Enjoyable evening of fine choral music in splendid surroundings

Pangbourne Choral Society 50th anniversary celebratory concert
Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne College
Saturday, June 22

PANGBOURNE Choral Society gave their 50th anniversary concert on Saturday before a large and enthusiastic audience in the splendid surroundings of the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College.

To mark the occasion, Sara Benbow, the musical director and conductor of the society, had put together a very interesting and thoughtful programme of 11 works, together with an excellent printed programme to introduce each item. She shared the conducting duties with the society’s founding musical director Ralph Allwood and another former director Jonathan Brown.

Bob Barsby, also a former conductor and now retired, was present and was acknowledged by both the chorus and the audience.

The 90-strong choir gave an evening of well-known works coupled with some that would have been new to both the chorus and the audience.

One such piece was The Call by Regina Spektor, written for a Narnia movie.

This was followed by Handel’s great coronation anthem Zadok the Priest, which revealed the full choral power of this large amateur choir, particularly the basses and tenors who clearly enjoyed their mastery of Handel’s demanding runs. Mozart’s Ave Verum and a movement from Brahms’s Requiem were followed by a strong performance of The Heavens are Telling from Haydn’s Creation.

The beautiful traditional song Shenandoah was heard in an unusual and sensitive setting by Bob Chilcott.

The words of the American song How Can I Keep From Singing? were very significant in the light of the 50-year history of this chorus and the setting of the concert at the nautical college.

I would like to compliment the chorus on their excellent diction throughout the evening, a major aid to a listener’s enjoyment.

Michael Kamen’s theme from the film Band of Brothers was chosen not only for its connection with the courage of those who fought in the war but also the friendships formed within a choir. The concert concluded with a powerful performance of Parry’s famous coronation anthem I Was Glad, its grandeur amplified by the excellent organ accompaniment provided by Andy Stancliffe.

Liz Collins was the sensitive and accomplished pianist who accompanied all the quieter items.

Just as we were all about to leave the chapel, one of the basses stepped forward to speak to the audience, explaining that he had been a member for all its 50 years, extolling the virtues of singing in a choir and urging everyone to “come and sing”.

So ended a most enjoyable evening of fine choral music, well directed by its conductor and two former conductors.

David Wilson