Mince Pies

A Concert in Botley

On an inauspicious, damp December Saturday, Camerata had the delight of once again singing to a capacity audience in the historic village of Botley, Hampshire. Despite arriving dripping and cold, the concert goers were clearly eager for a good evening’s entertainment. 

Our hosts were generous in their hospitality and very warm in their appreciation. We were provided with a fantastic “tea” between rehearsal and performance with cold meats, cheeses and spectacular salads. Our illustrious conductor certainly enjoyed several mince pies and we were even allowed mulled wine in the interval (but only one glass of course!). 

A highlight in the choral calendar, Christmas time offers choirs the opportunity to sing not only beautiful – as well as challenging – traditional and contemporary music, but also music with tremendous humour and fun. Last Saturday’s mixed a capella programme epitomised this opportunity.

In the first half, murmurs of appreciation were particularly noticeable for Taverner’s ‘The Lamb’, and Lauridsen’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium’. Jonathan Rathbone’s deceptively tricky Carol Medley started the second half, but you wouldn’t have thought that Jingle Bells might be among the most challenging pieces? Well, think again, Parry’s arrangement has some devilishly difficult rhythms, but I think we finally cracked it and it didn’t half sound good (and jolly!) at a fast lick. Rutter’s ‘What Sweeter Music’ provided an encore and I could swear I saw a tear or two …

We greatly look forward to returning to Botley again soon. 

Hannah Hickman, soprano