A cracking concert yesterday evening

I've written about both 'The Calstock Singers' and 'Under the Fingers' before (revision time: 'Under the Fingers' are 4 of our local talented instrumentalists who between them play recorders, cello, harp and guitar). They combined last night to delight their audience with 'More Mulled Music', a Christmas Concert at the Peterloo Poets hall in Calstock. Three friends and yours truly arrived early and were able to bag seats in the front row this time. The programme started at 7.30 and with a half hour break in the middle continued through to 10 o'clock. When I reported on the three previous concerts they performed at this venue I was full of praise for them but there was always the thought "can they keep this incredible standard going" knowing that they had to look at a new programme each time. No need to worry, as ever they were on absolutely cracking form! By the way when I say "three previous concerts" I mean the last three, the ones I saw, because I have a feeling that they may have performed there previously - must check on this sometime.

So far as the instrumentalists were concerned there were a few variations this time: while waiting for the concert to start a clarinetist whose name unfortunately eludes me played some gentle music from up in the gallery, in some of the items Rosie did some drumming in addition to playing her more usual recorders and guitar, there was more accompaniment than before from Nicola on the Xylophone (though sadly no 'Tamar Broom Dance' or 'Tico Tico' from her - I love its sound as a solo instrument), and we had Peter, new to these concerts, playing the piano. As ever Liz and Jenny were there playing guitar and harp in their usual brilliant manner and Pauline was alternating between conducting the choir and playing her electric cello.

One or two comments on the singing now: we had Cliff and Nicola combining together to sing 'The Final Barge' one of the pieces from 'The Song of the Tamar', their voices blended beautifully in this lovely song and I hope we shall see them duetting together in future. I have to say that Cliff is one of the larger members of the choir and Nicola the smallest but with Cliff sitting down and Nicola standing head height wasn't too different! There was a very funny Cornish take on 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and a few dance steps ably performed by our MC Richard and two of the ladies in the choir at the end of 'The Woodcutter's Song'. Richard as usual kept proceedings ticking along gently and his jokes are as awful as ever. Once again performers and audience were indebted to Harry Chambers for the use of the 'Peterloo Poets' building and Harry read four short poems during the course of the evening. I should have mentioned too the brief appearances from Rob adding extra comedy twists to the proceedings as well as demonstrating what a fine singing voice he has.

There was a raffle in aid of that most worthy of charities 'Shelterbox' which in my book is the nearest thing yet devised to the perfect relief organisation. When the first two tickets drawn were those bought by members of the Singers we were joking that something funny was going on but then members of the audience started winning prizes so that was all right then! I don't recall the exact figure raised but it was certainly in excess of £100. As usual we could avail ourselves of a glass of mulled wine and a delicious mince pie, all included in the ticket price of just £5.

Now if I only I had known I could have stayed at home and watched the final of 'The X Factor' - I'm jesting of course. As with 'Strictly Come Dancing' I've never watched the ITV alternative on Saturday evenings. I did have a quick look today on the internet at a video of the lady who won on this TV show so that I can be a little informed. I'm sure that she's very talented in many people's eyes but for me such offerings can't in any way be compared with the marvellous show I was privileged to witness in Calstock yesterday evening.

I'll just add a couple of links here and here for Peterloo Poets and Shelterbox. Finally if you live in the Calstock area and would like to join The Calstock Singers they resume their rehearsals on Monday evenings in January (starting at 7.30 pm) at The Old Chapel in Sand Lane.

Calstock singers on top form again

This is the weekend of the Calstock Festival and, as happened last year, one event has been a top rate concert by the Calstock Singers and 'Under the Fingers' . They performed yesterday evening at the 'Peterloo Poets' venue, one of the village's former Methodist Churches. I was with three friends from my village together with a friend of one of these, on holiday from Buckinghamshire.

The only problem I have in reviewing these concerts is that it is easy to run out of superlatives; it has to be stated though that this isn't just a case of supporting local performers, many of whom I know, and as a result letting personal bias cloud my judgment. No this was absolutely top quality accessible entertainment all for the princely sum of £5 that included a complimentary glass of wine. As usual there was that easy informality and gentle humour that adds so much to such an event. The theme this time was a 'World Tour' including music and song from such diverse locations as France, Spain, Russia, Africa, Australia and America! It's a given I suppose that one's appreciation of so much music can be very dependant on how it's arranged and then presented on the day. Well last night they really excelled in that department as the arrangements certainly matched the enormous abilities of the performers.

