Our Music
We like to sing a wide variety of music throughout the year – choral and vocal music, both a cappella and accompanied, serious and fun, happy and moving, but always uplifting.
Our year is usually split into 3 seasons:
Jan – Easter: a spring project.
These can include a classical work, a project with another choir, or something a bit different. We usually work with live musicians and soloists to give our members the opportunity to work with professionals and have an experience of being part of a live music event.
In 2024 we performed Vivaldi’s Gloria in Bolstertone St. Mary’s with chamber orchestra and 2 very talented soloists…
2025 is going to be a project called ‘A Drop O Nelson’s Blood’ – a set of sea shanties! We will be performing in central Sheffield as part of the Classical Sheffield weekend.
Easter – Summer: a mix of things we love
From musical theatre, pop & rock, ballads, folk to something themed. 2024 is the bi-centenary of the RNLI so we’ve joined with choirs around the UK in using 2 newly published pieces from ‘ChoirCommunity’ as part of this year’s program. We usually have local guests at our summer concert – a chance to hear and see another group (singers or musicians). This year we are welcoming back the award winning ‘Silver Spectrum’ windband
Sept – Dec: All things Christmas.
We sing a variety of different pieces, as well as using the ‘blue book’ carols as part of our season. We have 2-3 concerts or events including one with a local school, and one with a brass band. There’s a trip to Howarth to sing on the cobbled streets, and in the church, and usually an event such as a care home, or Christmas lunch. We love a bit of Christmas sparkle too – and Christmas jumpers seem to appear at practices from about Oct!
Our singing repertoire spans over 400 years, coming from our library of over 200 songs. We cover a variety of genres. The repertoire includes sacred and secular: from 16th Century madrigals to more contemporary musicals and other popular songs; (not forgetting a whole range of seasonal music and carols at Christmas). We’re always looking for new ideas!
Songs we have performed recently include:
- For Good (from the musical ‘Wicked’)
- And So it Goes (by Billy Joel)
- The Armed Man (by Karl Jenkins)
- Rhythm of Life
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Lord of The Dance
- Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables)
- All That Jazz (from Chicago)
- Ave Verum Corpus
- Cantique de Jean Racine
- You Raise Me Up
- Over The Rainbow
There follows a handful of recordings of the Waldershelf Singers in concert, which offers a glimpse at our repertoire, covering sacred, both serious and light hearted and some contemporary songs from the mid 20th Century.
“God So Loved The World” from The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer
“Lord of The Dance” by Sydney Carter arranged by John Rutter (Pub. Stainer & Bell)
“Moon River” by Mercer & Mancini Arr. Lojeski from the movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (Pub. Hal Leonard)
“Over The Rainbow” by Arlen & Harburg Arr. Chinn from the movie “The Wizard of Oz” (Pub. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and EMI)
“The Lark In The Clear Air” by Sir Samuel Ferguson Arr. Alec Rowley (Pub. Edwin Ashdown Ltd)
“Sing We and Chant It” A 16th Century Madrigal by Thomas Morley
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