Sadly not as beautifully as the two extremely talented flautists Antonia Warner and Dimity Shorrock, both 6th Form pupils at Hereford Cathedral School.
On Friday 21st April at St George’s Church, Woolhope ‘Songs of Praise’ could be heard resonating around the Woolhope Dome. Six hymns – chosen and introduced by members of the congregation – were sung by enthusiastic and hearty voices., supported by the descant singing of Hereford Cathedral School Chamber Choir. Absolute joy.
The beautiful hymns were interspersed with the magnificent sound of a duo of flutes performing ‘Note on Suite Antique” by John Rutter (b 1945). Suite Antiquewas written in 1979 specifically for a concert at the Cookham Festival. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5 was also on the programme, so Rutter scored Suite Antique for the same combination of instruments, paying homage to the forms and styles of Bach’s day.
Antonia and Dimity played with sensitivity and emotion starting with the Prelude, Ostinato, Aria to the uplifting Waltz and Chanson – culminating in the exquisite Rondeau.
The final anthem, sung by the Chamber Choir, Beati Quorum Via (Charles Villiers Stanford) was a fitting end to a wonderful evening to celebrate St George in the midst of the beautiful English Spring countryside!
