Singers raise the roof
TWO music pieces composed centuries apart were sung with great feeling by Twyford Singers on Palm Sunday (March 24) at St Mary’s Church, Wargrave.
The performances of Gloria composed by John Rutter in 1974 and Vivaldi’s Gloria written in about 1715 were directed by Helen Styles and accompanied on the organ by Robert Jones of St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London.
In the audience was St Mary’s Church lay minister Andy Ferguson who said the choir had chosen music particularly appreciated for that day, Palm Sunday, when Christians remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the week leading up to Easter.
He thanked and praised the singers and musicians. He said Helen was a fantastic singer and a great choir leader.
And he commended talented young violinist Katie Styles, Helen’s daughter, for her fantastic playing.
Katie accompanied her mother’s singing Laudamus te from Bach’s Mass in B Minor and the Domine Deus movement of the Vivaldi.
Helen teamed up with Judith Creighton to sing the Vivaldi soprano duet Laudamus te.
Judith, the choir’s rehearsal accompanist, made the most of her love of choral singing and also joined the sopranos in the choir for the concert.
The choir, which practices at St Mary’s Church, Twyford, in term times on Tuesday evenings, are inviting more people to join them. They say they’re a friendly bunch and there’s no need to audition, or even read music, participants just need to love singing. Online practice files are provided.
The choir especially needs more tenor and bass singers.
■ For details, log on to: twyford-singers.org.uk