This very ambitious concert featured the full Magnificat in five parts, including the four Lauds in both German and Latin.

The concert was opened by Toccata and Fugue in D minor by JS Bach, played on the organ by William Thallon. This free and rhapsodic piece from the 17th Century featured arpeggios and fast-moving semiquavers followed by a more sudious and strict fugue.

The men performed Veni, Veni, Emmanuel written by our very own Claire Radd. Claire had rehearsed the men for this and the Magnificat.

The choir performed two Rutter compositions: The Lord Bless You and Keep You, and Candlelight Carol.

Our soloist Vicki Roberts sang The Annunciation, an original piece by Jon, our Musical Director which he wrote for advent in 1978 for student voices at the catholic school at which he was teaching at the time.

Local musicians Simone Reid, Michelle Koster and Mary Perry played the Concerto for two recorders and flute in G by J Groneman.

An ambitious concert of music ancient and modern which we were delighted to perform to a large audience in All Saints Church, Wellingborough.

Well, we’re professionals now!

Last weekend Earls Barton Music put on a vocal training course for members, run by the fantastic Kate Eckersley and Joanne Hanson, vocal coaches from Sussex.

35 members attended the course which started with a Friday evening class where we were introduced to some techniques and singing tips and one or two new songs. The course continued bright and early Saturday morning up until lunchtime, when we shared a buffet lunch, and ended with a brief performance to family and friends at 3pm.

We learnt about breathing, range, diction, intonation and were introduced to a varied selection of music:

• ‘Missa ‘cum jubilo’ (12th century) and ‘Veni veni, Emanuel (13th century)
• ‘Happy together’ – a 1960’s song
• A spoken piece
• ‘Hashivenu’, an Israeli folk song
• ‘Vine and fig-tree’, another Israeli piece
• ‘Wondrous love’, a hymn from the 19th century
• ‘Tandem’ by Alan Simmons – a humourous piece in two parts

Kate and Joanne were great coaches and brought a great wealth of experience and music history and theory which made the course interesting as well as useful.

If you weren’t able to attend the course this time but would be interested then please do let us know as we may try to run another.