What a fantastic Concert! Choir, Band and Saxophonist!
Last year’s guests, The Derby Youth Band conducted by Tom Jones, returned and were as great as ever with foot-tapping numbers such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and the gentler Mid-Winter. I particularly enjoyed Tom’s own lively arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
I have to say that the special guest Alistair Parnell, with his various saxophones – including the amazing “aerophone”, was fabulous. He thrilled us with the atmospheric Gabriel’s Oboe, the aerophone violin sound of Schindler’s List and the rousing Santa Claus is Coming to Town; he received a standing ovation from some of the audience.
Derby & Burton Hospitals Choir themselves gave the best performance I have heard from them – with delicate singing in gentle carols such as Rutter’s Christmas Lullaby, foot tapping energy (& clapping) in other such as Disney’s The Bare Necessities, and big moments in finalé pieces such as God Bless Us Everyone. For me however, the highlights were the special arrangements for Choir, Piano and Saxophone of “My Heart Will Go On”, and “Unchained Melody”.
With over 500 in the audience and more than 120 performers, professionally compered by Richard Moulder, everyone I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed it – how will they follow that next year?
If you missed it – then you can listen to the choir pieces below: