A SIZEABLE audience in St Michael’s Church, Bude was treated to yet another assured performance by Bude Choral Society under the direction of John Hobbs on Saturday, April 9, writes Steve Pawley.

A mixture of sacred and secular works, the programme of 19th century music ranged from light and lyrical to stormy and passionate culminating in a heroic and triumphant conclusion.

Schubert’s ‘Mass in G’, one of his shorter masses written when he was just 18, was sung with intense feeling, maintaining the lightness of the music without sentimentality. Catherine Hamilton, (soprano), Michael Graham, (tenor), and John Hobbs (baritone), all experienced soloists, complemented the chorus strongly, and blended well together in their ensemble pieces.

Brahm’s ‘Song of Destiny’, based on a poem by Friedrich Hölderlin, provided an interesting contrast. In three sections, the mood changed from describing the peacefulness of heavenly bliss to an angry protest at man’s grief laden life, before ending in a reflective optimistic expression of hope.

The choir coped well with what was probably the most challenging of the works, and the organ gave firm support.

The final piece, Mendelssohn’s ‘Hymn of Praise’ is actually the last movement of his 2nd symphony and was composed for a festival in Leipzig in 1840 to commemorate Johannes Gutenburg, the inventor of printing.

The tone is one of joy and enthusiasm, with organ, chorus and soloists adding their own contributions.

The soprano duet was especially striking, with Catherine Hamilton and Sue Uglow in well matched harmony, and Michael Graham following with a beautifully expressive tenor aria.

At times the tenors and basses were overpowered, but came through strongly when it really counted in the rousing final chorus.

A lot of hard work had clearly been put into rehearsals, accompanied on the piano by Sylvia Goldspink, not only in terms of following the notes on the page, but also by putting meaning into the words.

From the outset the choir, as always, was responsive to the changes in dynamic and tempo required of each piece, with clear enunciation throughout, which is so important for pieces not especially well known to the audience.

David Robinson, at the organ, thoroughly deserved being thanked by Philip Uglow, BCS chairman, for his sterling work during the whole concert.

The choir has a busy time ahead, both with its own programme and jointly with choirs from North and South Devon, and would welcome new singers in all parts.