Despite a disappointing attendance due to the many competing events of the Beggar’s Fair, the choir, brass and organists gave an enthusiastic, accomplished and enjoyable performance.

Benjamin Britten’s ceremonial "Fanfare for St Edmundsbury opened the proceedings with a cascade of sound from the three unaccompanied trumpets positioned near the back of the Abbey, making an atmospheric use of the superb acoustic.

In the two works for choir and organ which followed, the choir, ably conducted by David Truslove, revelled in Britten’s setting of the joyous "Jubilate Deo" and demonstrated a simple sweetness of sound in Elgar’s "Ave verum".

As in previous concerts, Romsey Choral Society, although numbering over sixty singers, maintained the tight ensemble feel of a chamber choir, a quality that was particularly evident in the many contrasts of the unaccompanied anthem "My soul there is a country" by Charles Hubert Parry.

The talented Philip White-Jones then gave a beautiful rendition of Percy Whitlock’s organ solos "Allegretto" and "Folk Tune", before the haunting "Viri Galilaei" by contemporary composer Patrick Gowers melted seamlessly into the pure, clear intonation of Renaissance brass ensemble with "Provideban Dominum" by Lassus.

Choir, organ and brass joined forces for two British coronation anthems: Walton’s majestic "Coronation Te Deum" led into the interval, before the second half was given a rousing start with Parry’s "I was glad".

The interesting variety continued, with Harlequin Brass taking us back to Venice of the early Baroque for Gabrieli’s "Canzon à 4", before Simon Jacobs delighted all with his vibrant organ solo "Flourish for an Occasion" by William Harris.

The grand finale again united all performers, bringing us back to the present in the exciting syncopations and spine tingling beauty of John Rutter’s "Gloria". A perfect end to a dynamic and unusual concert."