The Somerset Choral Society were delighted to be part of the 2019 Wedmore Arts Festival at St Mary’s Church, Wedmore on Saturday 11th May when they presented a programme of “Music for a Summer Evening” in conjunction with the talented young local violinist Poppy McGhee. An audience of around 200 came and enjoyed a splendid evening of varied music making.
In the Five Mystical Songs Vaughan Williams uses the words of the famous metaphysical poet George Herbert and the piece ends with his magnificent setting of the hymn “Let all the world in every corner sing”. Ed chose two pieces from Brahms, the first being his masterful setting of Paul Flemming’s hymn Die Geistliches Lied which is a devotional poem espousing the idea of trusting to the divine for your future. To conclude the first half, Ed selected two choruses from the Requiem by Gabriel Faure the haunting Sanctus with the solo violin playing over the top and in perfect contrast the Libera Me movement with its grounded and visceral Baritone solo sung by Craig Bissex.
After the interval, the Choir sang the second Brahms piece drawn from his German Requiem “How lovely are thy dwellings” which is its central and best known movement. We then welcomed violinist Poppy McGhee accompanied on piano by Matthew Redman. Poppy chose a varied programme with the whole audience in mind. The audience enjoyed the simplicity of Salut d’amour by Edward Elgar, the intensity of The Prokofiev Sonata, the serene beauty of Brahms’s Contemplation and the cheekiness of The Hot Canary by Paul Nero.
This was Ed’s final concert as our Musical Director as he is moving on to pastures new. At the end of the concert and as a token of the Choir’s appreciation of his services, our Chairman Jane Chubb and Secretary Ginny Waters presented Ed with some Dartington Wine Glasses and some bottles of red wine.
Somerset Choral Society 