Harbury Folk Club Choir
Harbury Folk Club Choir in 2023 (missing Lynne)
Who are the Folk Club Choir?
The Harbury Folk Club Choir is an informal group led by Peter McDonald and currently numbers 13 singers – 9 women and 4 men – most of them regular performers at Harbury Folk Club. Unlike most choirs, they don’t have a conductor and they provide their own musical accompaniments, using a wide variety of instruments, usually in a folk style. Their repertoire ranges from medieval to contemporary, usually sung in 4-part harmony.
In the weeks before Christmas each year, the Choir is augmented by extra singers as they prepare their contributions for local carol services.
History of the Choir
The Harbury Folk Club Choir began when the Folk Club was invited to participate in the Harbury Church Christmas Eve Carol Service back in 1987. A small group of people took up the challenge and sang two Christmas songs - in folk style - that year. It has happened every year since (except for 2020 and 2021) and the choir has grown considerably both in size and competence.
In 2004, the Choir decided to put together a concert of some of the songs that had been sung over the years, and we asked a friend to record it for us, enabling us to produce a CD the following year. That concert, and the subsequent CD sales have enabled us to donate over £1000 to Harbury Church and the Leamington Christian Mission. In 2009, we did it all again with a different programme, only this time using Harbury Parish Church to accommodate a much bigger audience.
Since 2006, we have continued practices (with a slightly smaller choir) outside the Christmas season to build up a repertoire of songs to be sung at any time of year and for all types of occasions. We are always happy to receive invitations to entertain new audiences.
Recordings
The Harbury Folk Club Christmas Choir has produced two CDs. Our first CD, 'A Christmas Celebration', was recorded at a concert in 2004 and then, in 2009, we recorded a second CD of Christmas songs and carols, 'Shades of White', at a concert in Harbury Parish Church. Both CDs are still available, priced at £5 each and all proceeds will go to our nominated charity – Harbury Church. If you would like to order our first and/or second CDs, please e-mail harburyfolkclub@gmail.com.
Video
Click here to see the Christmas Choir in action at a 'Winter Woollies' concert in Harbury Church on December 18th, 2021. Together with local choir, Warwickshire Singers, we presented a joyful programme of carols and Christmas music.