A new work for choir, soloists and instrumentalists will receive only its second performance when Small Wonders, composed and conducted by Helen Porter, comes to St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury, on 19th September.
The piece premiered on the final night of this year’s Tavistock Music Festival and now returns with a line-up that includes several performers from North Dorset.
Helen is well known to local audiences across a wide range of musical genres. She first came to Shaftesbury more than 25 years ago as animateur for Common Ground’s Confluence project, creating new music inspired by the River Stour from Stourhead to Christchurch Harbour. Her role was to bring people together to sing, write and perform, and a number of the groups formed through the project continued long afterwards.
She will be joined by clarinettist and composer Karen Wimhurst, who still lives in Shaftesbury, alongside Mark Smith on piano, Sam Norton on double bass and Andy Turner on percussion.
The singers are the Calstock Big Jazz Choir, with guest soloists Brittany Soriano (soprano) from Bournemouth, tenor Richard Court from Exeter and bass Ed Bersey from Semley.
Set during the first year of the pandemic, the songs trace a journey through the seasons, with the senses newly attuned to the sights and sounds of nature. They draw attention to some of the smallest creatures in our shared environment, and to the stories and myths we create around them in difficult times.
Moving between classical, musical theatre, jazz, folk, cabaret and contemporary styles, Small Wonders reflects the diversity of the natural world. At its heart is a simple idea: that music, song and close attention to nature can offer consolation, perspective and hope.
Small Wonders is at St Peter’s Church, Shaftesbury, 7.30pm on 19th September. Tickets £15 online here.
