Darling Buds of May

From the Southern Highland News
16 May 2008
by Claire Mitchell

New Choir Takes the Stage

The musical talent in the Southern Highlands is forever growing and its latest edition is Serendipity: the choir.

The 28-voiced choir was formed by Bundanoon musician, Kerith Fowles, who was determined to add another kind of choir to the local mix. 'I ran a Sydney church choir for 14 years before I moved here and I missed it so much I simply had to start another one.'

The choir's first public performance, 'The Darling Buds of May' is this Saturday in Bundanoon and next Sunday in Bowral.

''The Darling Buds of May' was a slightly mad English television series that's always stuck in my mind,' Fowles said. 'The Darling Buds of May' is also a line from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18.

'It's a beautiful sonnet and the line provides us with the concerts' major themes: love from darling, nature from buds, and autumn and spring (depending on your hemisphere) from May.'

The programme consists of 18 songs in a range of styles including madrigals from the 18th Century, early and jazz-style love songs, romantic numbers by German, English and American composers, humorous and quirky reflections on love from some surprising angles, and folk songs from various countries.

'The range of musical styles ensures there's something for everyone to enjoy,' Fowles said.

Serendipity: the choir will perform tomorrow, May 17 at 3pm in the Bundanoon Soldiers' Memorial Hall. A second concert is scheduled for next Sunday, May 25 at 3pm, in the Bowral Uniting Church.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for concessions, and are available at Todd's Real Estate in Bundanoon, The Brown Bookshop in Bowral and at the door. Complimentary refreshments will be served at interval.