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Summer Concert Review

Date Posted: Sun, 13 Jul 2025

Once again, Seaford Choral Society delivred an amazing evening of merry music making as the choir celebrated "Songs of Nature" in an eclectic blend of songs featuring everything from mountains, lakes, rivers and rocks to a veritable army of hippopotami. We were once again ably aided and abetted by the Semiquavers from Seaford Primary School conducted by their head of music, Kate Steer. Our own Musical Director, Veronica Fewkes, once again managed to make us produce a level of performance we had not managed in rehearsal. We are truly fortunate to be led by someone as talented and patient as Veronica. Our regular accompanist, John Eady, was unavailable but Gavin Stevens once more stepped up and enabled us to always find the right note at the right time - well almost always!

We were also joined at this concert by a local and extremely talented poet, Peter Martin, who read his poem "The River Story" interspersed with wordless music composed by Frederick Delius - "To be sung on a summer night on the water". The words and music combined to create a wonderful atmosphere as we were led downstream from source to sea, and from conflict to peace.

Somehow, reflecting the incredible diversity of nature, the programme managed to hold together; moving from the magnificence of Haydn's Creation to the silliness of On Ilkla Moor Baht'at (an accurate translation provided for us by a true Yorkshireman!) we came full circle via two very different but equally moving renditions of The Circle of Life by Elton John. The audience were invited to "Dip, dip and swing" which they did with alacrity.

Thank you to those who supported East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service, who provide a vital service for wildlife that becomes a casualty through no fault of its own.

Huge thanks to Veronica who has worked so hard to bring the best out of us; to Steve our Chair for his unswerving leadership, supported by our equally hard working committee. Thanks to all who have supported us through this year, especially Newberry Tully Estate Agents; we look forward to seeing you again for our Christmas concert on Saturday 6th December at St Leonard's Church for Puccini's magnificent Messa di Gloria.

SPRING CONCERT REVIEW

Date Posted: Thu, 24 Apr 2025

After a slightly hesitant beginning, the choir once again rose to the challenge of singing a programme of some well-known and other much lesser-known pieces. We were wonderfully supported once again by our regular accompanist John Eady - who had enlisted the help of his family to operate the organ stops and ensure smooth transitions of sound. We also had a small string ensemble who spurred us on to greater musical heights, especially in Monteverdi's Beatus Vir. We were also very fortunate in having Clare Daly as our soprano soloist in Haydn's Little Organ Mass as well as Mendelssohn's O for the wings of a dove. Her confidence and clarity of tone were remarkable. We also sang Elgar's Give unto the Lord, which required the skill of looking in two places at once - the score and the conductor! As always, Veronica made the frequent changes of tempo and tone as easy as possible for us to follow. There was another Hear my Prayer, this time a fragment by Henry Purcell - short but inspiring - and then Gardiner's Evening Hymn, where we did our best to rattle the glass in the windows. The Chamber Choir also performed some quieter and more contemplative works, written to uplift the soul.

Many thanks to everyone at the church who helped us and as always made us feel very welcome.

A huge thanks to all who took part, but especially to Veronica Fewkes and John Eady. We are truly fortunate to have such talented and patient musicians who once again brought out the best in us. It took quite an effort to learn these pieces and through learning them, grow to love them. Speaking personally, this concert will live long in the memory.

We look forward to seeing you in July!