlehem and Rutter’s Mary’s Lullaby. The section finished with a complete contrast in Gwyn Arch’s calypso De Virgin Mary.
Holme Valley Big Band, part of Kirklees Musica, is made up of youngsters from Holmfirth and surrounding areas aged from 12 to 15. Marsh Ladies aim to encourage young performers and warmly welcomed the band to share the Christmas concert with them.
What a sound these young people achieved with their enthusiastic
Production: Christmas is Coming Performers: Marsh Ladies Choir, Musica Kirklees Holme Valley Big Band
Venue: Brighouse Central Methodist Church.
Review by:
conductor Gavin, who played and conducted many items from within the band.
We were treated to some toe-tapping music from Family Guy and Earth Wind and Fire arranged by Gavin Brown.
Marsh Ladies paid tribute to Huddersfield musician Kenneth
Rothery who did so much for choirs and singing in the area by singing his own Christ Child Lying in a Manger.
Favourites such as Michael Head’s song Little Road to Bethlehem, The Donkey Carol by John Rutter and When a Child is Born were crowd pleasers.
The band completed their programme with a medley of Christmas music in both traditional and big band style showing the audience its versatility and the choir concluded with the haunting O Holy Night arranged by G F Strickling.
The audience had to participate in Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come all Ye Faithful with resounding organ accompaniment. This was a great start to Christmas!