West Dorset Singers

West Dorset Singers

25 January 2025

7pm

St Swithun’s Church

The West Dorset Singers present a concert of contrasting choral music in St Swithun’s Church, Bridport on 25 January.

Mendelssohn’s ‘Hymn of Praise’ dates from 1840 and opens with the resounding “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” Sure enough, the choir follows this instruction.

Parry’s ‘Blest Pair of Sirens’ was written a little later in 1889 by the composer of ‘Jerusalem’. Recognised as “one of the outstanding English choral works”, it’s splendidly Victorian and featured in Kate and William’s wedding in Westminster Abbey in 2011.

The completely contrasting third piece, Poulenc’s ‘Gloria’, dates from 1961. Poulenc was both devout Catholic and dedicatedly sinful party-animal. These didn’t sit well together in the church’s eyes and his music is similarly full of contrasts. He sincerely hoped his compositions might speed his final journey to heaven but worried that it might be to hell. As a part monk, part playboy, his music mixes deep spirituality with the sounds of jazzy dance hall bands.

The choir, under its Musical Director Matt Kingston, is accompanied by a professional orchestra and soloists and the concert starts at 7pm. Tickets (£15, u18s free) are available from Goadsby Estate Agents in Bridport and on-line at www.ticketsource.co.uk/wds