Fifty Glorious Years

Basingstoke Ladies’ Choir (BLC) and Basingstoke Male Voice Choir (BMVC)

St Bede’s Church

FIFTY Glorious Years with BLC and BMVC was celebrated at St Bede’s Church on November 1.

Just think of the wonderful music that has been learnt, performed and listened to during that time! The longest-serving musical director of the BMVC – an amazing 29 years – David Ogborn had, over the years, introduced the singers to over 300 choral pieces for part singing (sometimes four to eight parts).

Assisted by Steve Busby, a great many of the favourites are still in the choir’s repertoire. It was especially gratifying for me that the magnificent Welsh hymn Gwahoddiad should have brought such an overwhelming response from the audience.

Peter Allan, BMVC’s MD for the last four years, conducted his own arrangement of Barbara Ann by The Beach Boys and Let All Men Sing, another new piece he has added to the choir’s repertoire.

The celebrations had begun with a set of six pieces by BLC from their extensive repertoire – the perfect choice to start the concert – including John Rutter, Bob Chilcott and a traditional Scottish piece. MD Margaret Brackenborough has perfected with this choir over the years the art of gentle, lyrical singing.

All the part-singing can be heard clearly without any part being too dominant and by the third song, Chilcott’s Can You Hear Me?, I was quietly reaching for my handkerchief!

The sweetness of tone has to be heard to be believed, when any music is marked legato. Music marked fortissimo is more difficult for ladies choirs but they are working on it as all good choirs do.

Two past conductors of BLC, vivacious Jacky Protheroe and the talented Stuart Hicken, had been invited to conduct one item each – a lovely idea. Jacky conducted Till There Was You and Stuart the beautiful Irish Blessing, followed by And So It Goes by Billy Joel, conducted by Margaret. This was a very special moment in a glorious evening of music-making.

Both choirs are fortunate to have accompanists, Paul Wright (BMVC) and Jonathan Hedgecock (BLC) who also arrange music for them. Paul has been accompanist and organist for 37 years – what an amazing record of commitment and dedication to the cultural life of this town.

It was good to see Dame Mary Fagan who has agreed to continue as the President of BMVC at the concert, alongside Deputy Mayor Anne Court and Maria Miller MP, acknowledging the fact that for the choirs to be in existence after 50 years is a positive achievement which says a great deal about Basingstoke itself.

The finale was arranged with both choirs singing Can You Feel The Love Tonight?, arranged by Paul Wright, and Benedictus by Karl Jenkins.

This was followed by You Raise Me Up, lovingly dedicated by both choirs to our own dearest Northern Irish girl Joanne Mace and her family. This was followed by the strongest prayer on in the world, Let There Be Peace on Earth.

Hannah Williams