Summer Concert Review

Our summer concert was a massive success. To show just how good it was, here are reviews from some members of the audience.

The topical programme for Inverurie Choral Society’s Summer Concert was chosen to celebrate the anniversary of VE

Day and the end of WW2, with an imaginative choice of music representing a range of different styles and genres,

under the baton of their new conductor James Campbell and accompanied by Adrian Dean.

The concert began with Pipe Major David Webster leading the choir on to the stage, all dressed in red, white and blue to make a strong opening statement. The scene was set for the evening with the first of 5 musical selections celebrating, not only the emotional power of music in its different forms, but also the breadth and depth of the choir’s abilities. From the exuberance of Andrew Lloyd Webbers ‘Coronation Anthem’, through the jaunty rhythms of Scot Joplin’s ‘Entertainer’ to the quiet peace of John Rutter’s ‘Gift of Music’, the audience was left in no doubt that they were going to experience an evening filled with drama, joy, inspiration and contemplation.

The conductor preceded this, and all the remaining sections, with an entertaining and informative introduction to each piece, placing it in its historical and cultural context. Not only did this increase our understanding and enjoyment of the music, but it also added to the informality and friendly atmosphere that permeated the whole evening.

The second section consisted of 3 Scottish songs progressing from the local Banks of Inverurie to the immortal Robert Burns and a thoughtful performance of ‘A man’s a Man for a’ that’.

Changing direction again, the choir moved on to Stage and Screen with yet more variations in mood, character and volume, from Fiddler on the Roof to a selection of rousing choruses from South Pacific. However, one of the most significant choral triumphs of the evening, for this reviewer at least, was ‘Bring him Home’ from Les Miserables, in which the choir demonstrated their ability to sing very quietly, as one, with no outstanding voices, perfect timing, genuine emotion and consistent pitch. This is never easy and throughout the evening they managed to achieve a blend of sound that remained true whether the music demanded maximum volume or a pianissimo whisper. This quality was demonstrated again in the next section of Sacred music, particularly in ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, with the dramatic change from ‘earthquake, wind and fire’ to the ‘still small voice of calm’.

In each half of the programme, there was an instrumental section in which Ruairidh Gollan played both fiddle and accordion to get everyone’s feet tapping to his strathspeys and reels. The frustration of not being able to get up and dance was almost tangible. The quieter parts of his programme took us the very soul of Scotland where, with eyes

closed, we could feel ourselves on the shores of the islands in total peace.

The final part of the programme, ‘On the Lighter Side’, gave the opportunity for the choir to light up the hall to the rhythms of Boogie Woogie and Swing, ending with a performance in which the conductor laid down his baton and added a bonnet to become a soloist, albeit of dubious lineage, in a performance from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Yeomen of the Guard. To send everyone home with a song in their heads and hearts, the audience joined a musical tour of Scotland’s best known songs, ending appropriately with the Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen.

In summary, this first concert with their new conductor has confirmed that the choir is in good hands and we can all look forward with great anticipation to their next performance in 6 months’ time.

At the beginning of the programme, the choir sang the following words by John Rutter:

May your soul have the gift of music, may your heart be inspired with song

May the echoes remain in your memory, like a friendship that lasts your life long .

By the end of the evening, their mission had been accomplished.

I enjoyed the concert, with not even a hint of falling asleep again! I felt that some  bits were exceptional and showed real quality singing.  So many amateur choirs that I have joined or listened to have had one or two voices (usually sopranos) that stood out, especially in the quiet sections and that never happened on Saturday. It was always soft and clear and together.   I thought I had better say something about the Yeomen of the Guard, given James’ role,  but felt it was the weakest part of the evening.  Overall though your new conductor came over well (if a tad OTT with the white tie and tails and the costume change in the interval)  and I enjoyed his introductions – they did place the music in context and added some humour to the evening.  I think they were generally well received by the people I spoke to.  As I said before, I thought the content of the programme was inspired – just the right mix and the right length.