English with a musical ring has lifelong memories  

By Tim Roberts

Some people one never forgets, often for a variety of reasons. Jane Abrahams, a former secretary, committee member and, not least, an invaluable member of the sopranos of the Johannesburg Bach Choir for many years, is just such a person.

It was not just Jane’s sterling work in the background, or enjoyment of sharing her gift of singing which remains in my memory, however.

When interviewing her recently at her home in Rivonia as part of our celebration of the Johannesburg Bach Choir’s Diamond Jubilee, I remembered that when in the choir, Jane’s eloquence in the use of English came through often as she would draw my attention to an elegant phrase in what we were singing.

I asked her why words were so important to her, little realising that she has been surrounded by words all her life; as a novelist (under the pen name of Jane Fox), a poet, a bookseller, an editor, and for some years a librarian at the library of the Rudolf Steiner Society in Bryanston, Johannesburg. 

This simply underlined how fortunate we are as a choir to have members who come from all walks of life. Writers, poets, artists, doctors, builders, lawyers, academics… the list knows no end, and musicians and singers fit in there somewhere as well!  

As Jane says when she recalls what drew her for the Johannesburg Bach Choir: “All my family sang in church choirs and choral societies in Essex in the UK when I was a teenager, and it seemed natural to sing in a choir later in life in Johannesburg.” 

Jane said one of her favourite pieces is the Faure Requiem, which she regards as a wonderful marriage of words to music.

She speaks with great happiness and delight that her son, Matthew, has also been a member of the Choir, and a grandchild is showing promising signs of carrying on the tradition in the family of making music.

As she approaches her ninth decade, Jane’s love for music is undimmed, and her support of the choir continues.

It is heartwarming to chat to members, not least to past members like Jane, who are part of a continuous group of people from many differing backgrounds who share a common joy in making music together, surely one of humankind’s greatest achievements.

• Tim Roberts is the Director of the Johannesburg Bach Choir, Founder of the Apple Green Orchestra and annually presents the St Francis Baroque Festival.

Click here to read more about Jane and her life, including wonderful photos of Jane and her late husband, Lionel.