Second Successive Win at Godalming

godalming-2009

Celebrating a second successive win at Godalming, 2009

We were delighted to retain our crown as overall winners of the adult choral section in the Godalming Music Festival 2009. The title and trophy is awarded to the choir who receives the highest mark for all the adult choir classes. We received the trophy for our performance of “Nothin’ Gonna Stumble my Feet” and “She Moved Thro’ The Fair” in the mixed voice class. The adjudicator, Robin Gritton, said that we gave an “infectious performance” of the spiritual “singing as one with lovely clear text and rhythm”. We had commissioned the arrangement of the Irish air from Gwyn Arch and were extremely pleased with the atmosphere the song created, the acoustics of Charterhouse providing an excellent platform for the premiere. The adjudicator said “much beauty in the Irish air – haunting sounds – you listen excellently. Excellent choral singing”.

However, earlier in the evening we were rather disappointed to receive second place for our sacred class songs which, in our opinion, was a far superior performance than our mixed class, with a dramatic rendition of the difficult “Daemon Irrepit Callidus” and a very atmospheric performance of the brilliant arrangement by Burleigh of “My Lord what a Morning”. It wasn’t only our view. These sentiments were echoed by many other singers and audience, but it was not to be. Becoming overall champions for a successive year did make reasonable amends!!