A large audience was in the George Square Theatre for the fifth anniversary and Festive Concert of Loud and Proud. There were just over thirty singers, two thirds women, with an excitingly varied programme sung a cappella (with no accompanying music).
To begin, the poem The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper was read by Sandy Maclean and was followed by a traditional song from Finland in that language. We were then welcomed by the first of a number of the Choir which meant we were kept well informed at each stage by a different voice but all reading from a well considered script. Early on there was an appeal for more tenors and basses. But on the night the balance sounded appropriate.
After a traditional spiritual Deep River, the Choir sang Caravan of Love, which had been adapted and was conducted by choir member Seumas Macmhicean. This was followed by The Angel Gabriel. After the first two verses of The First Noel we all joined in the remaining four verses, encouraged along by the lively conductor, Neil Squires.
John Hein came forward for his solo part in John Jacob Niles’s The Carol of the Angels, and we heard The Holly and The Ivy and a Scottish traditional with Iona Community connection, Trim the Cruisie.
One of the oldest known songs - written by St Godric, Sainte Nicolaes, brought John Hein, Seumas Macmhicean and Fi Robertson to the front. By now the Choir had gained its confidence and gave us Now is the Month of Christmas. We were all singing I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas before the choir gave us four final festive songs ending with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
We were invited down to the bar for a carol sing song from the sheets handed out. But first there were mince pies and stollen to be enjoyed. Loud and Proud is Scotland’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender choir, now indeed five years old, with a regular programme of concerts and a keen and broad following. Very Scottish and thoroughly sensible.
Event: Saturday 11 December 2010 8pm