Saturday, 8 March, saw the Quiristers return to this lovely church for an hour-long concert of religious and secular music. As the first home of the Quiristers whilst they awaited the completion of Winchester College in 1391, the boys were warmly welcomed back by the Friends of St John's, and a packed and enthusiastic audience.

The programme began with music by Faure, including the lyrical 'Cantique de Jean Racine', covering an impressive emotional range and beautifully sung in the rather challenging French! This was followed by a contrasting, pastoral collection by Richard Rodney Bennett, a set of humorous pieces on the lives of insects - including the little-known 'Clock-a-clay' - which featured unexpected intervals and rhythms, and some comic chromatic capers from the piano.

After an instrumental interval; an unusual and effective arrangement of a Vivaldi Allegro for violin, bassoon, and - yes, xylophone - from Year 8, the Quiristers proceeded to a second half of light-hearted music by Thomas Weelkes and Benjamin Britten. Donal McCann joined the boys in singing Weelkes madrigal 'The Nightingale', which voiced mimicry of the cuckoo, and also provided the concert's ornithological title, 'Quiristers of Flight'.

The animal theme continued in Britten's songs. Entitled 'Friday Afternoons', these were written for the children of the Welsh school in which Britten's brother taught, tellingly beginning, 'Begone, dull care!' Lively and light-hearted, these produced some lovely solos from the older boys, amongst changes of pace and dynamic, and considerable tongue-in-cheek drama. From mock-heroic ballad to nonsense verse, the gently rocking 'Fishing Song' to the pedantic exercise of the tree-climbing monkey, the boys delighted their audience with deft changes of tone and colour, completing this fabulous concert with a strong sense of fun. Thank you to the boys, Donal McCann, Ben Cunningham, and all staff who helped bring this to such flourishing fruition.

Anna Elliot
Q Parent