A BOROUGH choir will be bringing the sounds of summer jazz to Crowthorne at the end of the month.
Thames Voyces will perform Shakespearean sonnets and the Latin Mass set to various jazz styles to reflect the varying moods of the texts.
Their Summer Concert will include George Shearing’s ‘Song’s and Sonnets and Will Todd’s Mass in Blue.
Conducted by musical director Jack Thompson, the choir will be accompanied by soprano soloist Lisa Jenkinson Swayne, and by jazz trio Eric Guy, Mike Guy and Michael Osbourne.
Other Todd pieces to be performed are: The Lord is my Shepherd, Let All the People Praise You, and Lighting the Way, along with pieces played by the jazz trio.
George Shearing’s Songs and Sonnets sees seven extracts from Shakespeare’s plays set to music in a jazz style, followed by three smaller pieces by Will Todd and a jazz interlude from the trio for the first half of the concert.
The programme’s second half ends with Will Todd’s Mass in Blue.
Written at the turn of this century, it sees the ancient Latin text set to contemporary jazz music, while still reflecting the true meaning of the words.
“Mass in Blue was written for choir and soprano soloist, and the original soloist was Todd’s wife, Bethany,” said choir member Peter Anderson.
“It certainly offered her a chance to showcase her talents, and no doubt it will do the same for Thames Voyces.”
The event will take place at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Crowthorne, on Saturday, June 28, at 4.30pm.
Tickets cost £15, (free for accompanied under 16s) can be purchased on the door, or by contacting the choir.
For tickets and information, visit: thamesvoyces.org.uk
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