MICHAEL DRAKE Norfolk's Jay Singers and the Cecilian Singers from Leicester conjoined to great choral effect at Wymondham Abbey.
MICHAEL DRAKE
As director of the two choirs, it was logical that former Kings Singer Jeremy Jackman should arrange a coming together of the voices and on Saturday the 40 or so members of Norfolk's Jay Singers and the Cecilian Singers from Leicester conjoined to great choral effect at Wymondham Abbey.
In the work around which the programme was planned, Josef Rheinberger's glorious Mass in E flat, clear sopranos, rock-like basses and overall balance in the opening Kyrie made instant impact.
The Cecilian have a depth and animation in a beautifully warm ensemble — Stanford's Blue Bird, a test for so many choirs, being quite stunning and the marriage of Indian and western “scales” in a piece commissioned by them was persuasive in its rhythms.
The Jays neatly placed Scarboro' Fair and real musical painting in a movement from the Wymondham Choruses completed an entente which was extremely cordiale.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here