THE Launceston Choral Society had their ‘best summer concert ever’ recently.

That was the verdict of one of the audience members following Launceston Choral Society‘s recent concert by musical director Jonathan Mann, with guests Mary Mazur Park, piano, and Rob Tremain who read some poems.

Each year the society gives a summer concert of more light-hearted works, which this year, as it is the centenary of Charles Causley’s birth in August, included a revival of Tavistock composer, Andrew Wilson’s setting of the poet’s ‘Singing Game’, written in 2004 for Launceston Choral Society and the Dante Quartet, as its central work. The choir thoroughly enjoyed the chance to sing this challenging but delightful work again.

This was complemented by readings chosen by Rob Tremain including Causley favourites ‘Quarterjacks’, ‘Eagle One, Eagle Two’, ‘Mary , Mary Magdalene’, ‘Dockacre’ and ‘Paradise’, as well as Liverpool poet, Roger McGough’s ‘A Tribute to Charles’, written for Causley’s seventieth birthday.

Mary Mazur Park took the audience’s breath away with her performances of two works by Chopin, his ‘Fantaisie Impromptu in C# minor and ‘Étude’ in E major, ‘Tristesse’.

She played the new electronic keyboard given to Central Methodist Church by the Choral Society and Launceston Male Voice Choir, thanks to the generous grant to both organisations for the purpose from Launceston Rotary Club.

Jonathan Mann showed his brilliance on the organ with the sparkling ‘Butterflies in the Rain’ by Sherman Myers, a pseudonym for British composer, Montague Ewing. He then played an Andantino by another forgotten British composer, Edwin Lemare, a melody, which is known as ‘Moonlight and Roses’. He then gave the organ a serious workout with a glorious march from yet another forgotten British composer, Nicolas Choveaux.

The choir’s contribution ranged from the rousing ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’ via the more lyrical ‘Try to Remember‘ and ‘If I ruled the World’, on the way giving the audience a chance to ‘Name that Tune’ before finishing with the musical equivalent of a tongue twister ‘The Rhythm of Life’.

The generous sum of £325.50 was raised in the retiring collection for the St Mary Magdalene clock appeal.