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Classical Concerts
- MAS at Hamsey Church
The Musician of All Saints 2006 Hamsey Old Church
Chamber Music Festival concludes this afternoon (note the
early time) with a visit from two choirs and a string ensemble,
who will be playing a programme ranging from French songs
and spirituals to Greek dances. The Brighton Singers will
be accompanied by the Brighton and Hove Youth Ensemble, and
the Dieppe Rivers Choir will sing unaccompanied. The Brighton
musicians will be directed by Andrew Sherwood. Sherwood is
quite a figure: an inspiring director who has recently directed
classical music’s new superstar Nicola Benedetti in
the Brighton Festival.
These are happy times for Hamsey Church, which dates from
925, but was nearly demolished in Victorian times because
of the shrinking population of the village and the consecration
of a new church in Offham. Thankfully those plans were never
carried out, although the church was demoted to the status
of ‘chapel-of-ease’ and used as the local mortuary.
Nowadays services are held every first Sunday of the month
from May to September – the church has no heating or
electricity so regular winter services are out of the question.
Today’s concert will be candle-lit. It is being held
earlier today as the Dieppe singers have to get an evening
ferry back home. Try to book tickets in advance – last
week’s concert was a sell out, though those without
tickets were welcome to listen from outside, and make a donation.
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