The Colour of Music

Deputising for Marie Coltman, it was my great pleasure to sample the music and singing of this multi-talented and very friendly society for the first time. I like a concert with a theme and this was a most unusual one. Based on the game of Trivial Pursuit (an original concept from Wayne Reddin), it featured songs that were linked to the colours of the cheeses used in the game. Dean Attard acted as question master/compere, posing questions relating to the various colours to the rest of the singers. Apart from the songs that resulted from the colours, various interesting facts and a few poems emerged along the way, all adding to a fascinating and most enjoyable evening.

The concert was a mixture chorus numbers and songs for soloists or small groups of singers. Unfortunately, the programme did not credit the performers of each item, so I cannot compliment them individually but, without exception, they were singers of the highest standard who performed with great confidence and style. The standard of the choral singing was equally high with a good number of singers in each vocal range, giving excellent balance and volume.

I have never before experienced such a diverse and unusual selection of music presented in one concert. Boublil & Schonberg, Neil Diamond, Sting, Alan Menken & Howard Ashman, Lloyd-Webber, Kander & Ebb, Peter Sarstedt, Tchaikovsky and Rodgers & Hart (and more) all featured in this eclectic mix. Some of the pieces had been arranged by members of the group and I am sure this is what held the selection together so that nothing jarred or seemed out of place. My favourite was a medley from the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon, expertly arranged for four parts by Steve Christie.

Something else I have never witnessed before was that each piece was conducted by a different person and so the responsibility for keeping order was spread between six people. Most groups are lucky to have one musical director – very few have the talent to be able to field six! Apart from the use of a few backing tracks, keyboard accompaniment was used for most numbers (well done Rose Butler for your sterling work), but members also played the guitar, flute and beatbox (at least I think that’s what it was!)

What a versatile and talented group the Waterside Musical Society is. I enjoyed the evening immensely, as did the capacity audience on Saturday night at Beaulieu, and felt genuinely uplifted at the end. I look forward to deputising for Marie again!
 

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