Concert Review
Concert Review by Mark Williamson
Spring Concerts May 2026 - 'Simple Gifts'
Clyst Valley Choral Society is known not only for the quality of its performances but also its innovative programming. Their Spring Concert held as usual in two venues in the lower Exe, Clyst St. Mary Church and Holy Trinity, Exmouth took as its title ‘Simple Gifts’. What the choir gave us was a musical exploration of freedom, love and friendship – aspirations at the heart of human experience, profound in their simplicity.
As usual under the baton of Paul Stock the music ranged widely with European composers ancient and modern, familiar and new with the singers supported by an ensemble of local musicians and soloists. For music lovers their concerts are a feast of several courses because in one performance the audience will hear choral works, instrumental works both with choir and as duets, plus solo pieces with choir and ensemble.
Unsurprisingly given Clyst Valley’s innovative approach to programme planning the theme of the concert is introduced by a lively piece originating in the ‘Shaker’ communities of America in the early 19th century. ‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free’ sung to an adaptation of Sidney Carter’s popular Lord of the Dance’. This free-flowing and popular tune but with different wording also concludes the concert, reminding us of the values spoken by the music.
No Clyst Valley concert would be without a surprise. Among the pieces exploring the idea of simplicity such as Mozart’s much-loved Ave verum corpus and a beautiful rendition of Yeats’ poem Down by the Salley gardens was a mysteriously titled work by a little known Estonian, Arvo Part. Spiegel in Spiegel (mirror in the mirror) is scored by a mathematical formula where the descending melody line mirrors the ascending phrases. Played by Paul Stock himself on piano with Pip Ash on cello its hypnotic, seemingly never ending interplay of the two instruments compelled listeners to close their eyes and see where their imagination transported them, in my case a silent Exe under a morning mist.
The search for Freedom has inspired great music through the ages and demonstrated the strength of the choir across the vocal range with Verdi’s ever popular Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves and, with the ensemble and the baritone richness of Jason Bomford, the serene but always moving theme from Finlandia.
The gift of Love ranged across the spectrum of such a complex emotion. Solveig’s song from Grieg’s Peer Gynt suite, perhaps the most heart-rending expression of longing ever written in musical form, played beautifully as a piano duet by Paul Stock and Greg Susevee, introduced this section of the programme. More joyous pieces included Elgar’s Salut d’amour, an orchestral gift for his fiancée and Offenbach’s Barcarolle with its gentle rhythms played by Clare Rackham, Phil Bonser and Mark Perry on Flute, Clarinet and Piano respectively recreating a sound-picture of a gondola at twilight.
Followers of the choir, and there are many, expect the new whilst looking forward to favourites from the standard repertoire and in the final section on Friendship they were not disappointed with Jason Bomford’s superb singing of Vaughan Williams’ The Call from his Five Mystical Songs and Elgar’s universally loved Nimrod, played with feeling as well as precision by this talented ensemble.
The warm appreciation of the audience at both concerts was both a recognition of the commitment and work of the singers and players but also for a ‘thank you’ for a musical experience of quality that was hugely enjoyable. Music in itself cannot change our troubled world but it can speak, perhaps more than words, the values we aspire to.