English Christmas Music | Lymington Choral Society

Lymington Choral Society presents two English Christmas pieces composed seventy years apart. Although each is based on a series of traditional carols they are very different in style and instrumentation. The programme also includes carols for choir and audience.

Geoffrey Bush's lyrical Christmas Cantata (1947) exists in several versions, all by the composer himself. Tonight's version is for soprano and oboe soloists, choir and piano. Bush's early training as a Salisbury Cathedral choirboy is much evident in the choral writing. After an extended instrumental prelude the voices gradually emerge before the carols begin in earnest. The words are taken from various sources including the Prayer Book, The Bible, mediaeval carols and a poem by Hilaire Belloc. The work is characterised by great variety of mood and pace ranging from the pain of the crucifixion through the drama of the slaughter of the innocents to the joy of the Finale: I saw three ships. The work concludes with the Anglican Grace and quiet introspection. It is interesting to compare this combination of classical tradition and twentieth century astringency in Bush's sound world with the current exhibition of British neo-romantic art of the same period in Lymington's St Barbe Museum (ends 4th November 2019)

Alexander L'Estrange's Wassail! (2017) calls for a children's choir (single upper voices only) SATB adult choir and a jazz ensemble of recorder, accordion, string bass, piano and a large assortment of percussion. It was commissioned by the United Learning Partnership Fund to inspire young people with a love for music. The children's parts are integral to the work but are kept reasonably straightforward whilst the adult choir and jazz ensemble have more intricate contrapuntal music. Of the twelve movements only two are in Latin, the rest being in English. The whole work is uplifting and positive with some ingenious rhythmic shifts. Expression marks such as with drive, and a smile, jolly and with a solid groove give a flavour of this fun piece.