THE West Gallery Quire held a Summer Tour on July 22, which included visits and performances in parish churches at Shobrooke and Stockleigh Pomeroy in the morning.

This was followed by lunch and performances at Thorne’s Farm Shop at Stockleigh Pomeroy, concluding with performances at Sandford Parish Church in the afternoon and a celebration tea.

The West Gallery Quire was founded in 1990, and since 1992 has been based at the 12th Century St Lawrence Chapel in Crediton.

It searches for, edits and performs music such as would have been heard in churches all over England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, especially music written by composers in the South West.

The Quire welcomes singers and instrumentalists (woodwind and strings).  Anyone can join, there is no audition.

The Quire has performed in churches, halls and other venues throughout Devon.

Concerts can be arranged on various themes, and the Quire is also happy to take part in church services.  It is affiliated to the West Gallery Music Association and takes part in workshops and concerts alongside other West Gallery music groups.

The music selection chosen for the tour included pieces with connections to music-making in Mid Devon.

One of the songs sung, for example, was “How merrily we live that shepherds be”, a madrigal by Michael Este or East (c1580-1648), from his second book, published in 1606.

It was reported to have been sung during the celebrations held following the “sixth annual ploughing match” at Sandford in October 1838.

The version sung was based on that in “Collection of Duets, Rotas, Canons, Catches and Glees” complied by Robert Broderip of Bristol in 1804.