"In Dulci Jubilo" - The Church of Our Lady & St. Joseph, Carlisle, Saturday 12th December 2009: details below

"In the Mood" - St. Cuthbert's Church, Carlisle, Saturday 26th September 2009: details below; review

"In Dulci Jubilo" - The Church of Our Lady & St. Joseph, Carlisle, 12th December 2009 - with "Pure Brass"

A selection of Christmas music featuring favourites and less well-known pieces including Gardner's Tomorrow shall be my dancing day" and Byrd's "An earthly tree, a heavenly fruit".

"In the Mood", 26th September 2009 - with Lazy River Jazz Band

I got plenty o' nuttin' (Gerswin) - joint performance (JP)
All the things you are (Kern)
Ain't misbehaving (fatts Waller & Harry Brooks)
Trois Chansons (Ravel: choir only)
Little David play on your harp (arr Sargent)
Lavender's Blue (arr. Langford)
The Drunken Sailor (arr Sund)
Two unaccompanied part songs (Delius)
Sleeptime Bach; Gavotte for Bach (arr Williams, JP)
Bidge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel, JP)
Close to You (Bacharach)
In the Mood (Garland)

Review: "In the Mood", 26th September 2009 - with Lazy River Jazz Band

In probably the first musical event of its kind, two of Carlisle’s music groups joined forces at St Cuthbert’s Church on the 26th September to present a very unusual event. Entitled “In the Mood”, the concert was presented by the Abbey Singers chamber choir, and the Lazy River Jazz Band. Each group is well-known locally in its own field, but the decision to appear and perform together was a bold decision by both, as their different kinds of music would often be thought incompatible.

Subtle and relaxed direction from their leaders, Jeremy Suter for the singers, and Chris Perrin for the band, set the tone for the evening. The programme alternated separate items from the normal repertoire of each group, with more adventurous collaborations. The singers performed two groups of high art choral songs: the band played four sequences of vintage and traditional jazz, and joined the singers for joint performances of three groups of popular standards in a jazz idiom.

The choral singing was well up to the Abbey Singers’ usual high standard, always precise and confident even in the most difficult passages. The Jazz Band created an exciting and energetic sound, full of imagination and good humour. The highlights of the evening were the combined performances, with each member demonstrating fine skill and musicianship, working together in special arrangements which combined the talents and styles of all into a unique mixture of lively rhythm, melody and harmony which left the audience at St Cuthbert’s wanting more.

John Fletcher

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Review: Concert at Crosthwaite Parish Church - June 2009

The Carlisle-based Abbey Singers have been a leading force in North Cumbrian music-making for almost 50 years and, as demonstrated last Saturday in the “Music at Crosthwaite” series, can be guaranteed to attract a large and enthusiastic audience. Under their acclaimed director Jeremy Suter, Master of Music at Carlisle Cathedral, they presented a cleverly planned sequence of choral works by three of the composers whose special anniversaries are being widely celebrated in 2009.

The recital was bounder by two of the large-scale Coronation Anthems composed by Handel (d.1759) to mark the accession of George the Second in 1727. The Singers capturer appropriately both the joyfulness of their opening “Let thy hand be strengthened” and the ceremonial grandeur of their much-loved finale, “Zadok the Priest”. The central pivot of the programme was music by Purcell (b.1659). Two predominantly optimistic anthems, “I was glad”, and the well-known 'Bell Anthem' (“Rejoice in the Lord always”) framed the poignant and sombre 'Funeral Sentence for the death of Queen Mary', which drew from the choir perhaps the most intense singing of the evening.

The Mendelssohn (b.1809) movements, which separated Purcell and Handel in each 'half' of the concert, provided marked contrasts of style and texture. They gave the choir opportunity to display its lyrical prowess and warmth of tone, notably in “How lovely are the messengers” from the oratorio 'St Paul', and in the familiar anthem for soprano and chorus “Hear my Prayer”. In which Mary Miller was the accomplished and compelling soloist. Also expressive soloists were Peter Bowyer and Geoffrey Gray, in the duet “Now we are the ambassadors” - again from 'St Paul'. We heard in addition a shorted choral work by Mendelssohn, “Grant us Peace” which underlined his startlingly early gift and forward-looking idiom.

Throughout the evening the hidden pillar of strength was Crosthwaite's (and formerly the Cathedral’s) organist, Ian Hare, whose virtuosity and understanding of his splendid instrument meant that the Choir was constantly enhanced by the firm rhythm and imaginative colouring of his accompaniments. He also impressed with two organ solos: Handel's sparkling Organ Concerto in F major, and Mendelssohn's truly imposing Sonata No. 3 in A. As the organiser of this series of concerts, which ends with a 'cello and harpsichord recital on 22 July, he is to be warmly congratulated on bring The Abbey Singer to Keswick for our delight.

B.R., For Music at Crosthwaite – The Keswick Reminder

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