June 29th, 7-00pm
We have a lovely selection of pieces in the programme for this year; a mix of styles, from classical to contemporary, film music, and modern.
Here's a selection: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Adiemus (Carl Jenkins), Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart), Imagine (John Lennon), Bright Eyes (Watership Down), Best of Abba, A Gaelic Blessing (Rutter), and The Rose (Bette Midler version).
July 13th, 7-00pm
We have a lovely selection of pieces in the programme for this year; a mix of styles, from classical to contemporary, film music, and modern.
Here's a selection: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Adiemus (Carl Jenkins), Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart), Imagine (John Lennon), Bright Eyes (Watership Down), Best of Abba, A Gaelic Blessing (Rutter), and The Rose (Bette Midler version).
Darren Everhart could be a comedian in a different incarnation. Donning the figurative fez of a raconteur and bon viveur, as all good conductors are wont to do, the renowned Musical Director joshed his audience in the manner of Tommy Cooper as he pulled several percussive ‘instruments’ from a box, for individual participants to shake and rattle in accompaniment with the lighter sections of Saturday's programme of delights
And the effortless bonhomie complemented a suite of musical pieces whose range was as seductive as it was colourful. Selected and curated by Everhart, the concert’s inventory erred, for the most part, on the side of celebration and reflection, which was fitting for a performance dedicated to the twilight of a ‘Summer’s evening’.
Voices of Craven, the local choir whose reach massively exceeds the limitations of its grasp, were in elevated form in a performance of unbridled enthusiasm. Perhaps best expressed in a song the choir has performed on several occasions – Paul Simon’s Bridge Over Troubled Water – the unity of collective purpose became abundantly clear in direct proportion to the commitment of individual engagement. Greater than the sum of its parts, the received effect was profoundly moving because the choristers are so intimately involved in the transfiguring of the song’s emotional heart. Ola Gjeilo’s transcription of the words of Christina Rossetti in The Rose was worked to hypnotic effect earlier in the concert with a beautiful choral rendering, whose oceanic rise and fall, measured seamlessly in the sustained undercurrent of keyboard phrasing by Ellie Everhart, led the audience towards a kind of infinity. The sense of enjoyment was palpable. Voices of Craven’s relishing of popular classics and ballads is one substrate of an obvious affiliation for the music. Not least in the unashamedly upbeat fatalism of Carly Simon’s Let the River Run - where the volume of massed voices nearly overwhelmed the breathtaken listener - the anthemic perennial You Raise Me Up and a deeply affecting reading of Over the Rainbow, whose chiming of faint melancholy hung in the evening like a reminder of something lost. The choir hit the ground running with a vigorous and energetic performance of Schubert’s Gloria, from the Mass in G, which included an emphatic turn by Voices of Craven Soprano soloist, Joan Horsfield, who was given leave to soar by the resonant counterpoint of Richard Williams' deep Bass tones.
If evidence were needed of internationally-acclaimed guest Soprano, Sarah Fox's, range and skill, the authority of the Gloria was followed by a subtle yet controlled rendering of Mozart’s iconic Laudate Dominum. Fox, who hails from Giggleswick and is a generous benefactor to local musical endeavours, is a masterful purveyor of mood, here bringing melancholic pacing to Jerome Kern’s classic Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and unexpected gravitas to Till There Was You. The sense of enjoyment was palpable The playing of the Vine Quartet, who have supported Voices of Craven severally in the past, was nimble and on-point throughout. Elgar’s gorgeously evocative diptych - Chanson du Matin and Chanson de Nuit, spanned either side of the interval - was expressed with eloquence and fine attention to momentum, before the musical ‘clans’ gathered for an uplifting finale, with excerpts from Haydn’s Creation. A return to the fore for some of VOC’s resonant soloists, it would be a hard heart that wasn’t overcome in the tsunami of voice, strings and keyboard.
Darren Everhart’s sense of inclusivity aggrandizes the non-singers amongst us, and it is a tribute to the purveyor of rattles, washboards and tambourines that he should choose to end a gorgeous evening with an audience-participation version of the evergreen roof-shaker, Jerusalem
The ghost of Hubert Parry couldn’t have been happier.
