It was a pleasure to play in a performance entitled ‘Rejoice, Joyful Voices!’, subtitled ‘Bach with Trumpets and Timpani’, with Bach Winchester Voices and the Winchester Bach Orchestra on Sunday 7 September 2025 at St Paul’s Church, Winchester. The concert was directed by Andrew Hayman and featured music by Johann Sebastian Bach with the jubilant combination of trumpets and timpani. The programme comprised three suitably joyful cantatas: Freue dich, erlöste Schaar [BWV 30], Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille [BWV 120] and O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe [BWV 34].

I played first trumpet and was joined by Will Russell on second trumpet, Sam Kinrade on third, and Jeremy Cornes on timpani. This excellent team brought joyful baroque splendour to many of these choruses. The orchestra, led by George Clifford, comprised single strings, two flutes, two oboes, one bassoon, three trumpets, and timpani.

The choir, Bach Winchester Voices, sang with clarity and energy, filling the space with a vibrant sound that matched the festive instrumentation. The Winchester Bach Orchestra accompanied with elegance and style, with a supportive and lively continuo section.

It was great to perform this uplifting music with such fine colleagues and under Andrew’s direction. Afterwards, I realised that I have performed for him before, for a Messiah at Romsey Abbey in 2022.