Times & Seasons - Voices in harmony
(contributed by Frank Wyatt)
Times & Seasons is a Brentwood a cappella (singing unaccompanied) chamber choir of about 16 voices. It was founded in 1985 by its present conductor and Musical Director, David Bayley. His wife Christine and four other founder members are still singing with the choir. The name, which reflects the origin of the choir, is taken from "Times", referring to the secular world of music and the "Seasons" of the Church. David Bayley was organist and choirmaster of St Martin's Church, Ongar for nine years. He and a group from the church choir decided to become independent, in order to be able to tackle a wider range of music.
This wide range of period and style, from the serious to the lighthearted, remains a feature of all Times & Seasons programmes. In view of their beginnings, some sacred pieces are invariably included, ranging from the Tudor masterpieces of polyphony to modern works. With them come secular items spanning the times of glees and madrigals, through folk songs and spirituals to modern popular songs and novelties. Some of David Bayley's own compositions and arrangements are usually featured. An evening's entertainment by Times & Seasons will often include poetry or prose readings arranged by some of the singers.
Although the choir is based in Brentwood and rehearses at St Nicholas' Church, Ingrave, its name is not too well known locally as most of its performances happen to take place away from the town. A notable recent exception was however a concert last September in the Brentwood Theatre. It was given at the invitation of the Theatre administration, who billed Times & Seasons as "Brentwood's own a cappella chamber choir".
Every year two informal recitals are given in cathedrals, those visited during 1999 being Salisbury and St Edmundsbury. Otherwise, Times & Seasons has sung in large and tiny parish churches, in a converted barn near Rochford (complete with an ex-cinema organ), at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham on Crouch and at Ingatestone Hall.
A professional recording of the choir has sold well at concerts and a further recording session is planned for next year. Times & Seasons is dedicated to a continuous improvement in its singers' voices and vocal techniques and holds workshops with professional choral coaches. In spite of all its hard work, the choir is a very relaxed and friendly group of people.
If Times & Seasons has a "mission statement", it is to try to identify with its audiences in an informal atmosphere, to provide something for all musical tastes and to convey its members' obvious joy of singing.
Many Times & Seasons concerts are given by invitation in aid of charities or as events for fund raising. There are occasionally vacancies for confident singers. For all enquiries please contact Frank Wyatt, the choir's public relations representative.