The Cuckoo Sings...

venue:   St Michael and All Angels Church review date:   Sunday, 28 May 2006 words by:   Huw Edwards photos by:   James Brooks [ intro | page 1 ]

review

In the sumptuous surroundings of St. Michael & All Angels Church, we enjoyed an evening of music quite removed from the repertoire normally associated with gay men’s choirs.

The first part consisted of Geoff Robb playing haunting classical guitar, joined for a few Eva Cassidy songs by Aki whose restrained, ethereal voice suited the music and venue perfectly.

In the second part, the City of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus joined The David Ingledew Band, under the musical direction of Ignacio Jarquin, for a performance of David Ingledew’s “The Cuckoo Sings”. With Laura Windle as guest soprano, the voices combined to produce a sound with echoes of Stereolab, while the subtle piano and strings arrangements reminded me of the Penguin Café Orchestra or Michael Nyman. The band consisted of David Ingledew himself on piano, Simon Walker, violin, Rachael Firmager, cello and there was even Herbie Flowers on bass. Yes, really. That Herbie Flowers. Although I couldn’t quite catch all the lyrics in the rich acoustic of the church, the programme described the piece as being about “how we come to understand our own unique place in the world”, which I’m sure rings true for many people in Brighton. An unexpectedly different evening, defying stereotypes and embracing collaboration to produce some beautiful music.

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about City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus (CBGMC)

Back in January 2005, a group of guys got together and formed The City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus, their motivation being to create a welcoming environment in which gay men could sing in company. Since then, the chorus has performed at a number of high profile events, including The Phil Starr Tribute Gala at the magnificent Dome Concert Hall. They have also performed at Winter Pride in Whitehawk, The Brighton Festival and The Golden Handbag Awards. Next for City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus (CBGMC) this Tuesday: City of Brighton Gay Mens Chorus @ Brighton Tavern Click for more info and complete listings for City of Brighton Gay Men's Chorus (CBGMC)