FOR their spring concert, Minehead and District Choral Society and musical director Marcus Capel offered two works based on the Requiem Mass and separated by 120 years of composition – Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem (1888) and Eternal Light (2008) by Howard Goodall.

They were joined by soloists soprano Stephanie Berner and baritone Jamie Rock and accompanied by Taunton Sinfonietta.

The better-known Fauré began well with some sensitive work in the Kyrie but, after some untidy ensemble at the start of the notorious Offertoire, continued only with a ‘safe’ performance lacking intensity and drama, notably in the Lux Aeterna crescendo of Agnus Dei and the anger of the Dies Irae section of Libera Me.

Soloists Stephanie, in Pie Jesu, and Jamie, in Offertoire and Libera Me, gave solid performances.

After an interval came Eternal Light, a work new to this reviewer and he suspects to most of the audience.

Goodall eschews the form of the traditional Requiem Mass, juxta-positioning reduced original Latin text with English poetry from the 16th-20th centuries.

Retaining the Mass headings, he weaves the texts into a Meditation in 10 movements, each poem connecting spiritually with its heading.

In the main, the poetry is sung by the soloists with choral accompaniment, the exception being the hymn Lead Kindly Light for full chorale.

The result was effective, Marcus encouraging all his forces to take full advantage of the Methodist Church’s generous acoustic, which they did with relish.

Well-known for his 23rd Psalm setting, Goodall’s music is sweet and lyrical, suiting the mood of Eternal Light, rather than jarring, discordant, and disjointed sounds often associated with modern-day composers.

The society is commended on bringing this work to Minehead and an opportunity for a second hearing would be welcome.

An evening of two halves – one somewhat disappointing, the other interesting and challenging – but enjoyable overall. Robert Green.