2010 March Music
Shannon Express - Karibuni - Olivet To Calvary
On Saturday March 27th at 7.30pm, Shannon Express, the 40 to 50 strong award winning Male Close Harmony Chorus from Potton in Bedfordshire presented a four part close harmony concert of great songs and great voices.
This was part of the fund-raising programme for the community centre. To listen to them, go to their website www.shannonexpress.org.uk.
Derrick Matthews, Music Director at the church wrote the following review:
AWARD WINNING MALE VOICE CHORUS PACKS THE CHURCH
On a recent Saturday evening, one of Britain’s leading Male Voice Close Harmony Chorus’s, the fifty strong ‘Shannon Express’ delighted a large audience with an entertaining vocal concert, resonating in the fine acoustics of Aylesbury Methodist Church.
Last year, just four singers presented a Barbershop Quartet concert at this venue. The audience were enthralled, thus prompting the organisers to invite them back, but this time bringing the rest of their chorus with them.
‘Shannon Express’, the name they derived from a private railway near to there base in Bedfordshire, was founded in 1978. Widely travelled, they have grown in size and status to become Gold Medal winners on two occasions, twice representing
Smartly dressed in dinner jackets and bow ties, they presented a programme of popular music impeccably sung in close harmony, befitting the traditional ‘barbershop’ style. The sheer pleasure which they emanated and their choreographed actions captivated the audience who responded to each item with rousing applause.
Every one of the twenty four songs in their programme had universal appeal including such favourites as ‘I’m singing on top of the world’, ‘Paper Moon’, and ‘Taking a chance on love’. Of particular note were ‘Zing went the strings of my heart’ for its exuberant presentation and ‘Softly I will leave you’ which was beautiful harmonic perfection!
‘Barbershop’ is unaccompanied singing characterised by a strong lead taking the melody line with the tenor part harmonising above. The baritone and bass sing below the melody line to complete the harmonic structure. The four part split can be applied whether within a large chorus, an octet or quartet. On this occasion, each aspect was marvellously demonstrated.
Conducting of the chorus was shared between three of
Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces as they departed, was proof of an excellent musical evening enjoyed by both chorus and audience alike.
MUSIC TO CHARITY'S EARS
The Buckingham Street church wasthe venue for two other great music events in March, namely a concert for the Karibuni Trust, and a Circuit service for Passiontide...
On Saturday March 6th at 7.30pm the talented young musicians aged 14 to 18 from the Aylesbury Music Centre's Flute Choir and Quartets presented a concert and raised over £600 in aid of the Karibuni Trust. Founded by Rev. Bill and Joy Murphy and daughter Corinne, this charity funds work amongst the street children of Kenya. (Click here for the Karibuni website).
On Passion Sunday March 21st at 6.00pm an augmented choir from Circuit churches under the direction of Chris Beattie presented J H Maunder's Olivet to Calvary. This was a performance of the Sacred Cantata 'Olivet to Calvary' by J H Maunder. It was performed by a large choir made up of members of the Methodist Circuit churches together with friends from other local choirs and churches. It was conducted and directed by local music teacher, Chris Beattie. Soloists were Jonathan Todd, Bob Davies and Fiona Prescott.
'Olivet to Calvary' is a musical act of worship for Passiontide, depicting the story of Christ from the entry in to Jerusalem to his death upon the cross. The congregation participated in the singing of hymns interspersed with the choral singing. The worship was led by the Rev David Jenkins, minister of the church. There was no admission charge, but an offertory for ROPE, The charity for the Relief of Oppressed People Everywhere raised over £300.
The service was recorded and a CD is being produced. To express interest please email Brenda Horne (brendaj.horne@googlemail.com) or telephone: (01296) 428580.