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Music directors past and present gather at Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel to celebrate choral society’s 50th anniversary




Pangbourne Choral Society’s 50th Anniversary Gala Concert at The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne College, on Saturday, June 22

Review by PETER HAYWARD

Sara Benbow with PCS
Sara Benbow with PCS

This concert marked a special moment for Pangbourne Choral Society and its evolution into an independent choir reaching out into the wider community, delivering a consistently high standard of performance across a substantial repertoire, spanning all the major choral classics and modern songs. Great achievements for an unauditioned community choir, many of whom start out unable to read music.

This evening’s programme sought to celebrate this broad range, supported by three past music directors, including PCS founder Ralph Allwood, Bob Barsby, and Jonathan Brown, who between them developed PCS from its college roots into a well-established choral ensemble, boasting many successes, and attracting numerous star soloists.

Bob Barsby, Ralph Allwood, and Jonathan Brown, all former Directors of Music of Pangbourne Choral Society
Bob Barsby, Ralph Allwood, and Jonathan Brown, all former Directors of Music of Pangbourne Choral Society

The 107-strong choir included Pangbourne College headmaster Thomas Garnier in his final term and – when they were not conducting – both Ralph Allwood and Jonathan Brown.

It is hard to summarise a programme so rich in variety and choral excellence. Ralph Allwood conducted Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling from The Creation, recalling some of the first pieces ever performed by PCS.

Jonathan Brown conducted his favourite Wie Lieblich from Brahm’s German Requiem and Mendelssohn’s On the Wings of Song, which epitomised this concert. ‘On Wings of Song we send you the best our hearts can give’ could well be the motto of PCS in this homage to the fellowship of community singing.

Sara Benbow, in her first year with PCS, introduced a range of celebratory pieces from Howells’ Jubilate to Bob Chilcott’s Shenandoah, and the American anthem How Can I Keep from Singing, yet again invoking that intense feeling of musical togetherness.

But perhaps the most poignant work was The Call, written for the Narnia movie Prince Caspian. On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, this was dedicated to those Pangbourne students who gave their lives fighting for their country.

The clue to how this fitted into the programme lies in the final lines:

I’ll come back when you call me,
No need to say goodbye.

And that said it all – great singing, very controlled, committed and a great team effort by this choir – underpinned by a strong sense of union which called back music directors and many past members in a wonderful, deeply moving demonstration of the power of singing to promote lasting friendship and a deep sense of belonging. And what better way to end the evening than a roof-lifting performance of Parry’s I was glad, with a further group of past members coming up to enjoy a magical finale.

Ian Busby, founder member with Thomas Garnier headmaster
Ian Busby, founder member with Thomas Garnier headmaster

Apart from Ralph Allwood, there was one current PCS member who was there at the very beginning – Ian Busby, who stood up at the end and encouraged the audience to Come and Sing. Be sure that this choir will do all it can to pass on today’s legacy so that PCS will march on gloriously to its centenary in 2074!

Well done PCS:

No need to say goodbye!



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