Thinking back it's quite difficult to find a favourite out of the 28 items on the programme but if I have to single out one in particular it would be 'Tico Tico' led by Nicola on the xylophone. No professionals could have done it better and certainly it drew enormous applause. Nicola, I think you might be getting requests to play it again in the local pub sessions! But all the others were excellent. Mention must be made of Pauline, Rosie and Richard who between them did most of the talking bits introducing the different items.

Ladies and Gentlemen it was once again a fabulous evening! Thank you very much! I think we have to wait now till Christmas for the next concert from these remarkably talented people.

Calstock concert pleases

Last Saturday evening saw a pause in what was otherwise a very stormy weekend. Three friends and yours truly went off to a pre-booked concert at the old chapel in Calstock, the home of 'Peterloo Poets'. 'The Calstock Singers' and 'Under the Fingers' presented a programme described as "Mulled Music for a Winter's Evening". A very pleasant evening's entertainment it turned out to be. There were no less than 14 items in each half of the concert with it's fair to say something to please everyone. As happened in a similar event much earlier this year there was a very varied menu of music, song and poetry.

One of the busiest performers was Pauline who not only is the Musical Director for the Calstock Singers but plays Cello for 'Under the Fingers'. The other members of the group were Rosie (recorders and guitar - I swear she can pick up any instrument and play it), Liz (guitar) and Jenny (harp). Another instrumentalist taking part was Nicola who I was pleased to see playing 'Tamar Broom Dance' on her xylophone. This is a wonderfully simple uncluttered tune composed by Rosie that one never tires of hearing. Excellent though the Calstock Singers are I do have a slight leaning toward purely instrumental music, a bias inherited from my late father I think. The playing of Beethoven's Minuet in G was a special highlight.

The repertoire of The Calstock Singers is nothing if not varied and in truth one or two of their songs did absolutely nothing for me - no reflection on the quality of the singing I hasten to add, it was just the songs I didn't like. On the plus side there were a number of old favourites to enjoy: 'My Grandfather's Clock' and 'Little Brown Jug' were just two examples. And although I've heard 'Silent Night' so often before I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much as on this occasion.

There was a chance afterwards to thank one or two of the performers and what really came over in their replies was just how much they really really enjoyed what they did. And if all this wasn't enough the £4 ticket included a generous glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. I should have mentioned too that almost every seat was taken.

Well done one and all for yet another sparkling evening.

Book now for Calstock concert

On the 31st May I recorded how much a friend and I had enjoyed a concert at Calstock. This was an amalgam of items from 'The Calstock Rubber Band', 'The Calstock Singers' and 'Under the Fingers' together with a few poetry readings. So it's good news to hear that there will be another concert at the same former Methodist Church, now the home of 'Peterloo Poets', on this coming Saturday evening.

Evidently the programme will be relatively genteel as 'The Rubber Band' with their very vibrant music won't be participating. 'Under the Fingers' are technically part of the rubber band but they play the notably quieter stuff using recorder, harp, cello and guitar. I believe that they will be joined by Nicola (Xylophone).

I and three friends have booked our seats. This Christmas Concert is called 'Mulled Music', it starts at 7.30 pm this Saturday the 8th and the price of £4 includes a glass of wine and a mince pie - can't be bad! More information and to book please phone 01822 835833.

Superb concert at Calstock

This half term week has seen the Calstock Festival take place and one of the items was a concert in a former chapel in the village on Sunday evening. It was based around a theme of "Underneath the Arches" as this year the village celebrates the centenary of the building of its famous railway viaduct which in fact is not many yards away from the chapel.

The start of the evening felt very gloomy, more akin to November than May, so we felt the need to be cheered up! I have written before about Calstock Rubber Band and they were joined on this occasion by the Calstock Singers. The rubber band play a lot of very lively music but four of them calling themselves "Under the Fingers" also play in a much quieter vein. They are Rosie (Recorders and vocals), Pauline (Cello and vocals), Liz (Guitar) and Jenny (Harp). In addition to the music we had some poetry readings delivered by Harry Chambers from Peterloo Poets. The old chapel it should be said is the home for 'Peterloo Poets' and has a wonderfully big clear east window that looks beyond the Tamar to the fields on the Devon bank. It was good to see numerous house martins swooping around outside this window as we waited for the event to start.

Peterloo Poets have an informative website here and by clicking on 'About Peterloo Poets' one can see a picture of the chapel from the river.

Including the interval the whole programme was nearly three hours long, terrific value for our £4 per person concessionary payment. How the participants remained so calm and relaxed throughout amazed us - it was a truly professional performance.

I must also mention Richard Hendin the Master of Ceremonies who I didn't know but who could kept proceedings moving at the right pace with plenty of easy humour. The balance between music song and words could hardly have been bettered. All in all a truly memorable evening.