After a successful launch earlier this year, newChoir gave a promising follow-up on Sunday with an adventurous programme that contrasted sharply with their debut concert in March. From an exploration of sacred works they turned this time to secular music, shining the spotlight on folk song from the British Isles and America.

With the Jubilee weekend still at the forefront of many people’s minds, the pleasantly nostalgic saunter through some of the British folk repertoire seemed particularly apt. First up was a selection from John Rutter’s folk song cycle A Sprig of Thyme, which recalled some of the songs Rutter knew during his post-war childhood. The 35-strong choir, under Janet Lincé’s clear and decisive guidance, gave a good account of this lovely, sometimes haunting selection, capturing the range of moods and emotions, from Robert Burns’s lyrical Afton Water to the jaunty The Keel Row.

Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs called for a very different approach, but the singers threw themselves eagerly into the quirkiness of I bought me a cat and Ching-a-ring chaw, and the jollity of The Boatmen’s Dance, which included some impressive solo singing from baritone David Barrington.

They were less successful with Eric Whitacre’s Cloudburst, a technically complex piece that needed to be handled with greater confidence and conviction, and didn‘t quite manage to deliver the necessary energy and excitement. There were moments to savour, though, notably the solos from soprano Lizzie McCombie and David Barrington, and the skilful percussion accompaniment from Felicity and James Barnard.

The choir seemed much more at home with the final selection of folk songs, this time by Percy Grainger, which included the famous Scottish song Ye banks and braes, and the unaccompanied Brigg Fair from Lincolnshire. Completing the programme were two Grainger piano duets, Walking tune and Country Gardens, performed by Lincé and James Brown, who also accompanied expertly throughout.

For details of the choir’s next concert on November 17, visit www.newchoir.org.uk.