“CAN’T BELIEVE It’s Christmas” and “The very best time of year” are carols by Oler and Rutter respectively, writes Garry Fraser.
Their names might sound a bit of a contradiction but they were two items in the programme delivered by the Lydian Singers on Wednesday night in Dundee West Church.
The Lydians are an accomplished, well-established group and while they could sing accompanied carols until the cows come home, only a capella singing can illustrate a choir’s ability.
There’s certainly nothing lacking in this ensemble, as they displayed all the credentials of a well-disciplined unit in the unaccompanied The Angels Song.
This was a carol where the harmonies shone through, where the balance was excellent and the diction was just perfect.
These characteristics were maintained throughout the concert, with musical director Helen Addison putting together a programme that flowed from the calypso-like Hush Hear the Angels through Althouse’s Look at that Star, which had a touch of the spiritual about it, to the German traditional Weinachtslied.
All the full company carols were interspersed with solos and duets and although I should not pick out any particular song from them, Wendy Clarke and Kirsty Thomson combined to excellent effect in Star Bright.
With pithy poetry recited by Bobbie Ramsay, Helen pitching in with some humorous recitation and Bill Boyle volunteering trumpet music fromSchubert and Tchaikovsky, it was a nice mixed bag that put everyone in the Christmas mood.