Lochranza Choir 10th Anniversary Concert
The Lochranza Choir’s summer concert on June 5th was a special celebration, marking its tenth birthday. Originally formed by Betty Buchanan, several of those founder members still sing with the choir, but it has expanded vastly and now contains members from all over the island. When illness meant Betty could no longer continue as conductor, Diana Hamilton took over, together with her husband Douglas as accompanist. This formidably talented (and utterly charming) duo runs weekly rehearsals that are a delight to everyone, for the scrupulously hard work is lightened with a great deal of fun, and learning happens almost without realising it. As one choir member said at the concert, ‘It is amazing to be able to stand here and sing the Fauré Requiem – in public!’
One member of the listening public was Jim Henderson, who writes as follows:
‘I had never attended a Lochranza Choir concert before and went at the 11th hour to support a friend, Janice Christison. Having no idea what to expect, the evening’s entertainment was a complete surprise. From the moment the choir took their places and Diana brought the singers to attention the audience was in no doubt about the quality of music we were about to witness. I was extremely impressed – this choir could sing in any company and in any venue.’
The choir, comprised of 12 sopranos, 10 altos, 6 tenors and 10 basses, began with the Te Deum by C.V. Stanford, followed by Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. This long work featured three solos, taken by John Cruickshank, Alison Richards and Ian Buchanan, and came to an end with the tranquil In Paradisum. The interval followed, with wine and nibbles supplied by members of the choir – and all for a ticket price of ‘only £5.00,’ Jim Henderson noted in amazement.
The second half was introduced by Fiona Crawford, who recalled with her inimitable humour the Choir’s early beginnings. The choir then plunged into a medley of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story music, then Ian Buchanan sang a solo. Mozart’s Ave Verum, written shortly before his death, was sung in Latin, then the choir switched to German for the lovely chorus from the German Mass by Brahms, Wie Lieblich Sind Diene Wohnungen. The rest of the programme had a lighter note, with solos beautifully sung by John Cruikshank, Aileen Wright and Laura Selkirk, then it was time for the audience to join in. The well-known hymn, Jerusalem by Charles Parry led on to John Rutter’s jazzy version of When the Saints Go Marching In, and the evening ended with a rousing rendering of the Battle Hymn of the Republic – a tune well known to everyone as John Brown’s Body.
As the packed audience dispersed into the Lochranza night after a loudly demanded encore, there was general agreement that this had been a great night. All proceeds go to the Beatson Cancer Research Institute.
