Rowans bow out with a bang
Most people will know by now that Arran’s two choirs will be combining to form a single one from January onwards, and the final concert by the Rowan Singers before Christmas was a fitting climax to a long and distinguished career. Teamed with Arran Brass, the choir put on a truly festive performance, looking like a snowy landscape themselves in their white, twig-patterned jackets. Well-deserved thanks were given to Maureen Oakes, who started the choir and developed it over the years to its present accomplished standing.
Performing in the Community Theatre brought the advantage of the lovely Kawai grand piano, superbly played by Douglas Hamilton while Diana, the other half of this talented and generously hard-working pair, directed the singers. The essentially festive programme provided a feast of show-biz music, though the first half included a classical section starring two excellent soloists. Ruth McEnaney sang Mozart’s Laudate Dominum with soaring intensity and Lillian Smith brought a lyrica, choirboy-likel purity to Cesar Franck’s lovely Panis Angelicus.
Christmas music had its fitting place, and the audience joined readily in the traditional carols. Other familiar songs had a fresh twist – notably a witty take on the Twelve Days After Christmas, in which the singer is crossly dealing with the inconvenient poultry wished on her by a maladroit swain. Throughout the long programme, the choir sang with precision and were admirably responsive to their conductor, Diana Hamilton, whose inspired direction and interpretation shone through every number.
Arran Brass goes from strength to strength, and it is good to see so many young players in the band. One of the beauties of the brass band tradition is its inclusive, open ability to include beginner players at quite an early stage of their learning, gradually enabling them to expand technique and reading skills until they achieve expertise. Without flaunting any claims to be ‘educational’, it does a wonderful teaching job, working in a hands-on, practical way that leaves a warm mark on the life of any child or adult who is lucky enough to have known it. Dave Payn, who has built on the foundation laid down by Ian Cargill, has expanded the musicality of the band beyond belief. The Troika Prokofiev in particular was an absolute delight, and the combination of band and choir gave the whole evening a joyous festivity
PS – We at the Voice would also like to thank Dave for providing us with a witty and just-tough-enough crossword every month. If you are not already bewitched by it, print it off and settle down with it and a nice glass of something over New Year. A treat.
