It took a good few minutes for the full eighty or so members of the Oxford Gospel Choir to file onto the stage. They came in clapping and swaying enthusiastically along to the music, dressed in black but with flamboyant bright scarves and ties, which made them a bright and cheerful ensemble. It was the beaming smiles that everyone was wearing that really made them a welcome sight for sore eyes.
But we hadn’t come to admire their outfits – we had come to hear them sing – and sing they did! It’s generally considered that music can be a powerful thing, and the combined impact of so many voices, joined in song, right from the first note, was certainly something inspirational and uplifting to the spirit.
It felt very fitting that the charity the Choir had chosen to support with the proceedings from their concerts this year, Guideposts, offer music therapy as a highly effective way of helping people with dementia, in all its forms. That night, just listening to and joining in with wide range of carols, traditional gospel classics and even the odd pop song, felt like it was making life just a little bit better – a testament to the healing properties of music.
The mix of music was well chosen, giving everyone a chance to hear the different forms that choral singing can take, and to appreciate the many talents of the group. When rousing choruses were called for, every voice rang out, and when a subtler approach to a gentle hymn was needed, there was a reigning in of the volume, but no less power in the delivery. For a choir with an ‘all welcome’ policy and doubtless therefore a wide range of skills, the harmonies were beautiful, the control excellent and the effect both moving and enlivening.
We were treated to impressive solo after impressive solo, each with a different style and tone, and some beautiful pairings where the singers’ voices really complimented each other. Sammi Lamb and Jules Francis in just the second song of the evening, set the high standard, Maddie Harris gave Maria Carey a run for her money with her rendition of All I want for Christmas, and Fiona Probert, accompanied only by the piano, gave a beautiful, sad and soulful performance of His Eye is on the Sparrow – to name but a few. Every singer who took the mike had something special to offer.
In true festive spirit, there were some great sing and clap along songs, to get the audience on their feet – or at least bouncing around in their seats. Some kids up in the balcony took the prize for participation, making me wish that everyday life gave us more opportunities for such unembarrassed celebration. Maybe it does – it certainly felt that way with the Oxford Gospel Choir helping us all along!