Our summer concerts often have a "theme", to link together a very varied repertoire of music. Sometimes it is a fairly loose theme, which just provides the springboard for the choice of music. And so it is this year!

The Rhythm of Life is a tongue-twisting, encore sort of piece, taken from the musical Sweet Charity.

But we have given the concert the same title, with a range of music giving more than a passing glance to various stages in life: we have definite references to birth, love, marriage, ageing. and a hint of the life hereafter.

Much of the music is joyous and energetic, whilst there are also a few poignant, thoughtful moments. The music ranges from a ballad by Henry VIII from about 1509, and a modern setting of an anonymous 16th Century poem, a 16th Century setting of a text by Shakespeare, through to Purcell in the 17th Century, to an arrangement of a Beatles song, to a selection of arrangements of both English Folk Songs and Spirituals in the 20th Century by John Rutter. In addition, we have a young tenor, who will be singing three contrasting songs for us.

All-in-all, to use the cliché - truly something for everyone.

David Holroyd – May 2024