Local choir raises roof in Pevensey

Fortunately their performance in St Nicholas Church, Pevensey, on the evening of January 23rd, soon demonstrated that the title was well-deserved.

During the ten months or so since tenor Richard Long brought the group into being, they have achieved a remarkable standard under their talented conductor Ansy Boothroyd.

The word had got round, as tends to happen in the musical world of Eastbourne; and a large audience braved the unlit car-park and damp, rutted approach to the church for a brilliantly-conceived concert of a cappella singing.

Ten female voices, seven male; nothing more!

Three settings of O Magnum Mysterium displayed Noteworthy Voices at their finest. Victoria’s Spanish setting from the sixteenth century contrasted with Poulenc’s and Lauridsen’s from the twentieth.

A well-planned printed programme was a model for others to follow: a card “outer” gave such vital facts as the singers’ names, with a flimsy “inner” offering brief summaries of every item and composer.

An easy choice might have been to perform one lengthy work; but I was delighted to hear so many short examples of music by Grieg, Cornelius, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Warlock, Howells, Poston, Tavener and Walton, among others less well-known. This ensured that we could all take home a few favourite memories.

Throughout, the musical balance was well-maintained. Two singers (Zoe Harris and Ray Williams) had brief solo spots; and there’s no doubt that Ansy Boothroyd (herself a soprano who will be singing as soloist with the Phoenix Choir shortly) had, on the evidence of this concert, moulded a fine new musical treat for us all to enjoy in the future. Not surprising, really, as she is also a potter.

- Noteworthy Voices is a small choir formed in 2015 by Richard Long, an experienced chorister of many years, to explore the heritage of choral music available. Their next performance is likely to be May 7 when the choir plan to present another mixed programme ranging from Robert Pearsall to composers such as Debussy, Poulenc and Britten. Please check www.noteworthyvoices.co.uk for details.