Carol concerts are not normally my cup of tea, so it was with some hesitation that I agreed to review this event. Fortified with mulled wine I reported for duty. Contrary to my expectations the Carols for All concert, presented by the Bach Choir and Oxfordshire Young Singers on Saturday, turned out to be good fun. Some of the ‘standards’ were there but also a lot more. Three spirituals on the nativity theme provided some early interest, with their jazzy syncopations and cross rhythms. The singing didn’t quite have the zing of a gospel choir but it got my foot tapping. The setting of Tomorrow shall be my dancing day by contemporary composer John Gardner provided more entertainment with the choir joined by snare drum, tambourine and piano. The Oxfordshire Young Singers, aged seven to 13, performed some interesting repertoire, including two pieces written specifically for Oxfordshire children. Martin Cox's Ring-a-ding-ding was a lively piece and later in the concert the children sang a charming New Zealand carol, Te Harinui. Non-musical interludes were provided by three witty poems reflecting on different aspects of the festive season. T’was the month after Christmas (dieting) by ‘anon’ was a timely caution against over indulgence. With the two choirs, various accompanists coming and going, the varied repertoire and the readings, the whole event at times had the air of an amateur talent show. Then, of course, there was the audience participation. Having warmed us up with a few well known numbers, conductor Timothy Byram-Wigfield put our abilities to the test. For David Willcocks’s Birthday Carol we had to learn two short refrains which then had to be interjected between passages sung by the choir. And in The Twelve Days of Christmas we were divided into 12 sections, each singing a part – with hilarious results.

Able accompaniment from Michael Heighway (organ) and 15-year-old Sam Chapman (cornet) also deserve mention.

Simon Collings

Oxford Times 24 Dec 2009