Winter Concert December 5th 2019
The concert began with ‘What a Wonderful World’, a well known and loved song made famous in the 1960s by (equally well known and loved) Louis Armstrong.
This was followed by an excerpt from ‘Beautiful’ - a musical that tells the story of the early life and career of Carole King, using songs she wrote, or co-wrote, as well as other contemporary songs. The choir plans to sing more from this work in future concerts. In contrast to this, the next three songs came from the 1930s/40s Big Band Swing Era - ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, ‘Tuxedo Junction’ and ‘Sentimental Journey’.
This was followed by an excerpt from ‘Beautiful’ - a musical that tells the story of the early life and career of Carole King, using songs she wrote, or co-wrote, as well as other contemporary songs. The choir plans to sing more from this work in future concerts. In contrast to this, the next three songs came from the 1930s/40s Big Band Swing Era - ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, ‘Tuxedo Junction’ and ‘Sentimental Journey’.
Then followed two 1960s hits - ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and ‘Dream A Little Dream’ with a change of mood provided by a third song - ‘A Gaelic Blessing ‘. This piece was composed and written by John Rutter who writes prolifically for choirs and is also a conductor, music arranger and record producer.
‘Hava Nageela’, an Israeli folk song whose title translates as ‘Let Us Rejoice’, completed this first section of the concert and paved the way for some Christmas songs with audience participation!
‘Hava Nageela’, an Israeli folk song whose title translates as ‘Let Us Rejoice’, completed this first section of the concert and paved the way for some Christmas songs with audience participation!
The evening concluded with mince pies, hot and cold drinks and some social time. Members of the audience were very generous in their donations for the VASL Young Carers Group, which has been Songbirds chosen charity for the last two years.
And finally...... a big thank you to everyone - choir members for their hard work, their friends and relatives for their valuable contributions and to members of the local community for their support and generosity this Christmas!