The Aldwyn Voices' Sequence of Music & Literature for Christmas, with James Vivian conducting, was a choice selection.

The music spanned the last four centuries and embraced arrangements of familiar carols, juxtaposed with more challenging items.

The magnificent harmonies of Ave Maria, by Rachmaninov, were sung within a legato framework, which the singers developed to a grandiose climax before a return to quietude.

The ladies of the choir sang I sing of a maiden, by Patrick Hadley, a soft and calm interpretation, with slight differences of opinion at the first interval jump, but sung correctly in the penultimate phrase.

In Tavener's Hymn to the Mother of God, intonation impeccable and counterpoint dazzling, sopranos soared heavenwards as the choir, double-chorused, repeated in close succession.

In dulci jubilo, by Bach, was decorated with subtlety and beautiful pianissimo singing, while The Holly & the Ivy, arranged by Reginald Jacques, was refined by pure-toned sopranos.

In James Macmillan's Psalm 96, a single vocal thread transformed into complex concordance as the singers and organist crescendoed in triumph.

Somehow Rutter's What sweeter music? did not work very well for the Aldwyn.

Organist Carleton Etherington's solo, Organ Sonata No. 3 in A major by Mendelssohn, was a splendid exhibition of his skill; a virtuoso display of pedaling prefaced an increasingly tumultuous conclusion.

Readings were interspersed with the music.

A linking message seemed to be 'prayer' and 'love', such as Dostoyevsky saying 'Prayer is education' or in Ben Okri's words 'We need more love'.

Jill Hopkins