Levens Choir Grange-over-Sands LEVENS Choir tackled Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in Grange and an extremely entertaining concert it was.

The energy and vitality was terrific and the people flocked to hear the treat.

Ian Jones paired George Dyson’s The Blacksmith with it and it worked well, both works in versions for two pianos and percussion.

It’s a dramatic piece, lots of anvils and hammering drum beats, which at times was more than the little hall could handle. The singers took time to settle down but there were some splendid crescendos and an effective ending.

Carmina Burana is a big sing and the words are an even bigger challenge. The choir got their tongues around the mediaeval Latin and German admirably. The women do ‘gentle maidens longing’ very well – the men do ‘lusty, virile and drunken’ very well! As usual it is impressive how many of the choir are able to take on solo parts – and some of these solos are very hard. The roasted swan deserves special mention – Simon McCleery made a very good fist of the extraordinary, strangled sound required.

The young people of the Amici Singers provided the rough, childish element well. They also gave us a nice bit of respite in the middle from all the drama, with a sweet, clean sound in four contrasting songs.

It was a delight to watch Ritmico, a bunch of cracking percussion players and their skill and professionalism. Some of the piano detail got a bit lost but Adrian Self and Anthony Milledge did a solid job.

The choir looked like it enjoyed itself – Grange did too.

Anice Paterson