‘WHAT would I do without my music?’, asked Thurnscoe Harmonic Male Voice Choir as they opened up their second half set at Goldthorpe Parish Church.
A more pertinent question is what would we do without the choir, particularly at Christmas time?
The popular group is an institution and even at 101 years old, they are still going fairly strong with 20-plus on stage and led by the evergreen and energetic conductor Anthony Jermy.
But like any classic vehicle it needs regular new parts to keep on the road and they are upping their recruitment drive in the new year.
There is a tangible brotherhood and joy to being in the choir and that is evident as they sing with smiles on their faces at their annual Christmas concert last Friday night.
It is a perfect setting both for its acoustics and the festive decorating, the choirs flanked by two huge Christmas trees, adds to the mood.
Staple festive classics include ‘Joy To The World’, ‘Saviour’s Day’ and ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ while they also go more adventurous with the harmonies in ‘Still, Still, Still’ in their first half.
The festivities crank up in the second set with a traditional arrangement of ‘Deck The Hall’ before they bring us a taste of Christmas overseas with the ever popular ‘Feliz Navidad’ and the classic swaying and swashbuckling ‘Schneewalzer’.
Resident accompanist Stephen Carey twice hops onto the organ so that those in attendance can join in with ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.
The choir were ably supported by the all-female Barnburgh Village Singers who put on an eclectic set with songs from Broadway before a more glittery second half which includes two from King of Christmas, John Rutter and ‘O Holy Night’.
Flautist Liz also chips in with a faultless performance during ‘Flying Free’.
A collaboration of Rutter’s ‘Candlelight Carol’ and ‘Let There Be Peace/White Christmas’ sends people home full of the Christmas spirit and a really special social part of the coal mining past is preserved for another year.
Long may it continue and put this date in your diary for next year.
To join either of the choirs who are both welcoming and do not audition, get in touch with: John Keating johnkeating9454@aol.com or call 07747891288 (Thurnscoe) and juliabullars@btinternet.com (Barnburgh).
