On Saturday, March 23, it was the long awaited Rye Marsh Choir concert, performed in All Saints Church in Lydd, Kent. It is a beautiful space and the acoustics are fantastic, especially with the choir being nearly eighty strong, with many individuals from other Marsh Choirs that Carly Bryant leads, like Appledore, Hythe, St Mary’s Bay and Dymchurch. The church is rather grand and one wondered if enough people would come to listen. Well, before the choir was assembled, the pews were taken and eventually there was standing room only. The other three choirs had sung on Friday March 22 with the same success.
Carly, the amazing leader, is adored by everyone who joins any of her choirs, for her ability to teach us in an hour at least two songs we may or may not know, and the harmonies she herself has worked out, but mostly for making this hour fun, for her enthusiasm and lots of encouragement and laughter. There are about forty to fifty altos in the choir, with a full sound, tenors and bases as usual are wanting, though most of the time there are about fifteen to twenty of them, and sopranos about the same number, but their voices soar above all, magic. The respect for Carly shows – there is no chatter during that hour.
We were definitely ready for the Lydd concert, with ten songs, (Nights in White Satin / Up on the Roof/ Wuthering Heights / Adiemus / The Chain / Creep-Radiohead and many others. Apart from wanting to please Carly, we also wanted to show the audience just how much joy there is in singing. Some evenings when we are practicing, Carly tapes us and then sends a copy to everyone so as to hear where improvement is possible which is very helpful. So anyone out there, even if you think you aren’t able to sing, you will in these choirs and feel part of something that lifts the mood.
Anyone interested please go to www.marshchoir.com
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .