We went and sang
… Fauré in Duns
Despite the best efforts of Storm Babet, eight members of choir, and Alberto, joined in the Come and Sing weekend of Fauré Requiem, led by Kit Hobkirk, in Duns Volunteer Hall.
The assembled choir of seventy singers had travelled from Duns and surrounding villages; from Berwick, Edinburgh and even as far away as Dorset and, if not returning home on Saturday night were staying with friends, at nearby inns or on the sheltered caraven site in Paxton House walled garden.
Kit had 9 hours of rehearsal time lined up for the weekend with the emphasis, not on note-bashing, but on mouth shape (particularly for the rendition in French of Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine) and on emotion – handwringing and seaweed gently waving beneath the waves lapping on the shores of a Hebridean island were two ideas we tried to convey.
It was hard work for all, but under the expert tuition of Kit and much excellent sustenance provided by local Duns establishments and served by a wonderful team of volunteers, the audience were treated to a fabulous programme presented by the ‘scratch’ choir and orchestra with 2 amazing soloists – Paul Grant and Olivia Massimo – performing the solos of this requiem.