How's that for an alliterative title? Another soggy and windy afternoon an the Isle of Wight, and my Mum happened to be in the Cantata Choir Christmas concert at Medina Theatre to which I had agreed to attend. Stupidly I hadn't bought a ticket, but they hadn't sold out. While waiting in the box office queue, a chap came in and asked if anyone was buying a single ticket as he had a spare. I said yes, but sadly had no cash on me so couldn't help. No body else was interested so he turned round, said 'Happy Christmas' and gave me the ticket! What a lovely man. I have no idea who he was.
The concert itself was reasonably well attended. The choir performed the following songs:
- Gaudete (Anon. 16th century)
- Shepherd's Cradle Song ( K. Leuner)
- A Winter's Night (C. McDowell)
- Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day (J. Gardner)
- The Little Road to Bethlehem (M. Head)
- The Colours of Christmas (J. Rutter)
- Jingle Bells (J. Pierpont)
I particularly enjoyed the first two and A Winter's Night, although all were lovely. The choir were sometimes accompanied by a brass and percussion ensemble (two trumpets, a trombone, a French Horn and a Tuba), and/ or a piano. The ensemble also performed twice with a variety of Christmas arrangements.
The audience, as is traditional at this biannual concert, were expected to join in with some of the more well known carols such as Once in Royal David's City, and Good King Wenceslas. We were also encouraged to join in the descant parts if we knew them. So I did. My apologies to those around me as I am getting warbley in my middle age. Lovely way to spend a wet December afternoon.
