A BOROUGH music group performed a concert that highlighted peace, and war, at St Paul’s Church, Wokingham recently.
Dave Donaldson, member of The South Berkshire Singers, reports on the concert which included two acclaimed pieces, Faure’s Requiem and Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man.
“As a choir we are privileged to sing under the direction of Karen Phillips and to benefit from the talent of Simon Dinsdale, our accompanist on piano and organ.
“The performance of the choir was enhanced dramatically by the professional musicians who accompanied us: Nick Cartledge (flute/piccolo), Roy Falshaw (trumpet) and Alex Kershaw (percussion).
“As the choir looked forward to the performance of both works everyone was nervous, but the experience was wonderful.
“The acoustics in the church, the soloists, the organ and the audience combined to motivate us and raise our singing to heights we had not reached before – it was an uplifting evening in which we were all proud to play our part.
“Fauré added two sections to his Requiem; the lyrical Pie Jesu and the transcendent In Paradisum, with its soaring vocal line and murmuring arpeggio accompaniment.
“Fauré said in 1902 that the work doesn’t express fear of death, but aspiration towards happiness above.
“Its prevailing mood is one of peacefulness and serenity.
Soloists Chloe Riordan (soprano) and Hamish Bruce (Baritone) sang Pie Jesu, Offertorium and Libera Me.
“Swansea-born Karl Jenkins started his musical career in jazz.
“He became well-known through progressive rock band Soft Machine before moving to a successful career in composition.
“The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was first performed in London in 2000 and dedicated to the victims of Kosovo.
“The work dramatically shows the futility and destruction of war and conflict.
Soloist Lynne Smith (alto) sang Now the Guns have Stopped.”
Members of St Paul’s Church Committee served refreshments, and a retiring collection in aid of St Paul’s Church Restoration Fund and other church charities raised £1,118 on the night.
The South Berkshire Singers will perform next on Saturday, July 12, when their programme of light music will feature songs from the show, and a Simon and Garfunkel medley.
For information, visit: www.southberkshiresingers.org.uk or search for the group on Facebook.
