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Our Christmas Concert, Amid The Falling Snow, was held on 14th December 7.30pm at St. Nicholas Church, Warwick, where we raised £1,800 for New Chapters, our chosen charity for 2024.
Joining us in concert were:
Musical Director: Kieron Howe who has a long list of musical achievements and commitments, and the choir is so fortunate ‘he took us on’ in 2022.
Pianist: Roger Haygreen, our accompanist since 2010. Like Kieron he has a long list of musical achievements and we don’t know what we would do without him!
Flute: Sophie Robertson who plays flute in North Leamington Wind Band, Warwickshire County Wind Band, the recent Swan Youth Orchestra course and more.
Pianist: Julie Edwards an accomplished musician who directs and plays for Southam Melodymakers and is the accompanist for a number of singing groups.
Singing Group: Singing for Fun run by Kieron and set up in 2017 as a new enterprise of Warwickshire County Council’s Adult & Community Learning Team. It provides wonderful musical, health-giving and bonding experiences with a membership of at least 30.
Clarinet: Peter Wimpenny, a member of Village Voices and multi-instrument soloist and folk band player.
Below are some recordings from the concert:
Village Voices
Amid the Falling Snow Words: Roma Ryan, Music: Enya & Nicky Ryan
Ding Dong! Merrily on High 16th century French melody, arr. Peter Hunt
Village Voices and Singing for Fun
Te Harinui – Christmas song from New Zealand Willow Mack, arr. Wendy Sergeant
Village Voices
Coventry Carol 16th century English, arr. Martin Shaw
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol Words and music by John Rutter
Village Voices and Singing for Fun
Gaudete Piae Cantiones, 1582
Village Voices
Love Came Down Words: Cristina Rosetti, Music: Craig McLeish
Away in a Manger 19th century American, Melody: W.J Kirkpatrick
Winter Waltz Based on the poem Winter Waltz by Christy Ann Martine, Music: Wendy Sergeant
On the evening of Saturday 9th November at the Spa Centre, Village Voices took part in the moving and reflective act of remembrance known as Warwick District Remembers.
The choir’s repertoire for the Concert included:
Siyahamba, *National Anthem, Something Inside So Strong, This is Home, Harbour,
*Rule Britannia (chorus), *Nearer my God to Thee, Shores of Normandy, Greater Love,
*Jerusalem and *I Vow to Thee my Country. *Denotes audience participation songs.
Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and our accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for enabling the choir to perform so effectively. Also many thanks to all those behind the scenes, who worked so hard before, during and after the event.
The choir singing Harbour:
The evening was organised by Adrian Barton and was a mixture of music, poetry, pageantry and religious service that was a fitting homage to remember those who have given their lives in various conflicts.
There is no glory in war and this event did not glorify war. It was an act of remembrance for those who died. Those who find themselves embroiled in conflict do not necessarily do so out of choice, yet their lives come to an abrupt, inglorious end in some far-flung part of the world. Those of us who benefit from their ultimate sacrifice have little to give in return. All we can give to them is remembrance.
On Saturday 20th July 7.30pm at Dale Street Methodist Church, Leamington CV32 5HL Village Voices presented a concert to a packed audience in aid of the local charity New Chapters, which included:
Movements from Zimbe! – Alexander L’Estrange,
Adiemus – Karl Jenkins,
Sing Gently – Eric Whitacre,
Greater Love – Ireland,
Locus Iste – Bruckner,
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton,
Something Inside So Strong – Labi Siffre.
As Alexander L’Estrange turns 50, Karl Jenkins turns 80, and Anton Bruckner would have been 200, Village Voices celebrated some of their fabulous music with space for celebration and reflection.
We also remembered the 110th anniversary of the start of WWI and the 80th anniversary of D-Day with John Ireland’s music setting the words ‘Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.
We invited the audience to bathe in the beautiful sounds of Eric Whitacre’s Sing Gently and finished the concert back in Africa with Labi Siffre’s empowering Something Inside So Strong.
Those attending were also captivated by the amazingly talented brothers: Edouard Scherer on alto saxophone and Martin Scherer on Euphonium, who added an extra musical dimension to the evening.
Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for making the evening such a resounding success.
Also many thanks to all those behind the scenes, including those who prepared the raffle prizes and sold tickets; provided the delicious refreshments and the catering team; and those who moved all the furniture before and after the concert.
Not forgetting those who organised the concert and created and distributed the publicity material.
Finally, many thanks to Dale Street Methodist Church for allowing us to use their lovely venue.
Below are some recordings from the concert:
This is Home by Sophia Efthimiou
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton arr. Roger Emerson
Something Inside So Strong by Labi Siffre arr. Jonathan Wikeley
Siyahamba & Freedom is Coming Traditional arr. Alexander L’Estrange
Sing Gently by Eric Whitacre
Roses of Picardy lyrics by Fred E. Weatherley music Haydn Wood arr. Peter Irvine
Greater Love Hath No Man by John Ireland
Locus Iste by Anthon Bruckner
Adiemus by Karl Kenkins
I will Sing with the Spirit by John Rutter
At the start of our choir session on Thursday evening 16th May, Irene, who had requested we support the local charity Rufus’ Friends’ Fund in 2023, presented a cheque for £4,325 on behalf of the choir to representatives of the charity.
