Ryton Chorale's church performance hailed as 'wonderful concert'

The Worksop-based choir have been busy practising for the concert under the leadership of Nicholas Thorpe, following their performance of GF Handel’s Messiah in March.

The first half comprised popular choral works, opening with the Cantique de Jean Racine, by Gabriel Faure, the words being that of a morning prayer.

The choir also sung Cesar Franck’s Panis Angelicus and Mozart’s Ave Verum and ended the first half with Handel’s Zadok the Priest.

The Recorder Ensemble played some early folk tunes, Pastime with Good Company, Greensleeves and then Allemand by Giles Farnaby. Their second group of tunes featured Handel’s Trio Sonata, followed by the Czardas by Vittorio Monti. This later piece was played by Caroline Horne – a music tutor who plays with East Midlands Recorder Orchestra and an active member of the Society of Recorder Players – accompanied by Linda Hepburn-Booth, a challenging piece, magnificently played and which earned rapturous applause from the audience.

After the interval, the pieces from the choir were from The Sprig of Thyme, a cycle of English, Scottish and Irish folk-songs arranged for a mixed-voice choir by John Rutter. The collection includes songs in a variety of styles and genres.

The Recorder Ensemble entertained the audience with more folk tunes, including Blow the Wind Southerley, The Lark in the Clear air and Ashokan Farewell. To end the concert, the choir and ensemble performed together and, at the conductor’s invitation, the audience joined in with Scarborough Fair, The Gift to be Simple and Dance to your Daddy.

Thanks were given after the concert by Dave Over, Ryton Chorale chairman, to accompanist Jack Pickford and Nicholas, who have given the choir great support this year.

Nicholas came out of a brief retirement to see the choir through two successful concerts at short notice. He now plans to return to his retirement as the choir welcomes new musical director Sierra Farquhar-Wulff, who is currently based at Birmingham University.

Ryton Chorale members rehearse on a Monday evening and would welcome new singers.

A spokesman said: “We are a friendly group and would love to see potential members. Our next concert is on November 18, when we will be singing in Southwell Minster with Southwell Choral Society and Burton Joyce Choir and joined by Nottingham Symphony Orchestra.

See rytonchorale.org.uk