Thank You For The Music seemed a fitting way to end this tribute

Garry Fraser

Seldom have I witnessed such an emotionally-charged concert, or one tinged with enormous sadness.

Jane Miller, musical director of Arbroath Choral Society, had recently been diagnosed with advanced terminal cancer but the decision to go ahead with Sunday’s 40th anniversary concert in the town’s St Andrews Church was a brave one for all concerned.

However, it was done with dignity and style and Jane’s desire to be involved in some way was shining testament to her love of, and affinity with, the choir.

The concert programme was in two halves. Firstly we were treated to Carl Jenkins’s Armed Man, quite an emotive piece at the best of times but on this occasion doubly so.

The second was more or less a musical tribute to Jane, founder of the society and its inspiration for many years.

Ralph Jamieson had stood in at the eleventh hour as director for the St Andrew’s event and he and the choir managed to rein in their emotions and deliver an excellent performance of the Jenkins, once not too high up in my list of choral favourites but further up after this performance.

The final part of the work, God Shall Wipe Away All Tears, is its most heart-rending moment and the passion of a packed church rose to breaking point as Jane herself stood to conduct it.

The second part’s collection of songs might have consisted of Jane’s favourites, but with them came a change of mood and some relaxed informality.

Jamieson injected humour into the proceedings and as the songs unfolded, Jane must have enjoyed hearing her choir in such good form, no doubt with high emotion.

There was one bizarre moment during the concert with the communal singing of Rule Britannia courtesy of Wood’s Fantasia On British Sea Songs, but normality resumed as the choir took us through a medley of favourites.

The concert ended, fittingly, with Abba’s Thank You For The Music and there was no doubt to whom the choir addressed this – Jane Miller.

Quite a lady, and quite an occasion.