A MUSICAL BOOST TO THE DERBYSHIRE 2003 FESTIVAL
Derbyshire's efforts for their 2003 Festival for the
Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys received a welcome boost of more than £2,000
with a stirring performance of the Verdi Requiem in Derby Cathedral on Saturday
28th April 2001.
The competent Chorus was comprised of over 100 voices
drawn from the John Wade Singers and the Sheffield and District Masonic Choir,
the membership of which was made up of Brethren from Derbyshire (including the
R.W. Provincial Grand Master David Law), and from Yorkshire West Riding
Provinces all under the baton of the Musical Director W. Bro. John Wade P. Prov.
S.G.D. The instrumental section included five trumpets, four horns, three
trombones, a tuba and percussion, all of which combined to thrill the many
listeners and exploit the Cathedral acoustics to the full in the dramatic
rendering of this great Work. The four professional standard soloists were
Barbara Lowe (soprano), who was a soloist at the Royal Opera Covent Garden for
many years, Eleanor Fear (mezzo-soprano), Keith Halliday (tenor), and James
Powell (bass). They were very ably accompanied by the instrumentalists and the
whole performance was greatly enhanced by the excellent organist Paul Green.
The Sheffield and District Masonic Choir was formed in
1991 when John Wade gathered a number of Freemasons from South Yorkshire and
North Derbyshire to perform occasionally at Lodges in the area, whether as
entertainment after dinner or to provide musical illustration when he was giving
a musical talk in Lodge. Since then it has acquired a more formal structure and
has travelled far afield, including visits to, Derby, Harrogate, Manchester,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oldham and York. The Choir has also forged links with other
Masonic Choirs, notably the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Masonic Male
Voice Choir and the Durham Masonic Male Voice Choir. This has led to a number of
joint events including singing Evensong in Peterborough and Sheffield
Cathedrals, providing musical entertainment at the laying of the foundation
stone at the Masonic Hall at the Beamish Museum and, most recently, a weekend in
Guernsey where they performed at a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Guernsey and Alderney.
ERIC MITCHELL
