Some would say there’s no Easter without music, and the Diocesan Festival Choir served a heaping helping of songs and hymns to usher in the season of the risen Christ.

St Luke’s Anglican Church, Cross Roads, played host to the choir and its conductor Audley Davidson for the feast.

J S Bach’s arrangement of All Glory, Laud and Honour opened the afternoon’s programme on Sunday last. Accompanied by Stephen Shaw-Naar, the rich sound pierced the quiet in the solemn space blessed by the prayer of Archdeacon of Kingston Patrick Cunningham.

This was followed by Great and Marvelous from Mass in B flat (Henry Famer). The group then displayed intense blends between parts for the sacred Psalm 84: Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Faure). There was crisp enunciation of the text, “O Lord of hosts, how lovely are thy dwellings…” with well-timed entries from the four-part ensemble.

Stepping forward were Barry Bellamy and Quincy Etinoff to deliver the duet Praise Ye from the pen of Giuseppe Verdi. Male voice duets are not a regular on concert programmes and the audience was effusive in its appreciation for the attention to artistry and technique. The duettists’ use of texture and tones provided a treat fitting to the rare delicacy that manifests in such performances.

This was followed up by the modern The Majesty and Glory of Your Name (Tom Fettke), which would have to be graded “more than good”.

The choir then journeyed to Handel’s Messiah and, in keeping with the season, presented Surely He Hath Borne our Grief and He Was Despised from the popular oratorio — there was no Hallelujah Chorus; probably next year.

Among the hymns offered in performance were arrangements of My God I Love Thee Not Because (Dorothy Degazon); and Oh, For A Faith (Nathaniel Carter). The audience was engaged to join in singing Lift High The Cross (Michael Burkhardt).

The choir also delivered from its repertoire of spirituals and modern tunes with aplomb. Among the offerings were Gospel Man (Carl Strommen); Every Time I Feel The Spirit (Bob Chilcott); His Name So Sweet (Hall Johnson); Ain’t Got Time Too Die; along with the ever-favourite Ride On, King Jesus (Donald Moore).

The banquet of music could not be complete without Jamaican compositions, and so there was a course of Bright Soul (Noel Dexter) and Jah Is My Keeper (Audley Davidson).

Speaking on behalf of the church, concert hostess Christine MacDonald-Nevers thanked attendees and gave recognition to the dwindling presentation of sacred music in the quality and quantity presented at the annual Palm Sunday concert.

The Diocesan Festival Choir dutifully and competently strew its talent in the heart of the Corporate Area to herald the season: It’s Easter!

— MAT