As the last lingering rays of evening sunshine filtered softly through the high windows of St Peter’s Church, Warmsworth in Doncaster, the sweet voices of Doncaster Ladies Choir and the resonance of Barnburgh Male Voice Choir filled this lovely building with their melodies.

The boys from Barnburgh, along with their musical director Andris Ugulis and accompanist Janina Ugule, opened the concert with the wonderful Welsh hymn, “Cwm Rhondda”, which, though nicely sung, disappointed some Welsh members of the audience by being in English(!) Mae’n ddrwg about that!        

This was followed by Buffy Saint Marie’s “Up where we belong”. Next was “Sailing” and then two new numbers recently added to the repertoire - “I write the songs” and the “Just Jolson” medley which had the audience swaying in their seats!

The twenty two members of Doncaster Ladies Choir led by Gwyn Platts and their accompanist Robert Fields began their program with “That’s Entertainment” and followed this with a fabulously moody version of “Wade In The Water” (the Ramsey Lewis instrumental and the vocal version by Marlena Shaw are one of my personal favourite soul sounds).

The girls continued with a lovely arrangement of “You Raise Me Up” and then Gwyn’s own favourite, the beautiful “Mist Before The Sunrise Flies”. They rounded off the first half with “Memory”, a classic from the musical Cats.

During a well-earned break we were fed and watered by Marilyn Deakin, Joyce Taylor and Anne  Paynter, Thank you girls !

The Doncaster Ladies started the second half with “Deep Peace” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth”. They then showcased their Motown Sound with the foot-tapping Mary Wells number, “My Guy”. This was followed by my favourite piece of the evening, the wonderfully haunting “Seal Lullaby” -  the light and shade they produced was just breathtaking.

For their finale The Doncaster Ladies gave the audience a medley of Dixieland jazz called “The Dixieland Sound”.

Barnburgh MVC returned to the stage and after changing the formation from a flat line to a curve, greatly improved the sound (might have been the caffeine fix!) The first number, my own favourite, was “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. This really is a joy to perform.

The Choir continued with “You Are So Beautiful” and Mark Brymer’s arrangement of “Unchained Melody”. A great evening of song ended with their rousing rendition of “The Rhythm Of Life”.

Thank you again to Gwyn Platts and the Doncaster Ladies Choir, we look forward to performing with you again soon.

 

Adrian Cattley