Crewkerne's Got Talent
St Bartholomew’s Church in Crewkerne was alive with the sound of music on Saturday 5th July as the Crewners Choir joined Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne) in a joint concert. The audience were treated to a wide range of music from both groups and even 2 pieces featuring the choir and band.
Phoenix opened the evening with James Curnow’s ‘Fanfare and Flourishes’ and set the standard from the start. This was followed by 2 arrangements by Alan Fernie, ‘MacArthur Park’ and ‘Anything Goes’. We then sat back for a well-earned rest to listen to the Crewners.
The choir opened with a lovely arrangement of ‘Rivers of Babylon’ and this section included a ‘Beatles Medley’ and a toe tapping ‘Old Time Medley’. I think there were a few additional members of the choir from the audience and band during these, as it was impossible to resist singing along! Crewners then performed their signature tune ‘Sing, Sing a Song’, which I believe has been performed at every concert they have performed. They clearly love singing this piece which showed in the performance.
To conclude the first half the band joined the choir for Adam Glynn’s arrangement of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’.
The second half brought more delights including music from John Williams, ‘Jurassic Park’ and Duke Ellington, ‘Caravan’. A surprise addition from Phoenix of ‘Meditation on St Columba’ was a highlight for the band as this was especially written for the band by the famous and fabulously talented, Eric Ball. The Crewners second half included ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Rhythm of Life’ and a spine tingling performance of ‘God So Loved the World’. I know that John Perry, who lead and accompanied the choir, enjoyed this piece and felt that it was the best performance the choir had ever given.
In a celebration of the evening’s music the finale was ‘Fantasia on British Songs’ arranged for band and choir by the band’s Musical Director, Adam Glynn. This was packed with popular tunes in a ‘proms’ style performance. Members of the choir even bobbed along to the horn pipe at the beginning as the band we challenged by John Perry to get faster and faster. Thank goodness for Matt Read on principal cornet is all I will say!
Evenings like this do not just happen and many thanks are in order. We are indebted to the choir for joining us and to John Perry for leading them through a superb performance. Phoenix Brass was led by their principal Euphonium player, Steve Taylor on this occasion as Adam was working and he did a sterling job. Sylvia and Sam Murphy were busy on the door and raffle and Maureen and Dave Sach served us all with refreshments. Thank you very much everyone. In addition we appreciated the support from Richard Hall at Oscar’s Wine Bar. We also had some guest players, which was also greatly appreciated, so thanks also go to Martin, Larry, Taffy, Jim and Duncan.
If you missed us on this occasion why not pop along to Hinton St George Fete on Sunday 20th July where the band will be performing from 2pm.
Released On 10th Jul 2014
