St Patrick's Church, Patterdale

The opening concert of the new musical season in St. Patrick’s Church, Patterdale, was given on the eve of the Patronal Festival by Dalston MVC, who entertained the audience, for an hour or so, with a selection of songs and solos, followed by refreshments.

The full choir, the largest to sing in St. Patrick’s in recent years, opened with a group of four songs – It’s a Grand Night for Singing, Gwahoddiad, Calm is the sea and Give me that old time religion – with great contrasts in volume between the full bodied louder passages and the gentler quiet sections. Their intonation was consistently accurate and words clear, even for those who, like me, were seated at the back of the audience.

‘Close Shave’, the American-style Barber’s Shop Quartet, popped up to sing three classic numbers – Yes Sir, that’s my baby, Carolina Moon and My Evaline – with great style, appropriate panama hats, humour and precision.

The next four songs performed by the whole choir – Stout hearted men, Lily of the valley, The Rose and Rhythm of Life – formed some wonderful contrasts, with plenty of appropriately expressive and entertaining singing from right across the choir.

Michael Deakin, the conductor turned soloist, sang two of Vaughan Williams’ Mystical Songs, Love bade me welcome and Come my way, with great expressiveness and beauty.

Finally, the choir sang I’m Gonna Walk, Water of Tyne, Morte Christe and Speed Your Journey to the great enjoyment and appreciation of the audience. Throughout the concert, Lorraine Gash played the piano accompaniments with great sensitivity and skill and the balance between the piano and vocal items throughout the concert was perfect.