FOLK SONGS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, WITH THE CHAMBER CHOIR OF BELHAVEN
COLLEGE, THE CHILDREN'S CHOIR OF MISSISSIPPI, AND THE "SCOTTISH COUNTRY
DANCERS" OF THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF MISSISSIPPI, AT BELHAVEN COLLEGE
GIRAULT AUDITORIUM, NOVEMBER 8, 1997.

   Saturday afternoon is not a common time for concerts, but it worked
well here. Girault Auditorium was nearly filled. The program opened
with the standard Scottish processional, "Scotland, the Brave", played
by Belhaven Piper Judy Tremblay. Then followed three Scottish country
dances (to recorded accompaniment): "The Sailor" (a hornpipe); "Wind
on Loch Fyne" (a strathspey, uniquely Scottish); and "Shifting Bobbins"
(a reel). These were danced - appropriately - by the Scottish Country
Dancers of the Caledonian Society of Mississippi, and featured from
3 to 4 pairs of dancers. While all three dances harked back to a more
rural, carefree (at least in our imaginations!), time, I especially
liked the reel "Shifting Bobbins". The dancers followed the music with
enthusiasm and precision.

   Next the Belhaven Chamber Choir combined with the Children's Choir
of Mississippi to sing, under the direction of Angela Willoughby, 
Director of the Belhaven Choirs, "The Ash Grove" and "Over the Sea to
Skye". Balance and blend were both good.

   The Children's Choir of Mississippi, directed by Joanna Hunt, sang
"Sleep, My Baby," a Welsh tune made memorable by its use in the movie
"Empire of the Sun"; "The Raggle Taggle Gypsie" (my favorite of the
three), and "Loch Lomond" (much of it in parts). This choir continues
to develop, both musically and physically (there are now some tenors
and basses!) Martha Murray provided her usual flawless and sensitive
accompaniments.

   The Belhaven Chamber Choir then sang four selections from "A Sprig
of Thyme", a collection of folk songs set by John Rutter. This included
some elements of staging, with gestures and variable groupings intended
to portray village scenes, and was directed quite unobtrusively from the
piano by director-accompanist Willoughby. The individual songs were
"The Bold Grenadier", "A Sprig of Thyme", "The Miller of Dee", and
"The Keel Row". The last, my favorite of the four, included some dances
by the men. 

   The program closed with the popular "Danny Boy", an Irish tune sung
by the combined choirs. The Belhaven Chamber Choir sang the first verse
A CAPELLA, and then were joined by the Children's Choir. I thought it
was the best piece of the afternoon. The performers then were piped 
out (Judy Tremblay) and the people returned to their normal Saturday
afternoon activities. It was a very pleasant way to spend an hour.

                                                - Glenn A. Gentry