Former Christ Church chorister and undergraduate Sir William Walton didn’t exactly score an immediate, universally admired hit with his self-styled “entertainment” Façade. The Manchester Guardian wrote of “relentless cacophony”. Critic Edward J. Dent, on the other hand, was more appreciative: “The audience was at first inclined to treat the whole thing as an absurd joke, but there is always a surprisingly serious element in Miss Sitwell’s poetry and Mr Walton’s music, which soon induced the audience to listen with breathless attention”.

Both the seriousness and the flashes of humour were brought out — especially by the instrumentalists — in John Lubbock’s performance of the work at the latest OSJ Prom. Edith Sitwell poems are narrated over an instrumental background — here the words were delivered by Andrew McCormack and Caitlin McMillan, who sometimes had to work at considerable speed to keep up with Lubbock’s tempi. McMillan was particularly successful at this, with every amplified word coming across crisply. Perhaps Façade does sound a bit dated and stilted to modern ears, but this performance certainly served up “entertainment”. I particularly enjoyed Swiss Jodelling Song, which actually brought the taste of heavily sweetened Swiss chocolate into my mouth.

The first half of the concert was devoted to one of John Lubbock’s never-dull song selections, performed by the OSJ Ashmolean Voices. Beginning with Stanford’s The Bluebird (placing soloist Anna Shackelton high overhead in the Ashmolean Atrium proved an inspired touch), composers ranged across Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Holst, and a strong range of Negro spirituals, finishing with two very cheerful African songs. While much detailed rehearsal must surely have taken place, the Voices delivered each piece with a real feeling of spontaneity and enjoyment — this group has become a really impressive choral force. “Perhaps at last,” the Voices sang gently in Elgar’s The Shower, “my God would give a sunshine after rain.” Yes indeed.