Newbury’s Cromwell Singers’ £900 Easter gift for Douglas & Helen House children’s hospice

The Cromwell Singers: Easter Blessings at St Mary’s Church, Thatcham, on Saturday, March 23

Review by ALISON DEWAR

A LOVELY afternoon concert in a quietly-inspiring church setting.

Outside, spring’s flowers and sunshine pushed against a sharp late-winter wind. Inside, the Cromwell Singers and guest musicians explored a similarly uplifting theme of hope and rebirth, after first expressing the tragedy of the Easter story.

A credit indeed to musical director Trevor Defferd, whose carefully-curated programme and musical arrangements allowed choir, soloists, accompanist and young musicians to flourish.

Choir highlights were many and varied. Harmonies and dynamics shone, with turn-taking from different voices making even familiar songs special. Sometimes the beauty of the church windows was the only accompaniment this skilful crew needed. At other times, Jevan Johnson Booth provided sensitive piano support.

Three young musicians wove delightful threads: Daisy Harrison on flute and saxophone; Edmund Tyler’s trumpet and Felicity Johnson Booth’s cello. The variety held the audience’s attention, including when invited to join in the chorus of Handel’s Easter hymn Thine Be the Glory. They also tried some gospel finger-clicking.

Songs from musicals are a regular Cromwells’ feature. Most poignant was a trio of Lloyd Webber songs from Jesus Christ Superstar. First, Trevor singing Pilate’s Dream, about the anger of thousands of millions. Charlie Hubber and Archie Watkins expressed the psychological turmoil of Mary and Jesus in I Don’t Know How To Love Him and Gethsemane respectively. Emotional musical theatre of a very high order.

This choir is generous in providing opportunities. Several stepped forward with solos and in small groups. Chrissi Carnie and Pam White excelled memorably with Mendelssohn’s Sonntagsmorgen duet, as did the six who sang Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah with Kelly Mooney’s Easter words.

The ambitious choice of religious music, followed by songs of spring’s rebirth, showed how this choir could be stretched, work with talented young musicians and provide delights for all. They shared the proceeds with charities and community; some funds for the host church, St Mary’s, while a collection and raffle raised £900 for the children’s hospice charity Helen and Douglas House.

These are just some highlights from this concert’s jewels. The Cromwell Singers will glitter again on Sunday, July 7, at Shaw House, Newbury.