The event, which was fully booked, saw the choir singing a wide range of Christmas music, traditional and modern, as well as showcasing the accompanist, Mike Nicholas, as he performed two solo sets. There was also the opportunity for diners to show of their own singing skills with some traditional communal carol singing.
As this was the
The event, which was fully booked, saw the choir singing a wide range of Christmas music, traditional and modern, as well as showcasing the accompanist, Mike Nicholas, as he performed two solo sets. There was also the opportunity for diners to show of their own singing skills with some traditional communal carol singing.
As this was the first of three Christmas concerts for the choir, it was heartening to receive so many glowing comments.
'Stunning singing.’
'A wonderful programme, beautifully performed.'
‘ The singers looked to be having as much fun as we were.’
‘A perfect start to the festive season.’
There was a real air of excitement as the wonderful Settle Victoria Hall, beautifully decorated and lit for Christmas, filled to capacity with enthusiastic concert-goers. There could hardly be a more festive backdrop to a Christmas event than this gorgeous Music Hall with coloured lights twinkling on brass instruments and on the sequins o
There was a real air of excitement as the wonderful Settle Victoria Hall, beautifully decorated and lit for Christmas, filled to capacity with enthusiastic concert-goers. There could hardly be a more festive backdrop to a Christmas event than this gorgeous Music Hall with coloured lights twinkling on brass instruments and on the sequins of lady choir members and see above 'Five Gold Rings'.
This was a concert to remember, with a diverse programme, ranging from the band’s wistful and evocative rendering of ‘The Coventry Carol’ , the choir’s bouncing performance of ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ to the Bavarian delights of ‘Schneewalzer’ played by the band and accompanied by the choir singing in German, all ably supported by the enthusiastic audience who threw themselves into the action, having already partridged-in-a-pear tree, turtle-doved , milked and danced with the choir’s ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’.
Coming to a close with communal carols and the stunning ‘A Christmas Festival’ by Leroy Anderson, performed by band and choir, this was a concert enjoyed by all, and one which will be repeated.
The audience again left this magical evening of music with the following wonderful comments for the performers.
‘ What a gorgeous combination of voices and instruments.’
‘Perfect Christmas programme.’
‘Fabulous to hear the band and the choir together.’
'A fun-filled evening.’
‘Can we book for next year?’
'Really enjoyed last night. You all sounded brilliant and who doesn't love a brass band!!'
One of the great joys of the festive season is spending time with family, friends and neighbours, sharing the joy of Christmas. This sentiment was certainly at the heart of the Christmas concert held at Gargrave Village Hall on December 21st.
As our audience arrived, we noticed that nearly all were sporting festive jumpers, antlers
One of the great joys of the festive season is spending time with family, friends and neighbours, sharing the joy of Christmas. This sentiment was certainly at the heart of the Christmas concert held at Gargrave Village Hall on December 21st.
As our audience arrived, we noticed that nearly all were sporting festive jumpers, antlers and sparkly accessories. There was even a Christmas tree hat and a very fetching elf. That was just the adult audience members - the children had also gone to town on their outfits and were clearly ready for the fun.
It was another marvellous evening. Along with a varied festive programme from the choir, our accompanist, Mike Nicholas, also performed two beautiful solo sets to a very appreciative audience. The first half concluded with a lively rendition of Schneewalzer, with the audience joining in to create a truly Bavarian atmosphere.
Fortified with mulled wine and mince pies, the audience returned after the interval in great voice and really raised the roof singing carols and festive songs with the choir. With sleigh bells ringing and smiles on every face, the last hour of a very busy concert season was certainly an absolute joy for everyone.
To bring the evening to a close, the children were rewarded with selection boxes for their beautiful rendition of ‘Away in A Manger’. Not to be outdone, the adults also received goodies for their fantastic fancy dress.
We were delighted to have ended our Christmas season with such a special event, and, from the comments received subsequently, it was clearly a very popular start to the Christmas week.
Another sell out concert held at The Town Hall at Skipton
Following on from the success of the concert at Skipton Town Hall Voices of Craven then performed a very well attended concert at Saint Alkelda's, Giggleswick.