When it comes to Christmas, Alan Taylor is a hero, at least as far as Chipperfield Choral Society is concerned.. Every year Alan takes it upon himself to write a carol and the choir just love singing it.
“I either do a Christmas carol or a carol arrangement, it’s become a tradition, I’ve made a rod for my own back“ says Alan. “I’ve written about 10 compositions over the last 18 years. I start thinking about the next one in January when Christmas is still in the air although I don’t get down to the nitty gritty until summer. I work at the piano writing on manuscript paper, then move on Sibelius music software. I scour literature books and poems for lyrics. It takes me a long time, I can’t produce it at the drop of a hat like John Rutter! I once turned a Dominican carol into a choral arrangement but one people have really loved is Cradle Song – it’s a lullaby.
This year my main composition is Gloria in excelcis Deo and also a calypso carol I have arranged in four parts. We perform them at Christ Church, Chorleywood on 17 December. They are only two of 15 carols we sing. We rehearse weekly with our accompanist, Rosemary Venner from Chorleywood. Our conductor, Delia Meehan, is a musical force, the choir was about 29 strong when she took over 25 yrs ago, now we’re 110 and one of the best choirs in Hertfordshire!”
“ The choir enjoys singing Alan’s carol partly because it has been written especially for them! ” adds Delia, “It’s a very friendly relaxed choir with no auditions. The most important things is that we do things that people like singing.”
Chipperfield Choral Society sing at a Carol Concert, Christ Church, Chorleywood, Thurs 17 Dec, 8pm, £12, in aid of Cancer Research
Tickets: Mariet Bramall 01923 262521
Picture below shows: Carol composer Alan Taylor with accompanist Rosemary Venner at piano and Conductor Delia Meehan
