The Christmas season means so many different things to each one of us. It always brings back special memories of our own childhoods, giving and receiving presents, and singing carols. Re-imagine those magical times, and get yourself into the Christmas spirit by coming to one, or even both, of the Surrey Hills Singing School Christmas Concerts. Our Family Christmas Concert in Cranleigh on Saturday December 9th starting at 6.30pm, features all our choirs. Our youngest performers are the Training Choir. You might well have a smile on your face and perhaps a lump in your throat as you enjoy these little ones already showing the joy of singing together with friends, and the discipline of listening to each other as they perform simple but engaging songs, finishing with ‘’Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’’ Then a complete change of mood as our junior choir, Young Voices, invites you back to the school playground to ‘fight for the right to be a little bit naughty’ in ‘’Revolting Children’’ from the musical ‘Matilda’. Then come three spirituals including one for the Rugby dads ‘’Swing Low’’, followed by arrangements of ‘Somewhere only we know and Slade’s ‘I wish it could be Christmas every Day’, and they finish their set with Love come down, a partner song with Away in a Manger.
Following on from the children, the Surrey Hills Singers, our ladies choir will delight you with their programme which includes Hotaru Koi, a traditional Japanese song, an evocation of fireflies. You will be able to imagine the sounds of fluttering wings and the pulses of light with fireflies dancing in front of you. Then we come back to earth and sea with the traditional Scottish Skye Boat Song, before whisking you off to the jungle to hear Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’. The ladies then bring us back to Christmas with three numbers finishing off with a jazzy close harmony take on ‘Here comes Santa Claus’. The evening finishes with a set from the Chamber Choir. Highlights of their programme are three twentieth century pieces: ‘Ubi caritas’ by Gjeilo with a rise and fall of rich and evocative harmonies; the passionate and lively ‘With a lily in your hand’ by Eric Whitacre; and the hauntingly beautiful ‘The Lamb’ by Tavener. They finish with a light hearted Christmas song ‘Up on the housetop’ which brings us full circle back to celebrate childhood at Christmas with presents for the children from Santa Claus and his reindeer.
If you would like a more sophisticated concert, then do join us for our atmospheric late night concert on Sunday 10th December at 8.00pm in the beautiful St Nicholas Church in Guildford, which looks stunning bathed in candlelight. This concert features our two adult choirs from the Saturday event singing additional repertoire including ‘Epiphany Carol’ by Alexander L’estrange, contemplating the meanings of the gifts of the three wise men, Dona Nobis by Mark Miller, Veni Emanuel by Michael John Trotta, the French carol ‘Il est ne le divin enfant’ and ‘O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion’ from Handel’s Messiah.
Tickets for Saturday: £12 Adults and £3 for children 16 and under; Tickets for Sunday: Adults £12 and £5 for children 16 and under. Tickets include wine and refreshments and are available to purchase online at www.surreyhills-choirs.co.uk/tickets until 9pm the night before the performance. After the online ticketing closes please email tickets @ surreyhills-choirs.co.uk or call 01483 892474. Please book early as the concerts are popular.
