An unusual amateur choir is offering a feast of Christmas music and food in a fabulous setting this weekend.

The Renaissance Singers will take over Hall Place, the newly-restored Tudor mansion in Bexley, for an afternoon and evening of music-making along with a buffet supper on Saturday, December 15.

The music in the Elizabethan dining hall will be a programme of Italian Christmas music from the 14th through to the 17th centuries the Middle Ages to Monteverdi.

Nigel Sharman, 42, sings tenor with the 20-strong choir, which is also a charity.

He said: "The music is all unaccompanied. A lot of it is fairly intricate part singing."

At one recent concert they sang 40 separate parts.

The Hall Place concert will include plenty of opportunities for audience participation and song sheets will be provided.

Mr Sharman said the choir is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds, including a head-hunter and a high court judge. The Renaissance Singers were founded in 1944 with a 10-year gap in the late-80s and led the revival of interest the early music movement.

The day is largely for friends of the choir but members of the public are also welcome.

The audience can also look around the house and grounds, take part in a choral workshop and enjoy a buffet supper. The menu will be Renaissance-inspired with game pie and a suitable seasonal drink high on the list.

And just in case you enjoy the music so much you want to join in again, you can.

Mr Sharman said: "We're opening up some of our rehearsals to members of the public so people who are interested in the choir can come along and sing with us even if they can't make the commitment of coming every week."

And you won't be alone. These open rehearsals have been popular one a couple of weeks ago had about 30 guests.

Dec 15, Day of Music & Christmas Concert, day of music from 2pm, concert 7.30pm, concert, workshop and buffet supper £15, concert only £9/£7, 01353 662852 or 01322 526574.

December 10, 2001 19:22

Joan Gardner