Review by Ernie Kay

THE Revd. John Budd was much-loved at Christ Church, Malvern, where he assisted after his retirement. It was splendid to see a very large audience turn out for the concert given to his memory in the church on Saturday, February 5.

The performers were some of the finest musicians from the area with the programme reflecting Revd Budd’s musical interests. The concert started with two pieces by Bach, Louise Vale’s delectable performance of music for solo violin, followed by part of a cantata. Carol Green directed her chamber choir, The Hills Singers, with the Midsummer Ensemble, strings and oboes mainly from Malvern’s crack Chandos Orchestra.

A Corelli concerto for the string ensemble was followed by the major work in the concert, Vivaldi’s ever-popular Gloria; here played by forces of a size that the composer would have known. Soloists, choir and instruments wove a wonderfully appropriate sound tapestry.

The second half of the programme reflected John Budd’s lighter musical interests, Rutter anthems, South American tangos arranged for strings, spirituals for choir and culminating with all combining in a riotous samba that sent us out happily remembering the inspiration behind this concert.