St Michael's Church, Dalston

Dalston Male Voice Choir entertained a warm and large audience at St. Michael Church, Dalston for their annual Christmas Concert.

The first half celebrated their autumn terms concert theme of the World in Union and gathered songs from countries had participated in the Rugby World Cup. The first item and victim was England in robust, crisp and cleverly articulated performance of the ‘Song of the Jolly Rodger.’ From here a lilting and heart felt performance of the Canadian folk song ‘She’s like a swallow’ and ‘Speed your journey.’ Following this, a wrapped and spine tingling performance of the Sunset Poem (words from Under Milk-wood by Dylan Thomas) was performed unaccompanied with such concentration that you could hear a pin drop after the final hummed ending. To conclude the first half we were treated at selection of songs from New Zealand (winners of the World Cup) which including a fearsome Haka, Pokarekare, Hine e Hine and concluded with the hymn Jesus who loves. The middle two songs were performed with smoothness of tone and the balanced singing highlighting swapping of the tune between voices showed superb awareness and musicality and topped off with a lovely solo by conductor Michael Deakin.

The choir continues to support young talented teenage musicians and for this concert former Carlisle Cathedral Head Chorister Emily Milburn dazzled and lulled us with her beautiful sing and tone. The beautiful ‘Where e’er you walk’ by Handel, Dido’s lament by Purcell and a personal favourite ‘Little Road to Bethlehem’ were performed with such beauty, understanding and visually such ease.

The second half brought on the seasonal items. It was lovely to hear the full version of Meredith Willson’s ‘It’s beginning to look like Christmas’ including the rarely heard Pine Cones section and then in counterpoint with the two tunes was beautifully balanced again. Performances of ‘When of Child is Born, Winter Wonderland and Infant Holy (sung unaccompanied with lovely tuning) were over far too quickly. A growing performance of Do you hear what I hear showed exceptional use of dynamics. The choir treated us to Carol commissioned for the top male vocal groups called the King Singers called Te Laudamus and focuses on the story of Joseph. Again the choir showed its brilliant range of singing from smooth to staccato in the ‘Joseph knocked at every door’ to heart felt beautiful unaccompanied singing when Jesus was born.

Again a big thank you to Lorraine Gash for her excellent piano playing, David Wood for informative announcing, home-made refreshments from the helpers of St. Michael’s and Michael Deakin for keeping them all in order.