On May 18th the village once again welcomed three visiting choirs – Witchert Chorale, Chorate, and Waltham Madrigals… …who presented a concert in church with music from a huge range of musical styles – from French chansons of the early 1500s to popular tunes by Billy Joel and Anders Edenroth. With a couple of short interludes, visiting organist Rhidian Jones also showed what our historic “Father Willis” organ can do in expert hands. The focus of the evening was Bach’s lively motet “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied” sung by all forty singers. It is a challenging double-choir piece, but the singers and visiting soloists pulled it off extremely well. Both they and audience alike said what an enjoyable evening it had been, and the visitors were also grateful for the hospitality and catering provided by Isabelle C-B and her team. The proceeds from the concert will be split between music in the parish church (music books, concerts etc.), and the charity CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young – which promotes the screening of young people for undiagnosed heart conditions – currently accounting for twelve lives a week in the UK. Many thanks from the Festival organisers to all involved.

Simon Shaw