Last updated; 28th December 2009
The Jersey Festival Choir continues to be very appreciative of the support of AIB Jersey
Jersey Festival
Choir
Festival of Carols 2008
Wednesday 17th December was the date set for our Festival of Carols in 2008 which took place at the beautifully refurbished St. Thomas' Roman Catholic Church.
In a church which was even more packed than usual, with people filling even the areas behind the altar and the singers, where they were still content only to hear and not to see what was going on, the spirit of Christmas was celebrated with beauty, stillness and gusto.
Premier Brass, under the driving baton of Tim Pritchard set the scene with a rousing fanfare, as His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, the the Choir’s Patron, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgeway, Mrs. Ridgeway and his party entered the Church (seen below singing in the congregation).
©JEP (click to see full picture, use Back button of browser to return here)
This was followed by the unaccompanied Festival Choir introducing the choral element of the Festival with a gently rendered invitation “This is the truth sent from above”. A young soprano voice then lilted down from the organ loft with the happily traditional first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City”.
©JEP
The service could not have taken place without Malcolm Whittell’s twinkling fingers on the organ – with a magnificent solo at the centre. The Brass were especially tumultuous in their solo spot, which one listener felt might well raise the newly decorated and flood-lit roof –“I just sat back with eyes closed and let the music thrill through me” he said!
There were new and familiar carols by the Holmchase Choir, conducted by Angela Vautier, who had nobly risen from her sick bed for the service, and thanks are due to her and her lovely singers for adding their usual but intensely musical voices to the occasion.
Elizabeth Farnon, the new Choir Mistress, excelled herself with the Festival Choir, giving everyone an uplifting sense of joy with the rhythmical Spanish Carol “Riu, riu Chiu”, which her husband John led with his word-perfect Spanish solo verses. She deserves our special thanks for continuing the Lobb family tradition and giving so many lovers of this service yet another exhilarating experience.
©JEP
Both Choirs and all the musicians combined for the climax of the service which is always, and unforgettably, “Minuit Chretiens” – where the plangent solo guitar played by Sue De Gruchy, leads them all into the great cry “Fall on your knees” – a truly appropriate note to end on for Christmas and its wonder.
Paul Patterson’ moving, and yet amusing, Appeal for the Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled raised, in the subsequent Collection, the generous sum of £3,187 – warm thanks to the Congregation for this.. The service ended with a Blessing by Monsignor Nicholas France, who deserved everyone’s particular thanks for allowing his magnificent and superbly restored church to be used for this annual celebration. All those present were immensely grateful.
The Service was broadcast on Christmas Day at 6.00pm on BBC Radio Jersey – our thanks to them for recording it and to the Jersey Evening Post for their support in publicity and photographs before and after the event.
Order of Service
Trumpet Fanfare (Premier Brass)
“This is the Truth sent from above” (1st Verse) (Festival Choir)
ALL Once In Royal David’s City (Solo soprano verse 1, Holmchase verse 2)
“A Maiden most gentle” French arr. Andrew
Carter (Festival Choir)
“Riu riu Chiu” 16th Century Spanish carol soloist: John
Farnon
ALL “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
“Sussex Carol” arr. David Willcocks (Festival
Choir)
“O Magnum Mysterium” Giovanni Gabrieli (with A Cappella Brass)
Organ solo Malcolm Whittell
ALL “In the bleak midwinter”
“Tota Pulchra Est”
Durufle (Holmchase Choir)
“Love came down at Christmas” John Rutter
“I've got a robe” spiritual” arr. Neaum
'Procession' by Wagner arr. Snell (Premier Brass)
ALL “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
“Quem Pastores laudavere” arr. John Rutter (Festival
Choir)
“Little Road to Bethlehem” Michael Head
ALL “Good King Wenceslas” Ladies’ and Mens’ verses
“Minuit, Chretiens” Adolphe Adam (Holmchase Guitar: Sue de Gruchy, Choir with Premier Brass)
Appeal: Paul Patterson on behalf of JERSEY SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE DISABLED
ALL “O Come all ye Faithful”
BLESSING Monsignor Nicholas France