The Marsh Choir took to the stage at St Mary’s Church on Thursday evening 10 September as part of this year’s Rye Arts Festival, having also opened the festival last year.
Led by Carly Bryant, the choir delighted a packed audience with an eclectic programme delivered with the harmonies, snappy rhythms and joie de vivre for which they are renowned.
Here are some highlights from a wonderful evening’s music:
The evening opened with a stirring rendition of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.
Half the world away, by Oasis, one of Carly’s favourites as a teenager, which got the audiences’ feet tapping.
A tender performance of Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me to the End of Love, perfectly caught the song’s contrasting themes of darkness and beauty.
Pink stetsons were in evidence amongst the choir for Dolly Parton’s I will Always Love You, although recent events added a layer of poignancy to this iconic love song.
A piece I particularly liked was Olivia Dean’s Man I Need, a deeply emotional song, delivered by the choir with great control. Carly’s arrangement of this has already been picked up by other choirs including one in Switzerland.
The show closed with a rousing version of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky that had the audience clapping along.
Although The Marsh Choir comprises flocks from several villages on The Romney Marsh, this concert was delivered with great enthusiasm by the Rye flock, which alone has over 80 singers.
A Christmas Carol – but not as you know it!
On the evening of Saturday 5 December, the Marsh Choir will be returning to St Mary’s Church.
Join the Marsh Choir for a spectacular choral retelling of Dicken’s timeless tale, where pop anthems, soaring harmonies and a little Victorian mischief bring Scrooge’s journey to life.
Adapted by Carly Bryant and Kim Jenkins, and with a narration recorded by Joanna Lumley, this will be a Christmas Carol with a difference.
“Come for the music. Stay for the story. Leave with a little more Christmas spirit.”
Image Credits: Jeff Grice .