The acoustics and surroundings of the church lent weight to the choice of works ranging from well-known pieces to musical miniatures from the 16th century to the present.

The programme opened with the Magnificat in D Major by Jan Dismas Zelenka with soloists soprano Ruth Sladden and alto Matthew Lennox.

In a complete contrast, Ruth Sladden and Matthew Lennox joined tenor Edward Rimmer and bass Dan Sladdenthe in musical miniatures which included Thomas Tallis Did you love me and Williams Bird’s Ave Verum Corpus, followed by an adagio and minuetto by Joseph Haydn.

The soloists then presented a mixed programme of motets by Anton Bruckner before moving on to John Rutter’s, The Lord bless you and keep you, a Requiem by John Taverner and song of farewell from 1916 by Hubert Parry about life and death in the trenches.

They closed with a complete change with the 1947 tune Autumn Leaves, made famous by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

After the interval, choir and soloists performed Robert Schumann’s Requiem Mass in D flat Major, Opus 148, dedicated by conductor and director Angela Bennett to those who have died at the hands of Isis in the Middle East.

The Te Decet Hymnus, including the Kyrie, was followed by the major Dies Irae in three movements, a prayer from the 13th century vividly describing the Day of Judgement when a trumpet sounds and mankind is judged. The programme ended fittingly with the traditional Sanctus and Benedictus, closing with the Agnus Dei.

Angela Bennett, who has many years' experience of working with choral groups of all ages, was instrumental in presenting an enjoyable experience for choir, soloists, musicians and audience.

The choral society's Christmas concert is on Saturday, December 13, at the Methodist church, Westgate, Guisborough.

Brian Gleeson