Ensembles join forces in festive merrymaking

Beenham Wind Orchestra and Cecilia Consort Christmas Concert

at St John’s Church, Newbury

on Sunday, December 8

Review by FIONA BENNETT

WEST Berkshire’s music fans flocked to St John’s Church, Newbury, to hear two of the county’s most popular ensembles perform together.

Beenham Wind Orchestra and The Cecilia Consort joined forces to bring us all our Christmas favourites and it really was an uplifting afternoon of festive musicmaking.

Beenham Wind Orchestra sounded fabulous in the lovely acoustic of this stunning church and the bass instruments, in particular, sounded amazing, cutting beautifully through the overall sound throughout.

A slightly smaller Cecilia ensemble than usual was on top form, under the direction of their long standing musical director Janet Coxwell and it was a real treat to hear them in the run up to Christmas.

Tunesmith John Rutter featured during both halves of the concert and the audience loved Star Carol, All The Stars Looked Down and the Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, the final one showing off the choir’s amazing accompanist Steve Bowey to perfection with its frilly, fast moving piano part.

There was plenty of audience participation as we stood to sing several of our favourite carols and a very funny version of The Twelve Days of Christmas, complete with actions. We copied the choir during this one and watching them mimic Six Geese alaying is something I won’t forget in a hurry!

In among the fast, fun pieces, there were a few magical highlights too. Coventry Carol with its ominous undertones, never fails to move me; the choir’s performance was very special indeed and Last Silent Noel never fails to bring tears to my eyes, two touching and beautifully performed pieces.

Victoria Benjamin brought out the best in her orchestra and the overall sound was full and majestic. The choir opened the well-known 16th century carol Gaudete and a wonderfully boisterous and lusty sounding orchestra took over the reins from Verse 2 onwards. Victoria gave the horn section a well-deserved ‘stand up’ at the end.

David Lovrien’s Minor Alterations is nothing short of genius and hearing all the well-known Christmas tunes in minor keys with some hilarious lyrics is laugh-out-loud funny, we loved it.

Showstoppers included Stephen Bulla’s The Proclamation of Christmas (a brilliant way to close the first half) and the Trepak and Troika medley was a huge hit too. No Christmas concert would be complete without Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride with Andy Smets’ impressive trumpet horse whinny ringing out from the back of the orchestra to make us smile.

These joint concerts work so well.

Congratulations to Janet, Victoria, CC and BWO – a very special afternoon indeed.