Requiem seen as the 'first' staged in county

NICHOLAS Woods, conducting Hook Choral Society, received cheers and a standing ovation for their performance at St Bede’s Church of Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light Requiem.

The work received its debut with the composer in November 2008, and musical scores for amateur groups have only been available over the last few months. The choir believes they are the first in Hampshire to stage the Requiem.

The successful rendition of tricky rhythms in some movements showed the commitment of the choir to execute them with confidence, and perhaps the most well-known movement, Lead, Kindly Light, was treated with joy and sensitivity.

Professional soloists and musicians, including a harpist, gave a moving and magical meaning to the words, which are used to honour the departed as well as give comfort to those left behind.

The whole concert was given over to works by Goodall, the 2009 Brit Awards Composer of the Year winner.

David May-Miller, from Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, sang treble in Psalm 23 – more readily recognised as the theme from the Vicar of Dibley. In Memoriam Anne Frank involved a semi-chorus singing a haunting counter melody from behind the audience, and well-known versions of The Marlborough Canticles and Love Divine completed the evening.

From the audience response, it is clear that Hook Choral Society pulled off a major coup for a piece that will no doubt be on every choir’s repertoire in the next few years.

– Kate Batchelor