THE innovative Wordsworth Singers have just released their own CD, favourably reviewed in national journals, and were even better than the last time I had heard them in their latest concert in Kendal Parish Church.

There was a reasonably-sized audience to hear them, but why did so many other people miss out on such a good concert?

The French composer Durufle formed the centre piece of the concert, with four motets and a prelude and fugue for organ with the second half being devoted to his extensive and lovely Requiem.

Written for an orchestral accompaniment, the use of the organ in the imaginative and virtuoso hands of Charles Harrison, nonetheless underpinned the choir with a very full range of tone colour, from sweet to eerie to fearful, and largely made up for the loss of orchestral qualities.

This very small choir have developed a big dramatic range.

Michael Hancock, their conductor, brought out sustained, long, liquid lines beautifully, and built more volume and excitement than is reasonable to expect from such a small group of only 24 singers.

Hosanna was full of well communicated smiles and delight.

The day of judgement gave us strength, energy and fear by turns.

Warm, confident and secure solo passages were provided by members of the choir.

The first half was never less than secure though less exciting.

We lost some of the delight of Mendelssohns Ave Maria from early tentativeness.

It was very good to be introduced to the difficult Estonian folk songs though the Englishness of the sound, grounded in our own choral tradition, may not quite reflect the edge and rich overtones of an eastern European choir and some lines felt the lack of them.