St. George's Day Concert with Voices in Harmony Choir

Holy Trinity Church, Wordsley, Saturday 23rd April 2005

Guest Conductor - James Cunningham

Holy Trinity Church is a dramatic building both outside and inside, particularly when it is resplendent with patriotic flags both small and large.

The Choir made up of the combined Voices in Harmony and Halesowen Choral Society took up most of the available space with their 110 members!

Still there was enough room for the Band between them and the front row of pews, although Ian Layland on 3rd Cornet did find himself in an unusual position.

A full house beckoned at 7.30pm (the car park was more than overflowing) and the concert began with a rousing version of Zadok the Priest by the choirs. The compere for the evening, Michael Collie from the BBC's Midlands Today programme then took over in his own unique manner and introduced us all to the history of St. George. The Band under James Cunningham, wearing a dashing white 'tux', started with a medieval set of English music commencing with Earl of Oxford's March from 'Music from an Elizabethan Court' - Traditional arranged by Elgar Howarth, followed by My Lady Greensleeves - Traditional arranged by Frank Wright and finished with Pastime with Good Company - King Henry VIII arranged by Stephen Roberts. All good stuff and well played. The audience liked it too!

The Choirs followed with Dance the Cachucha from The Goldoliers and the Yeoman of England and then their Guest Singer, Hilary Barratt came on to perform A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Such Lovely Things. All well received.

The mood certainly changed with the Choirs next item - Karl Jenkin's Sanctus from The Armed Man - a terrifically evocative piece performed with Choir's own brass and percussion players!

The Band then brought the music more up to date with Fantasia on the 'Dargason' from the Second Suite in F - Gustav Holst, Nimrod - Edward Elgar and a stately version of Crown Imperial - William Walton arranged by Frank Wright. The audience were very impressed.

Two members of the Choir, with optional instruction boards for 'BOO' and 'CHEER' gave a light hearted monologue about the 'true' story of St. George and his battles with Kevin the Dragon - all good stuff.

The Choirs came back with more traditional English stuff with Rose of England and English Country Garden - the conductors of each choir, sharing the duties.

Hilary Barratt finished her contributions with I Leave My Heart in a Country Garden before we did our final set of 'audience-participation' music with I Vow to the My Country - Gustav Holst arranged by Phillip Sparke, Jerusalem - Blake/Parry arranged by David Morgan, Rule Britannia from 'Fantasia on British Sea Songs' - Henry Wood and finally, of course, Pomp & Circumstance March Number 1 - Edward Elgar. The flags were never more waved!

The Choir ended the Concert with You'll Never Walk Alone and The Gaellic Blessing.

So with the inimitable Michael Collie signing off, that was it. The audience went away happy and we had made some more new friends.

Thanks to the suave James Cunningham for another fine job and to Chris Hickman for helping us out.