Community choir series for BBC Two Northern Ireland

The two-part series follows a community choir on the Ards Peninsula as they prepare to perform Handel’s Messiah – sung for the first time in Ulster-Scots.

“For me, this series has been a great reaffirmation of the all-embracing power of music. It bonds, heals, exalts and comforts us. The project drew together a unique gathering of singers who wholly committed to re-imagining one of the finest pieces of music ever written, and it was a huge honour for all of us.” – Neil Martin, Musical Director

Handel’s Messiah is one of the most famous pieces of classical music in the world. A firm festive favourite, it is performed by choirs every Christmas and has been translated into many languages. However, it has never been performed in Ulster-Scots – until now.

In this two-episode commission for BBC Northern Ireland the documentary follows composer and musician Neil Martin as he creates a community choir on the Ards Peninsula for a special Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah in Ulster-Scots.

This September Neil embarked on his new challenge with the help of two local choir directors, Diane Holt from Newtownards and Claire Buchanan, a music teacher at Bangor Grammar – starting with a nerve-jangling day of auditions. Filmed over a six-week period the series follows the selected choir members as they prepare for their special Christmas performance of extracts from Messiah, staged at The Portico of Ards, in Portaferry in front of a local audience.

Made up of 36 people, with an age range from 16-80 years-old, the choir includes people from towns and villages across the peninsula, including Portavogie, Cloughey, Portaferry, Newtownards and Greyabbey. The choir is made up of people who were attracted to the project for a range of personal reasons.

While the choir had some local native Ulster-Scots speakers, for the majority of singers it was their very first experience of the language – with only six weeks to rehearse for the final performance. The first episode follows the formation of the choir and follows them through their first three rehearsals, introducing some of the contributors, such as Mechelle Caughey and her daughter Charlotte.

Episode two follows the choir through their final rehearsals as they prepare for the Christmas performance in The Portico.

Singing The Messiah begins on BBC Two Northern Ireland, Sunday 15 December at 9pm.