Newbury community choir in fine voice to celebrate 10th anniversary

Three Rivers Community Choir 10th Anniversary Concert

at Kennet School, Thatcham,

on Saturday, October 19

Review by DEREK ANSELL

FOR their 10th anniversary concert, the Three Rivers choir were joined by pupils of Kennet School, where choral director Sue Garcia-Sierra is head of performance in music and co-ordinates the school’s extensive extra-curricular music provision.

The choir and the young pupils of the Kennet Chamber Choir joined forces for their reading of Adiemus by Karl Jenkins.

Garcia-Sierra then conducted The Three Rivers choir through Cesar Frank’s sturdy Paris Angelicus.

There was good build up and clean articulation on both these selections as the two choirs blended together effectively.

Next, in stark contrast, was a trip back to the Summer of Love and flowers in your hair with the 1960s California Dreamin’ where The Mamas and The Papas’ John Phillips and Michelle Gilliam sat in a freezing New York apartment in winter, dreaming of the California sunshine and writing this song.

Shoshoke, a traditional Native American folk song, was given a lively treatment, with electric guitar and drums accompanying the voices.

Three Rivers choir chose as their three-selection trio, the old but loved standard Bye Bye Blackbird, Chattanooga Choo Choo, with its Glenn Miller associations, and finally the Second World War favourite in Britain, The White Cliffs Of Dover (There’ll be Bluebirds Over).

But did you know that before Vera Lynn turned it into a wartime victory anthem, it was written by two Americans, Nat Burton and Walter Kent? No, me neither.

There was plenty of variety in this musical programme, with the two choirs well blended together in both soprano and tenor voices.

They were, perhaps, a trifle light on bass and baritone so recruitment of a few men who like singing low might be a good aim.

More contrasts followed when the Three Rivers sang Tchaikovsky’s Crown Of Roses and the chamber choir opted for Viva La Vida by Cold Play.

Smooth harmony and impressive voice control on these two, proving that all styles can live together in a concert for voices like this.

Shake The Earth Below was by local composer BD Tavares and Bridge Over Troubled Water had a suitable gospel feel to it in this performance by the combined choirs.

You’re the Voice by John Farnham was an ideal closer – wild and bright, with voices, clapping, electric guitar and drums, all fusing together in an arrangement by Sue Garcia-Sierra.

There was good solid support from accompanists Christine Evans on piano, Suchita and Tom, pupils at Kennet School.