Bexhill Choral Society;

St Barnabas, Bexhill, 7 December 2019

Even Scrooge would have warmed to Christmas with this presentation.  It was a delightful mixture of the familiar, and not too familiar Carols, but with originality too. Yes, you may have to read that twice – I will explain later.  But for now, it definitely wasn’t the all too familiar Carol Concert.  It was different and fun. Conductor Ken Roberts put together a splendidly varied programme.  Ken has a particular sense of humour evident in his talks and presentation.   The familiar Carols were sung by the choir paying attention to dynamics, crisp or melodious when needed.  There were several choir pieces that were unfamiliar, ‘Presentation of Christ in the Temple’, ‘Resonemus Laudibus’ and ‘Ring out Wild Bells’. These must have had their difficulties but the choir seemed to have mastered them.  Sussannah  Appleyard has a very light distinctive easy-to-listen to soprano voice and she entertained us enchantingly with six pieces. One extra than the programme, but it was welcome.  I particularly liked ‘Winter’ (words by Shakespeare) and it was obvious she did too.  The Cinque Ports Brass Ensemble accompanied the choir, but unfortunately, and naturally as is brass bands want, perhaps a little too loudly at times.  But you could not fault their talent and enthusiasm, and it added forgivably, to the Christmas ‘feel’.   The very talented Nigel Howard gave support on Organ and piano.  Conductor Ken Roberts, so he told us, had been on a Cruise to the Caribbean and had met with a band. This inspired him to set some familiar Carols as Calypsos. It was a delightful arrangement and was the originality I wrote of above. Ken also accompainied ‘Frosty the Snowman’ with his saxophone, which delighted and entertained the audience immensely. On a sour note, the audience participation had all the gusto of a left over sprout. I looked around me at one point and observed great hulking men who would, I am sure with the right lubrication, sing loudly and raucously, but who were closed mouthed. It is such a pity we no longer sing.  With that audience we could have raised the roof. Oh, and I did like the anti-secular insertion of readings from St. Luke’s Gospel, but then of course I would.  I am biased. Thanks to all who took part in a delightful entertaining  ‘Christmas’ evening. Revd Bernard Crosby