AFTER the hottest Sunday of the year and while the golden crescent moon lit up the sky the over 70 members of Mousehole male voice choir made glorious music at Paul parish church.
The annual Midsummer concert attracted a large and enthusiastic audience, the men were in their finest vocal fettle and there was the added attraction of Cornish musical magician Alastair Taylor as guest.
He thrilled the crowd with the variety of his music-making, his high entertainment level and presentation from the drama of Vidor on the church organ to the sweet melody of JS Bach on piano and his singing of such classics as 'Ol' Man River' from 'Show Boat' to 'Anthem' from 'Chess'.
Few knew that less than 24-hours earlier he had been delighting an audience at Barnstable with the singing of his Cornwall Symphony Chorus that is soon to perform at Penzance and St Just.
The Mousehole choir have many supporters but few more ardent and long-serving than four who were in the audience and unable to take part because of poor health. Life-members and brothers Dennis and Peter Mitchell, with Trevor Walker and Ken Grant were given a special welcome by the Vicar, Revd Andrew Yates and musical director Stephen Lawry who praised their dedicated loyalty and service.
The choir, with accompanist Annette Turton, were in top form with a varied and stimulating programme. It was rated one of their best singing displays in years, ranging as it did from a selection of sea songs including 'The Mermaid of Zennor' to 'Home from the Sea' and they produced some magnificent harmonies with the spiritual 'Go Down Moses' the opera top-of-the-pops 'Nessun Dorma' from Turandot and the triumphant 'Battle Hymn of the Republic'.
Some of their most poignant and moving singing, well-tuned and with admirable diction came in their quieter numbers with the captivating setting of 'Close Thine Eyes' and the 'Eli Jenkin's Prayer' from 'Under Milk Wood' by Dylan Thomas.
His centenary is being busily celebrated around the nation - and Dylan has the closest links with Penwith through his stays at Mousehole and Polgigga and his marriage at Penzance.
And the choir gave full measure with 'The White Rose' in Cornish and English that was sung at the recent great Albert Hall concert.
Their outdoor and lifeboat concerts continue during the summer and their annual highlight, the Summer Festival is at St Mary's parish church, Penzance on Sunday August 3.
All taking part in the success of the Midsummer event were thanked by chairman Charles Law and there was a retiring concert towards a 'Five Ports' concert in aid of the Seaman's Mission at Redruth in September.
Taking part with Mousehole will be the choirs of Mevagissey, Polperro, Nankersey and Newquay.