Buscot, near Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8DA
Buscot Park is a cultivated treasure just beyond Lechlade, a late eighteenth century Palladio-inspired house set in exquisite gardens. Explore the tree lined avenues to discover a host of delights, water gardens, lemon trees and an extensive lake, teeming with wildlife. Set in the eastern pavilion by the house is a newly refurbished, and fully equipped theatre, which has recently staged performances by Pam Ayres and Rory Bremner.
On September 15th, a beautiful warm evening, the Cappella Singers performed in this intimate, comfortable space, specially invited to sing in aid of the Eaton Hastings Organ Fund in a concert arranged by Dr Mervyn Humphries.
Opening with Non nobis, Domine, a stirring anthem, the choir then sang Walford Davies’ Blessed are the Pure in Heart. How Lovely are thy Dwellings from Brahms’ Requiem was sensitively sung with piano accompaniment. Nicholas Reed’s arrangement of a seventeenth century Gaelic lament for the death of a Scottish boatman, included in Cappella’s tour of Mull earlier in the year, was performed here with a lovely, cohesive fluidity.
The programme featured a variety of piano solos played on the Steinway by Michael Haynes to the obvious delight of the audience. These included a beautiful Pavane by Ravel, Brahms’ Intermezzo in E and Billy Mayerl’s lively Sweet William.
Finzi’s haunting piece, I praise the tender flower, was succeeded by Just as the tide was flowing by Vaughan Williams, a jolly, rousing conclusion to the first half.
After the interval, and invigorated by the curry sandwiches, musical director Philip Colls explained the sources of five Shakespearean Aphorisms brilliantly set by Mark Blatchly. The majestic, tightly sung Shenandoah followed, a highlight for me, heralding several lively arrangements of well known African American spirituals, during which the 50-strong audience were invited to “feel unbuttoned” and supply percussion, which they certainly did! Colls’ arrangement of Go down, Moses always raises the roof. Ever-versatile, Cappella finished with Rivers of Babylon, a best-seller for Boney M in the seventies, with a reworking of words from the Psalms.
Sometimes, everything seems right - the weather, the hosts, the setting, the music - and this was such a night. There was wine, cake, cheese straws ... and the marmeladed sausages were just scrumptious. T.P.
The Cappella Singers: Registered Charity no 262530