Braintree Male Voice Choir

 
Choir badge

home
history
biographies
diary
cd
events
tickets
join us
links

 

Christmas Concert 2007

 

This was the 28th joint Christmas concert with Bocking Concert Brass and Ken Few, the band's principal conductor has been there for them all. As always they played and sang to a capacity audience many having arrived over an hour before the start.

The concert was shared equally providing a mix of musical arrangements.

Bocking Concert Brass included in their programme arrangements of 'Troika' by Prokofieff, 'St Louis Blues March' by Handy and 'Memory' from the musical 'Cats' by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The choir sang compositions including 'Softly as I Leave You' by A de Vita/H Shaper arranged by Alan Simmons, 'Non Nobis Domine' by Rudyard Kipling/Roger Quilter, and a selection of music with a Christmas theme including 'Little Donkey' and 'O Holy Night'.

The finale was the singing of three popular Christmas carols for audience participation with the choir and band which left everyone feeling that the Christmas season had now begun.

To read report in the 'Braintree and Witham Times' click here

 

'Kings of Swing' Concert - 12 May 2007

A capacity audience enjoyed an evening devoted to music of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The programme was shared between Braintree Male Voice Choir and Swing Express Big Band. Chaired by Nick Minton music alternated with the choir singing selections from the era, including 'A Nightingale sang In Berkeley Square', We'll Gather Lilacs', and 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. They concluded with a medley entitled 'Kings of Swing' with the music of Cole Porter, Fats Waller, Glenn Miller and Harry Warren.

Swing Express Big Band provided all the elements needed to portray the music of the day. Formed in 2001, the band comprises a mix of professional and semi-professional musicians. Their leader Mario Di Pietro, the son of a well known variety artiste, played the trombone professionally until 10 years ago. He provided the backing for artists including 'The Supremes', Matt Monro and Guy Mitchell and played with bands including those of Harry Leader and Frank Weir. Anyone who cruised may have seen him on the liner 'Canberra' where he was a frequent performer.

The band played an excellent selection of musical compositions by George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Irving Berlin, Glenn Miller and Cole Porter to name but a few. Their MC, Norwood Simpson, as well as introducing their programme and being an accomplished trumpet player, also sang to their renditions of 'Have You Met Miss Jones?' and 'Ain't That A Kick In The Head'. John Malem, another trumpet player, gave an exquisite performance of 'You Made Me Love You' and the band concluded with an arrangement of the Goodman/Wood/Sampson composition of 'Flying Home'.

 

band and choir members

Some choir and band members during the interval

 

 

 

Charity Concert - March 10 2007

Mixed choir

Photo : Ann Payne. Northampton

 

The Northampton Male Voice Choir and BBC presenter Richard Spendlove MBE, were the choir's guests at a special concert to raise money for the Christ Church development fund on Saturday March 10.

Richard took a night off from his normal Saturday evening programme that is transmitted throughout the East Anglian region and gave his time free to talk about his life experiences, both as a stationmaster and his latesr career as a radio presenter.

The two choirs sang separately and then joined forces (above) for two rousing numbers, Morte Christe and Gwahoddiad.

The event raised more than £2,000 for the Christ Church fund.

 

 

Last Night of the Proms' Concert - May 13th 2006

 

Essex Police Band

The Essex Police Band - conducted by Keith Manners

Christ Church was packed when the choir gave their annual Spring concert with this year's guests, The Essex Police Band. The choir was on top form and Simon Beckett's magic from the technical department made sure that pictures on the screen and carefully managed sound added to everyone's enjoyment. Keith Manners led the audience to a rousing conclusion, with over 300 Union Jacks waving from every corner of the church.

 

The band contributed a mix of music to suit all tastes ranging from the 'William Tell Overture','Canadian Folk Songs' and the theme from 'The Lion King' by Elton John. Trevor Stubbington played a solo 'Take your Picc' on the piccolo trumpet and Kelvin Little Played 'Over the Rainbow' as a trombone solo.

The choir's finale included Rose of England and the Yeoman of England while the Police Band played the 'Pomp and Circumstance March' and 'Jerusalem'.

Returning soloist, Christine Papworth, joined the choir in 'O Peaceful England' and the band in 'Rule Britannia'.

 

 

In the audience was Richard Spendlove MBE, BBC broadcaster and composer of the choir finale piece 'By Cape Trafalgar'. Having decided to picnic on the beach at Cape Trafalgar with friends in February 2002 Richard and his wife had time while their friends went off for a short walk. He decided to walk up to the Cape, overlooking the Atlantic. 35 minutes later he returned to his wife and friends having written the words. It remained a poem until he finally put it to music in 2002. He then had it arranged for Male Voice Choirs and the result was heard at our concert. It was performed against a backdrop of scenes from the battle projected onto a screen behind the choir.

 
Richard Spendlove MBE, with Elisabeth Miller MD
A very enthusiastic audience
Christine Papworth - soloist

 

Back to top

Visit to Verberie >>>> (click)