Sebastian writes:

The quick title above tells only one story about final night time’s Barbican live performance (*). Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, one of many very happiest and greatest (and but nonetheless comparatively little recognized) sounds in London’s musical life made it onto the massive stage at a full Barbican Corridor final night time. And triumphed.

For the sake of completeness, an extended title to explain the HUGE present final night time with over 250 singers, of which SSGC had been only a half is perhaps “Gospel Explosion with the London Symphony Orchestra, Affiliate Artist André J Thomas, that includes London Symphony Refrain, LSO Neighborhood Voices, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and soloists.”

And but what stays in my ears, and what I need to focus on, is the sound of this glorious choir, actually sounding higher than ever underneath the path of Clarence Hunte and rising with ease to the touch each coronary heart within the Barbican. This was such an enormous second for SSGC, that’s what I need to concentrate on. Their mini-set of three numbers acquired a standing ovation. The vocal high quality, the vary of timbre and pacing, the burning conviction and whole pleasure and fabulous readability with which they sing are all breathtaking.

The three-number mini-set consisted of We The Kingdom’s rhythmically insistent “Holy Water” (with tremendous soloists Alexis Constantinou and Hannah Oguntade) , then a splendidly dreamily hushed but superbly managed “Nunc Dimittis” by Peter Yarde Martin, and an extremely affirming and joyous “We Shall Overcome”.

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SSGC have been performing for years. I keep in mind them doing Sunday lunchtimes on the 606 Membership as an accompaniment for the sausages and mash, or at St Stephen’s Walbrook, the place they might serenade the Henry Moore altar and make it really feel much more welcome than objectors did within the 1980’s after they took the church’s Rector to varied obscure church courts (LINK).

And extra not too long ago I’ve heard them at their month-to-month gig on the primary Sunday of each month (besides Jan and Feb) within the courtyard St James’s Piccadilly. As they remind me: “it’s not a church service: it’s an outside mini-festival, themed every month by considered one of life’s necessary values, and exploring that theme by way of the prism of gospel/soul music” A good proportion of the viewers occur to likelihood upon it and wander in whereas doing one thing else: I’ve by no means been to a different gig the place a few quarter of the viewers comes geared up a Hatchards or Waterstones service bag.

Additionally they do Evensongs at St Martins within the Fields. The following ones are on 20 Dec and 6 Jan. Final 12 months they did Cadogan Corridor, so Barbican, with greater than double the capability is one other step up. Congratulations SSGC!

(*) NOTE: This overview (manifestly and unashamedly) focuses on only a part of the Barbican live performance. Readers are VERY welcome add ideas on the remainder of the live performance within the feedback.