Photographs by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click on images to enlarge
Following the invite of Cirencester Male Voice Choir to sing with them, about 50 choristers and musical team of Caldicot Male Voice Choir made their way through the rolling Cotswold countryside to the so-called cathedral of the Cotswolds. the wonderful St John Baptist church in medieval Cirencester town centre. 12th century St John Baptist church is one of the largest churches in the country and boasts a fine South porch built in 1500 and a tower erected in 1400. The St Catherine Chapel originally built in 1150 includes a wall painting of St Christopher carrying the Christ-child.
Cirencester Male Voice Choir was formed in 2009 at the instigation and idea of ex Caldicot chorister Phil Kerton who sang with us in the nineties before moving to Cirencester and have been keen to sing with us for the past two years. We finally made it. The concert was planned to raise funds for the RDA, Riding for the Disabled Association.
Everyone was delighted that the church was full to capacity and the high vaulted ceiling lent itself to creating incredible acoustics right to the back of the church. It’s what makes this an amazing place in which to sing.
Conducted by Jules Addison and accompanied by Thomas Graff, Cirencester Male Voice Choir, with a number of Welshmen in its midst, opened the proceedings with a range of favourites including Stout Hearted Men and Rhythm of Life, firm favourites with many choirs and audiences alike.
The audience was then introduced to the melodic and enchanting sounds of the ladies who form the delightful Blue Belles who sang a range of songs from the worlds of the musical Showboat, cinema and swing in a wonderful ‘A capella’ barber shop style. The Blue Belles, conducted again by Jules Addison got together about eighteen months ago and their first performances were in August last year. With their happy style which delighted the audience, we’re sure we’ll hear more of them.
To round off the first half, Caldicot Male Voice Choir took to the stage and conducted by Shirley Anne James and accompanied by John Nicholson and Stephen Berry, opened with the rousing Welsh hymn Laudamus ‘Bryn Calfaria’ which resounded up to the giddy heights of the vaulted ceiling, around the walls and back again to envelope the audience in the full power of a Welsh Male Voice Choir at its best. Following with the lighter, melodic piece ‘May You Always have a song’ and the harmonic style of Malotte’s ‘Lord’s Prayer’, the choir then enthralled the audience with it’s version of American Trilogy enhanced resoundingly by Stephen Berry playing the church’s magnificent organ.
The second part of the evening commenced with Welsh hymn ‘Gwahoddiad’, On the Street Where you live from the musical ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘ Always on My Mind’ and again bringing the dust down from the rafters with the Charles Welsey’s hymn ‘Morte Criste’ – When I survey the Wond’rous Cross’ with John Nicholson on piano and Stephen Berry once more on the church organ.
The Blue Belles once again delighted us with their interpretations of the Beatles ‘Yesterday’, the humorous ‘Lollipop’ and the all time war-time Vera Lynn classic ‘We’ll meet again’. The ladies were then joined by Cirencester Male Voice Choir in a wonderful rendition of all time classic ‘Unchained Melody’ conducted by Jules.
The host choir then performed favourites ‘When the Saint’s go marchin’ in’ contrasting with ‘Portrait of my love’, the George Harrison composition ‘Something’ and finally ending their performance with the familiar ‘Anthem’ from the musical Chess.
The evening concluded with a finale of the two choirs combining on stage to sing the Verdi ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ – Speed Your Journey. The conjoined choirs, expertly conducted and brought together by Shirley Anne James in an unrehearsed performance showed the level of excellence which can be achieved by two talented Male Voice Choirs to leave the audience in the knowledge that they had enjoyed a special evening.
Host choir chairman, Graham Thorne closed the proceedings by thanking all the participants for a wonderful evening of choral music which has helped enormously to raise money for the chosen charity RDA.
Both choirs and the Blue Belles ladies joined together for refreshments and more impromptu singing in the traditional afterglow at the Vault on the outskirts of Cirencester before making their way home in the early hours knowing that a unique evening was shared by all.
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