Hemyock

‘Requiem Mass’ by Mozart was the work chosen by Hemyock Singers for their Spring concert presented at St Mary’s Hemyock and the previous evening at Uffculme parish church.

The choir of over 30 was conducted by Ron White who must be congratulated for presenting this work. Great credit must go to the soloist for their contributions  - Jenny Doble (sop) Anne Monk and Sally Lister (con) Glyn Jones (tenor) and John Board (bass) with the beautiful ‘Benedictus’ and ‘Recordare’ being well balanced and particularly moving.

Despite one or two uncertainties in the chorus the Singers maintained the intensity of this difficult and demanding work. After the solemnity of the opening chorus the choir made a dynamic entry with ‘Dies Irae’ with ‘Rex Tremendae’ also seeing a powerful well timed entry. Throughout the concert there were some magnificent contrasts with controlled singing especially in the chorus ‘Confutatis Maledictis’ followed by the beautifully sung ‘Lacrymosa’.

The final chorus ‘Agnus Dei’ saw the choir showing the full power and beauty of this Requim and those who heard it could not fail to be caught up in its power.

Following the concerts retiring collections were taken with £250 at Uffculme going towards the Karen Action Group and £275 being donated towards the interior. redecoration of St Mary’s Hemyock.

The retiring collection at Hemyock will be donated to St Mary’s which will see its interior decorated in coming weeks whilst that at Uffculme will go to the ‘Karen Action Group’ trying to bring relief and justice to the people on the Myanmar/Thailand border.

Janice Bawler