The Come and Sing group came together on Saturday to rehearse from 11am to 3pm with the orchestra and soloists (Tara O’Connor, David Pope and Peter Willis all live in Abingdon).
Then from 5.30pm until 6.45pm performed a mini-concert of the Messiah (Part 1) in St Michael’s Church Park Road.
They will sing Handel’s Messiah parts 2 and 3 on April 15th 2023. This is to get people singing together and to raise funds for the Abingdon Passion Play.
Thanks to Elaine and Joyce for the pictures.
Abingdon Music Centre was established over 45 years ago to give the people of Abingdon opportunities to make music, from the very young to the very old. They run many groups, and yesterday at Thomas Reade School, the different groups performed for each other.
In this picture, the singing for pleasure group sang some old favourites and two catchy songs written by a local composer for The Queen’s Jubilee: ‘Celebration’ and ‘What would you do if the Queen came to tea?’
Abingdon & District Musical Society will hold its next concert in the main hall at the Manor School, Faringdon Road, Shippon OX13 6LN on Sunday 26th June at 4:30pm (please note the unusual day, time and location).
The conductor will be Alexander Walker, and the orchestra will be led by Kate Bailey.
The programme will consist of:
Elgar – From the Bavarian Highlands
Brahms – Liebeslieder Waltzes
Selected opera choruses
Tchaikovsky – Symphony no 2 ‘Ukrainian.’
Tickets will be £14 at the door (children £1) or £12 in advance. They can be reserved online at the advance sale price by going to www.wegottickets.com or contacting Peter Smith (01235-521392 or 07979-894-095). More information about ADMS is on the Society’s website, www.adms.org.uk.
At St Helen’s Church this morning, the organist was demonstrating music, for use during a church marriage ceremony, to a group of people soon to be married.
I was sitting in The Lady Chapel during this piece, intended for the end of the marriage ceremony. This is where the bridge and groom walk arm in arm, smiling this way and that at friends and family, then out of the church for some photographs, followed by a reception.
It is the start of a marriage. There may be some trouble ahead but where there is love and romance and adventure the music can keep on playing. Happy Valentine’s Day on Monday.