Toad Lane Concerts: More Than Melody Ladies Choir

More than Melody Ladies Choir

The words of the opening chorus of Comedy Tonight by Sondheim set the theme for the eager midday audience at St Mary in the Baum on Wednesday 12 June: ‘with something for everybody’.

More than Melody is a group of ladies from Bury, Oldham and Rochdale formed in 2008 by Alyson Brailsford ‘to have fun and fellowship and provide a programme of musical entertainment’. They certainly fulfilled their mission today.

Avuncular conductor, Jonathan Gibson graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music as a horn player and now freelances. He is also currently the musical director of Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society. Pianist Brian Milligan, a member of several vocal and opera groups, accompanied throughout.

It was indeed a varied programme. Show songs of stage and screen and settings of popular and serious songs were all treated with enthusiasm. Joyful arrangements of 'A dream is a wish your heart makes', 'I leave my heart in an English garden', and 'I whistle a happy tune', led to a resonant contralto rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah from Jennifer Workman.

'The impossible dream', and a spiritual, 'Rocka my soul' led to an unusual but moving choral arrangement of ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ from Handel’s Messiah.

In contrast, a poetry reading by Ann Baxter-Stubbs commented with wry humour on ageing disgracefully.

The penultimate set consisted of a Perry Como medley including 'Magic moments' and 'Catch a falling star'. Then 'The Music of the Night' by Andrew Lloyd Webber, 'Westering Home' and 'Bless this house'.

Finally, all this culminated in ABBA’s famous hit 'Thank you for the music'. The sentiment of these words was reflected back by the audience in their sustained applause.

Magic moments indeed.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson