Tay Valley Community Choir Celebrates The Season With Song

Dec 18, 2013

There is nothing like the sounds of a four-part men's and ladies' choir singing the songs of the season to ignite warm holiday feelings. That was the case for the over 100 listeners who crammed the Community hall in Maberly on December 7 to listen to “Christmas is Coming”, the annual concert put on by The Tay Valley Community Choir.

The 28-member strong SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) choir, who looked as good as they sounded in their blacks and whites and colorful ties and corsages, wasaccompanied on piano by Richard Byrd.

They performed an eclectic program that included songs like "Christmas Canon", "Born In Bethlehem", and "When Christmas Comes", the latter a light and lively old-fashioned tune with a bright melody and impressive harmonies. Highlights included "The Angel's Carol", which showcased gorgeous unison singing that alternated between the ladies and men, who later came together in the chorus with uplifting harmonies. Their version of "In The Bleak Midwinter" was one of their more sombre and solemn selections and they performed it with prowess with lovely blended harmonies and long, soaring melody lines. Their final tune, "A Festive Call to Freedom", an old traditional Quaker tune from Vermont, ended the program on a high note, with its rousing marching rhythm and a call to rejoice in the upcoming holiday season.

The concert was the choir's first ever under the direction of Grace Armstrong, who was formerly the choir's accompanist when it was directed by Ann McMahon. Armstrong has directed many choirs and was invited to take over the reins from McMahon. She said the challenge of directing a community choir is never knowing how many singers will be available to sing the four different parts. As is the case with most community choirs, tenors and basses are often greatly out-numbered by the female soprano and alto parts. "If a tenor or bass falls ill, it can make it difficult to get the balance that you are striving for right,” she said.

Armstrong's song choices for the concert were made with the “hopes of including songs that would bring forth emotions from listeners that come from the pure harmonic sounds of four separate vocal parts that are distinct.”

Interspersed with the choir's program were special musical guests. Jessica Wedden, the wunderkind fiddler from the Blue Skies Fiddle Orchestra who has been playing the fiddle for just two years, charmed listeners with her fast-paced playing and impressive bowing tricks. Later in the program 15-year-old Isaac Matthews Hanna, founder of the band Murray's House and the second place winner in the "My Town" talent contest, played a number of selections demonstrating his great vocals and guitar playing.

The evening was emceed by Paddy O'Connor and as usual the entire audience was invited to herald in the holiday season by joining in a number of Christmas favorites that included "Jingle Bells", and "Silent Night".

The choir rehearses regularly every Monday night at 6 p.m. in Maberly and at Glen Tay Public School and is always looking for new singers. Anyone interested can contact Grace Armstrong at 613-264-1999.