03/12/2021
Country village Christmas in Kent:
WHAT ARE CAROLS FROM SHEFFIELD
DOING IN GOUDHURST?
‘Sheffield Carols’ are traditionally belted out by a full house of drinkers in Yorkshire pubs, but two of them will be a feature of A Very British Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, Goudhurst. In keeping with the pub tradition, though, the audience will be joining in the simple, rousing tunes … and there’s expected to be a full house.
The Goudhurst Christmas concert, with the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society and Wadhurst Brass Band, has become an annual event that heralds in the village Christmas. This one, on 11 December, has a programme of festive music from around Britain, such as the Sussex and Coventry carols, and settings by great composers such as Vaughan Williams…and Handel (who though German, spent most of his adult life in England and was a British citizen). The cornets, horns, and trombones and euphoniums of Wadhurst Brass Band will join choir and the audience to raise the church roof in some traditional carols.
“We love playing with RTWCS, and have been doing so for at least nine years,” said Wadhurst band manager Denise Beedell. “It’s an honour to play with such a professional group of singers and bring brass band sparkle to what is always an interesting and exciting programme of music.”
Two evocative works in the programme were composed by the Choral Society’s accompanist Craig Hudson, also Director of Music at St John’s Church, Tunbridge Wells, who will be playing the organ. The concert is directed by the professional conductor and pianist Robyn Sevastos.
If there a list of Top Ten Christmas concerts in the Wealden area, the spirit and atmosphere created by the combined forces of the RTW Choral Society, Wadhurst Brass Band, and the setting of St Mary’s, Goudhurst would surely earn a place on it.
A VERY BRITISH CHRISTMAS, St Mary’s Church, Goudhurst,
11th December 2021, 6.30pm. Tickets £10 (adult), £5 (child in full-time education), on the door, or online at rtwcs.org.uk
