IT WAS ironic that the only number in this unaccompanied programme that showed any rhythmic vitality was the encore, Gaudete, Christus est natus. Here, at last, was evidence of joy at the birth of the Christ-child.

Elsewhere, the long faces and often impassive expressions of the eleven singers, conducted by Ben Rowarth, were better suited to an elegiac occasion. Certainly the uniformly slow, languorous music made for an unvaried diet. Byrd’s extended eight-voice motet Ad Dominum cum tribularer (I cried to the Lord) bore no relevance to Christmas whatsoever.

That said, there were moments of relief. It was good to hear three pieces by Yorkshire’s own Kenneth Leighton, especially his Coventry Carol setting, with glinting soprano solo. Her (anonymous) straight tone was too rarely emulated by her two colleagues.

Two modern settings of There is No Rose added little to the 15th century original, which preceded them.

Rowarth seemed keen to impose himself, where he needed to let the music flow. Warlock’s Bethlehem Down and Ravenscroft’s Remember both suffered from needless breaks between lines. Britten’s Hymn to the Virgin was more effective, if slow.

Five ‘O’ antiphons were given by a solo voice (the sixth strangely omitted), where tutti male voices would have been more authentic. This youthful choir has plenty of raw potential, much of it unrealised. Blend, phrasing, diction all need attention. Arguably a conductor is superfluous in concert.

Plenty of amateur choirs do this repertory much better.