Oriana singers at St Martin's Church (From Gazette Series)

Oriana singers at St Martin's Church

Review by Donald Hollins Oriana Singers at St Martin's Church, North Nibley

AT the end of this seasonal concert the choir wished us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - outside it was a bleak and frosty evening.

It was also somewhat chilly inside the church, but we soon forgot this as conductor David Moss and the choir led us into Handel's wonderful Omnes de Saba. This was followed by the attractive and well-sung 'The Cradle'. And I liked the conductor's own 'On a Sunny Bank', a pacy piece with effective staccato passages.

From time to time the audience sang loud and clear some well-known carols.

An undoubted highlight of this varied programme was Poulenc's Four Motets for the Season of Christmas, full of verve, humour and changing moods which the choir tackled creditably and with assurance.

After a longish interval occupied in quaffing hot mulled wine and warm mince pies the concert continued with Palestrina's joyful Dies Sanctificatus. It was interesting to hear the ladies and gentlemen singing two items on their own in (respectively) 'In Bethlehem City' and 'The Coventry Carol'. The quality of sound was pleasing.

Other works performed included 'Resonet in Laudibus' by Lassus, Rutter's 'What Sweeter Music', with those lovely words from Herrick, and finally The Twelve Days of Christmas which happily echoed the earlier reading of John Julius Norwich's hilarious piece of the same name.

One small criticism: members of the choir should try to reflect in their faces the words being sung. If joyful, then look happy; if doleful look suitably serious.