SUMMER CONCERT A capella Classics

To hear vocal music which was composed before the days of microphones and loudspeakers, to hear it performed in a setting built before the era of electronic aids and to hear it express joy, sadness, frivolity, and adoration, in a manner that can make an audience stop breathing for a niinute or two - that is an experience that few have the opponunity to experience very often. For the audience at St. Wyllow's Church in Lanteglos Parish, the evening of Friday, 15 June listening to the East Cornwall Bach Choir was such an occasion

The choir was conducted by Simon Dunbavand, a man of obvious great musical talent, for he not only conducted the unaccompanied (except for one piece) choir, but also played piano solos - celebrating the centenary of Grieg's death and at another time a piece for the organ! But with the exception of Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck in which he accompanied the choir on the organ, all the other selections were sung a capella. And they ranged from 16th century madrigals, to part-songs, motets and sacred music by a variety of composers from Palestrina to Benjamin Brittan. Also included in the programme were works of Edward Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner and many others. Altogether 21 compositions were performed

Listening, with my eyes closed, the music bathed me in sound, sometimes a spring shower, sometimes a raging waterfall, sometimes a placid pool, but throughout the evening I was surrounded and enveloped in harmony - what an experience! There were 27 members of the choir - 17 women and 10 men from all over East Cornwall. Polruan resident, Bella Tyson is a member of the choir and it was through her that they were invited to St. Wyllows's. As a member of the audience, all I can say is: "When they come again, if you like choral music, don't miss them!"

Marjorie Barrie