STONEHAVEN TOWN HALL
Sunday 15th December 2024 7:30pm
Ralph Jamieson Conductor
Blair Cargill Piano
One stand out feature of concerts by the Stonehaven Chorus is the freshness and exploratory character of their programming. This goes back to the days when Dr John Hearne was their conductor. His wife Margaret still sings in the soprano section of the choir and I was delighted to see Dr Hearne himself in the audience for Sunday’s concert, especially as one of his own compositions from the new book of Carols for Choirs published by Oxford Press in 2011 was to be sung in the second part of Sunday’s programme.
Several of Sunday’s Carols were taken from the new Oxford Carol book. We were impressed by new tunes, all of which were thoroughly attractive and instantly appealing. Names like John Rutter, (is it possible to have a Christmas Concert without John Rutter?) and Bob Chilcott were familiar to me as composers and arrangers. Did you know that both of these composers came to Aberdeen some years ago, John Rutter as a guest of Aberdeen and District Organists’ Association and Bob Chilcott at the invitation of Aberdeen Orpheus Choir. I first came across Chilcott, then named Robert Chilcott when he was treble soloist in Fauré’s Requiem on a celebrated recording by King’s College Cambridge Choir. I still have that record upstairs!
In addition to these new carols, Ralph Jamieson’s programme was stunningly wide ranging. So many features of the Christmas Season were included. The Christmas story with the Baby Jesus, the three Kings or Wise Men were all there, but also the more celebratory elements of the season. Old Christmas returned (or Hospitality Revived) dealt with the exciting foods on the Christmas table while Silver Bells and It’s the most wonderful time of the year were centred on happy feelings surrounding Christmas time. C’mon all you party animals!
The programme opened with ‘Gloria’ by Vivaldi. The introductory piano part played in full celebratory manner by Blair Cargill was followed by splendidly rich well balanced and enthusiastic singing by the Stonehaven Chorus. It was just what we needed to put us in the mood for the rest of the concert. A Heavenly Song by Cecilia McDowall, a setting of 15th Century words, had a modal feel to it. The choir sang it with the proper smooth flowing style. An arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem by Bob Chilcott had a new attractive tune launched by the women of the choir. In the final verse, the old familiar tune came in, sung by the female voices, while the men fitted the new tune within it. The result was absolutely delightful.
It was time for us in the audience to join with the choir in singing Ding Dong! Merrily on High. As we progressed, the men in the choir supported us with rhythmic Ding Dongs.
A little child there is yborn had a joyous piano backing while the male and female voices went from one to another. Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of Away in a manger had an attractive new tune. In the final verse, the female voices decorated the music with their descanting.
We were ready to join in singing God rest you merry, gentlemen followed by Philip Ledger’s The Bell Carol which had a particularly attractive melody sung beautifully by the choir. Scots Nativity by Alan Bullardwas gentle with rocking lullaby sounds at the end of the verses.
To complete the first half of the concert, we returned to what we had at the beginning, with Vivaldi. Domine fili unigenite (Lord, only begotten son) had a magnificent piano introduction followed by strong well balanced singing once again from the choir.
The second half of the concert opened with the audience joining the choir in Joy to the world. This was followed by John Hearne’s carol There’s a song in the air sung a cappella that is to say unaccompanied by the choir. The rich full coloured harmonies were delivered with the proper enthusiasm that made this piece one of the real highlights of the performance.
We were back again in the world of Bob Chilcott with his arrangement of The Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night, all Christians sing) The melody was familiar but Chilcott had given it a jaunty rhythm which brought it up to date splendidly – a great performance by the choir.
It was time again for the audience to join the choir in We three Kings. This was followed by Old Christmas returned, the song which celebrated the Christmas table with mince pies, capons and roast beef.
John Rutter’s Candlelight Carol, one of his best, had a gentle flowing and seductive melody. The concert in full was not to conclude with Vivaldi so his third piece Cum sancto spiritu was brought in before the last three pieces. Vivaldi’s final piece was made to sound like pealing bells by the chorus.
Silver Bells and It’s the most wonderful time of the year is really show music and I was surprised by how marvellously well the Stonehaven Chorus took to these pieces, with exactly the right vim and verve. The explosive applause from the audience must have told them how well they had done.
The concert did not close with these pieces, instead they sang unaccompanied Ralph Jamieson’s setting of Auld Lang Syne. This is a happy and celebratory piece of course, but on this occasion there was a veil of sadness behind it because it was performed in memory of three very loyal and much loved members of the choir who had died this last year. An extra sheet in the programme contained their pictures. They were Margaret Hutchison, Mae Kasim and Don French. Perhaps they are singing in a very different choir these days?
ALAN COOPER