After Saturday night's concert, Melisma could also be defined as an excellent choir with a mastery of many kinds of music.
With just eight singers, Melisma is smaller than many church choirs, but their accomplishment lies in having experienced musicians who obviously fit well together.
Singing their first two numbers from the back gallery, Melisma set the bar very high with Latin texts by Tallis and Andrew Parnell, followed by a setting of Ave Verum by Karl Jenkins for soprano and alto duet.
Following that, four songs from Parry's Songs of Farewell were a highlight, although truthfully, it would be very hard to choose a high point from this varied, skilful concert.
One of the most important features of this evening of choral delights was the carefully constructed programme. It was roughly in chronological order, with a set of two works by choir member Philip Stopford at the end of the first half.
More importantly, the choice of music was grouped in various ways by theme, and applause was held back until the end of each group.
Two Beatles numbers, I'll Follow the Sun and Yesterday might have been placed at the end by another choir, but Melisma's splendid final set was among the most rewarding music of the night. Two wonderful pieces by Eric Whitacre and then Sure on this Shining Night, the chosen title of the concert, by Morten Lauridsen, made for an exquisite closing.
To my mind, the encore, Summertime, was less polished than what came before but, in such a stunningly presented concert, there was very little in it.
Melisma can make an extraordinarily full sound for such a small group, but their real gift is in the lightness and detail of rhythm and sure-footed harmonic changes.
Also refreshing is a clean but unexaggerated approach to text.
In short, this is a choir to look out for.
Hear them whenever you get the chance, and hope also that they do decide to make a recording so you can hear the best of choral singing and repertoire whenever you like.

Andrea Rea