Members of the choir sang at Galanos House in Southam. The care home is exclusively for the Armed Services community and the choir was invited to perform a number of their favourite pieces of music, old and not so old, for residents and family at the home.
We had a lovely response to our performance, we even had some of the audience dancing to our version of Rock around the Clock!
Village Voices and guests held a ‘Spring Sing’ Concert on Saturday 23rd March at 7.30pm St Nicholas Church, Radford Semele, which raised £1,125 in aid of the local charity New Chapters.
The packed audience was entertained by a variety of popular songs – old and newish – and enjoyed listening to the wonderful soloists Abby Taylor and Eva Hope, plus a rare public appearance of the Front Room Attic Band, with special guest Peter Wimpenny on banjo and saxophone. Please click on the link below for the full programme details.
Very many thanks to our musical director, Kieron Howe and accompanist, Roger Haygreen, for making the evening such a resounding success.
Also many thanks for all those behind the scenes, including those who prepared the raffle prizes and sold tickets; Top Nosh for providing the delicious refreshments and the catering team; and those who moved all the furniture before and after the concert.
Not forgetting those who organised the concert and created and distributed the publicity material.
Finally, many thanks to St Nicholas Church for allowing us to use their lovely venue.
We have one video from the concert, Kiss from a Rose:
Below are some audio recordings of the concert:
Village Voices
Wind Beneath My Wings by Harry Henley & Jeff Soilbar Arr. Roger Emerson
When I’m 64 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Kiss from a Rose by Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel Arr. Timothy Allen
Can You Feel the Love Tonight Music Elton John, Lyrics Tim Rice Arr. Keith Christopher
Front Room Attic Band & Village Voices
Wagon Wheel by Bob Dylan & Ketch Secor of the Old Crow Medicine Show
Slow Train by Hans Theessink
Singing The Blues by Melvin Endsley
Village Voices
Sloop John B Traditional Bahamas folksong Arr. Gwyn Arch
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Arr. Roger Emerson
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle
Believer by Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Sermon, Benjamin McKee, Daniel Platzman, Justin Tranter, Mattias Larsson & Robon Fredricksson Arr. Mark Brymer
The Choir + Peter Wimpenny on Sax, Roger Haygreen on piano, Ian Moore on Bass Guitar & Nigel Hulme on Drums
Rock Around the Clock by Mac C Freedman & Jimmy De Knight Arr. Geoff Funk
Southam Melody Makers held a very successful concert at St James Church, Southam on Saturday 16th March. Guest performers included the Ukaladies, North Leamington Wind Band and the Windmill Singers.
Also a number of soloists entertained a packed audience, including Evie Howe, Hannah McCubbin, Jayne Dalley-Hewer, and Pam Miller read her own very amusing poems!
All of the above joined in a rousing finale – Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
The concert raised over £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.
On Thursday 21st December 2023 Village Voices sang at a festive evening of joyous carols in the beautiful Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, Guy’s Cliffe.
The audience joined the choir in classic Christmas tunes and listened to haunting new ones, some not heard before.
On Saturday evening the 16th December 2023 at St. Nicholas Church, Warwick, Village Voices with Southam Melody Makers held their ‘Ding Dong Merrily’ Christmas Concert in support of the charity Rufus’ Friends’ Fund. £1,800 was raised for the charity, including Southam Melody Makers generous contribution.
The packed audience enjoyed a varied programme of well-known and not so well-known Christmas music, including pieces by the talented young violinist Kateryna Pratsovyta.
Kateryna also joined Elena Mitsuk and Kieron Howe as soloists singing the beautiful traditional Ukrainian Carol, V Vyfleyemi Novyna (There is News in Bethlehem), arranged by Kieron.
The audience also joined Southam Melody Makers and Village Voices in singing some traditional Christmas songs.
Very many thanks to Kieron Howe, musical director of Village Voices, for making the evening such a special occasion, as did Helen Pugh, accompanying the choir and similarly, Julie Edwards director and accompanist of Southam Melody Makers.
The evening also included some readings by members from both choirs.
Also many thanks to all who helped behind the scenes, including those who moved all the furniture into place, who prepared the raffle prizes and sold tickets, who generously provided food and drink for refreshments and those who served them up and cleared away. Not forgetting all those who organised the concert and provided publicity material.
Below are YouTube links to a number of videos recorded during the concert by Southam Melody Makers:
Perspice Christicola unknown c.1250
The Lamb, Ding Dong Merrily & A Winter’s Tale The Lamb John Taverner words by William Blake, Ding Dong Merrily words George Ratcliff Woodward music Jehan Tabourot arr. Peter Hunt & A Winter’s Tale Mike Batt & Tim Rice
V Vyfleyemi Novyna There is News in Bethlehem trad. arr. Kieron Howe
Mary Did You Know? arr. Roger Emerson words and music by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene
We Wish You a Merry Christmas trad. arr. Alexander L’Estrange
And finally some audio recordings of the concert:
The Lamb
Ding Dong Merrily
Winter’s Tale
V Vyfleyemi Novyna
Mary Did You Know?