AS an island nation the sea is our friend and defender, and Vaughan Williams' first and longest symphony is a tribute to the men, ships and the sea itself as well as being an allegory of life. Combined with celebratory British music and good old patriotic songs for audience participation, this was an excellent choice for a programme celebrating our Queen's diamond jubilee year.
Members of Newbury Choral Society joined Southern Sinfonia, who showed exactly why they deserve the title of leading chamber orchestra in the south of England. With a dramatic opening which had the sound of waves beating around the extraordinary tent-like hall, the first movement began with A Song For All Seas, All Ships as we, to use the words of Walt Whitman's poem, “beheld the sea itself”.
Initially the singers, in spite of there being more than 80, were rather overwhelmed by the orchestra in the most dramatic passages. Before long, however, and perhaps inspired by soloists Sarah Regwick (soprano) and Ashley Riches (baritone) bringing vividly to life the different sea changes, the chorus came into their own, a strong part of the whole.
Orchestra and singers took us through the moods of the sea until the final movement when a hymn-like start led, after all the drama, to a quiet wistfulness as with the anchors hoisted, the journey to uncharted seas begins and we “farther, farther, farther sail”.
A strong male chorus, with smooth cohesive singing from the altos and delicately precise singing from the sopranos matched the musical picture being painted by conductor Cathal Garvey and his orchestra. Heaven knows how many hours of rehearsal it must have taken to achieve such an excellent result, but it was worth it.
A magnificently triumphant three coronation anthems began the second half, joyfully leading us to the point where flags were waved, and even those in the audience who thought they couldn't sing found that with a surge of patriotism they could do justice to Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.
The final, fervent God Save the Queen was followed by prolonged applause for the dedicated musicians who had provided an enjoyable, very British afternoon.
