THE musicians of the Bere Peninsula joined together last Friday, to celebrate 750 years of music as part of the parish's 750th anniversary.
The concert at St Andrew's Church saw 45 musicians taking part in groups or performing solos.
After starting with an ethereal Gregorian chant, probably used in the church 750 years ago, sung by female group Tutte Voci, the journey continued in as near chronological order as possible, drawing to a grand finale as a combined choir of Tutte Voci, the St Andrew's Singers and the Thursday Night Singers led everyone in the singing of a 21st century hymn, In Christ Alone.
This was followed by a song from the 2008 film Mamma Mia — 'Thank You for the Music'.
The journey in between included dance music from the 16th and 17th centuries, performed by Phoenix, folk songs from Squandered Youth, madrigals and songs from world war two and the 1960s by Tutte Voci, a selection of shanties and nautical songs by the Tavy Tars, music by Vivialdi and traditional Welsh tunes on the Welsh triple harp by Tim Hampson and Bach's Toccata from the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by David Crocker.
Rossini's Cat Duet was performed by Jane Hamlyn and Ann Parsons, providing a lighthearted look at the world of opera, and Lesley Wright joined Ann in piano duets by Dvorak and Grieg. Recorders United 'Spread a Little Happiness' and also played American Patrol and In the Mood and the St Andrew's Singers impressed with their first concert performance since forming in April with two spirituals and John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth.
The special guest was local tenor, Tyrone Piper, who mesmerised the audience with his voice and his performance of an operatic selection, including Dalla Sua Pace by Mozart and Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Compere for the evening was Caroline Clark, and the Rev Nick Law who expressed thanks at the end to everyone who had helped produce such an amazing concert.