From the Editor: Tuesday 21st March

Opportunities are legion if you want to sing in Brighton. Community choirs sing pop, soul, classical, and more: some of which are more relaxed and don’t require you to read music.

Predictably, perhaps, I chose Brighton Orpheus Choir over a year ago (who put on high quality classical shows with professional soloists and orchestra) since these are precisely the sort of shows I love watching and writing about. The first rehearsal was daunting since I had no idea how to read the music, except that it had something to do with every good boy deserving food, which struck me as sad since even bad boys deserve food.

I wouldn’t let not being able to read music put you off joining a specific choir you’d like to though because it is quite intuitive and satisfying. This Saturday we’re performing Dvořák’s Requiem at All Saints Church, which is a beautiful piece of music that could be enjoyed by classical and non-classical music fans alike. You can stream the first movement at www.bit.ly/2lSVjMh which is sumptuously melancholy: swells of strings and woodwind support irresistibly gorgeous layers of soprano, alto, tenor and bass choral parts, which then develop into something more bombastic and thrilling.

If you’re more into pop singing or solo singers then skip to about 8 mins into the video at this link www.bit.ly/2n0nsR6 for a taste of the lyrical musical treat that is soloists backed up by orchestra and choir.

There’s something special about choral music performed live, where the immediacy and power of the voice can be raucous, peaceful, unsettling, weird, transcendental, spiritual, harmonious, diaphanous, bold, and/or moving in a way that anyone can enjoy. Come and hear some great music.

All Saints Church, 25 March, 7.30pm, Free to £15, www.brightonorpheus.org

Joe Fuller
editorial@thelatest.co.uk