Sorry, sorry. I know that I should have been updating far more often than I have been, my apologies.
Rehearsals are going well, note bashing is complete now for the most part, and we're trying to inject some shape and style into the pieces for our next concert. Bits of the Mozart and Handel pieces are sounding really good and the Parry is also getting there.
It had got to that time of year last week, the Christmas music books were handed out and we had a bit of a sing through some potential pieces for the Christmas concert. Not your standard Christmas carols but something a bit different, some immediately likeable, others more...challenging. It's a funny thing though, I've never actually ended up disliking any of the pieces I've sung with the choir since I joined and the challenging pieces are usually the ones you feel most smug about singing well on the night!
Tickets for the next concert are now available, as ever please see the website for more details or contact a member of the Chorale.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
What's left of summer but a faded rose?
The kids are back at school, the weather has taken a turn for the worse and the Chorale have started rehearsals again after the summer break.
Rehearsals actually started last week, but I was enjoying the last rays of summer up in Northumberland so this week was my first week back. We had a run through of most of the pieces for the next concert in November and as usual it was mostly note-bashing. I got a bit concerned when it seemed as though any proficiency I'd managed in sight-reading had abandon me during the holidays, the first couple of goes were a bit scary - a case of hang on for dear life and just keep singing, but I was getting the hang of it towards the end.
Pieces for the next concert include Handel's The King Shall Rejoice and Zadok the Priest, as well as other works by Mozart and Parry. I have to admit, like the Hallelujah chorus, I'm really looking forward to running Zadok for the first time.
Tickets for the concert will be available soon, and if you'd like to come along and join us on Tuesday nights at 7.30 at Westcliffe Church, Shipley, we'd be glad to see you.
Rehearsals actually started last week, but I was enjoying the last rays of summer up in Northumberland so this week was my first week back. We had a run through of most of the pieces for the next concert in November and as usual it was mostly note-bashing. I got a bit concerned when it seemed as though any proficiency I'd managed in sight-reading had abandon me during the holidays, the first couple of goes were a bit scary - a case of hang on for dear life and just keep singing, but I was getting the hang of it towards the end.
Pieces for the next concert include Handel's The King Shall Rejoice and Zadok the Priest, as well as other works by Mozart and Parry. I have to admit, like the Hallelujah chorus, I'm really looking forward to running Zadok for the first time.
Tickets for the concert will be available soon, and if you'd like to come along and join us on Tuesday nights at 7.30 at Westcliffe Church, Shipley, we'd be glad to see you.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
We're all going on a Summer Holiday
So it's grey skys and rain all round, summer must be here!
The Chorale's summer concert at St Paul's Church went really well, though the audience was a little smaller than we had hoped. Those that did join us were not only treated to the Chorale's pieces, but some very impressive organ and piano pieces from our guests as well.
The mix of pieces, which at least at rehearsal stage had seemed a bit ... eclectic made much more sense in performance order, starting with the formal ceremonial music and ending with the lighter pieces. All in all an excellent evening's music and lovely start to the summer holidays.
We start rehearsals again on the first Tuesday of September, and as ever, should you be interested in joining us (men especially) please feel free to come along and have a sing. We'd be glad to see you.
The Chorale's summer concert at St Paul's Church went really well, though the audience was a little smaller than we had hoped. Those that did join us were not only treated to the Chorale's pieces, but some very impressive organ and piano pieces from our guests as well.
The mix of pieces, which at least at rehearsal stage had seemed a bit ... eclectic made much more sense in performance order, starting with the formal ceremonial music and ending with the lighter pieces. All in all an excellent evening's music and lovely start to the summer holidays.
We start rehearsals again on the first Tuesday of September, and as ever, should you be interested in joining us (men especially) please feel free to come along and have a sing. We'd be glad to see you.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Two out of three ain't bad...
On Tuesday we started by running both of My Heart is Inditing and Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened. Both consist of three pieces and strangely, with both, two out of the three sounded really good, the other one, not so much. Thankfully we've still got a couple of rehearsals to get things sorted. The other pieces for the concert are getting there too, we just need to enunciate more and get some more shape into things.
To whet your appetite for the concert, here's one of the pieces we're doing - and hopefully we'll sound just as good...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr469TmBVoo
If you'd like tickets for the concert on 16th June at St. Paul's Church, Shipley, please go to the website or see any member of the Chorale.
To whet your appetite for the concert, here's one of the pieces we're doing - and hopefully we'll sound just as good...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr469TmBVoo
If you'd like tickets for the concert on 16th June at St. Paul's Church, Shipley, please go to the website or see any member of the Chorale.
Friday, 11 May 2012
Get ready for the Jubilee, Hooray, Hooray!
Hello again!
Sorry for the radio silence, I've been on holiday.
So a brief update on what's been happening. The concert on the 21st was a great success, with so many people turning up on the night that we ran out of tickets! All the reports I've heard said that it went very well and both audience members and members of the Chorale really enjoying performance of the Requiem.
Onwards and upwards to the June concert, which is on 16th June at St Paul's Church in Shipley. The concert is titled 'Anniversaries' so includes Coronation Anthems by Handel 'My heart is inditing' and 'Let thy hand be strengthened'. Thanks to the Chorale's website (check it out for more details on the Chorale) I've also learnt that 2012 is the 150th anniversary of Edward German, and the 100th anniversary of the death of Samuel Taylor-Coleridge, so the concert programme also includes some of their works.
Rehearsals are going well, as ever, for a newbie like me, the first few rehearsals of any new piece is very much a case of hanging onto the tune for dear life, but having done Messiah, the Handel stuff isn't quite so white-knuckle as usual. More of a tea-cup than a roller coaster. My new favourite though, is the Samuel Taylor-Coleridge piece 'The Viking Song' - it's completely daft, but makes a nice change.
Sorry for the radio silence, I've been on holiday.
So a brief update on what's been happening. The concert on the 21st was a great success, with so many people turning up on the night that we ran out of tickets! All the reports I've heard said that it went very well and both audience members and members of the Chorale really enjoying performance of the Requiem.
Onwards and upwards to the June concert, which is on 16th June at St Paul's Church in Shipley. The concert is titled 'Anniversaries' so includes Coronation Anthems by Handel 'My heart is inditing' and 'Let thy hand be strengthened'. Thanks to the Chorale's website (check it out for more details on the Chorale) I've also learnt that 2012 is the 150th anniversary of Edward German, and the 100th anniversary of the death of Samuel Taylor-Coleridge, so the concert programme also includes some of their works.
Rehearsals are going well, as ever, for a newbie like me, the first few rehearsals of any new piece is very much a case of hanging onto the tune for dear life, but having done Messiah, the Handel stuff isn't quite so white-knuckle as usual. More of a tea-cup than a roller coaster. My new favourite though, is the Samuel Taylor-Coleridge piece 'The Viking Song' - it's completely daft, but makes a nice change.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Webpage cannot be displayed
Apologies for the delay, we've got internet issues at the house, so my access to the World Wide Web is sporadic, at best.
Tuesdays rehearsal went well, despite the relatively short notice (the Chorale normally have a week off after Easter) there was a fair number gathered to rehearse for the April concert. We ran two movements of the Faure Requiem, which seemed to go well, needing only minor tweaks. Our French and German is also improving and both Gott ist mein Hirt and Cantique de Jean Rancine are sounding far better than they were when we started. Just as well, as the concert is now less than a week away.
As ever, you can apply for tickets through the Chorale's website, or see any member of the Chorale.
Tuesdays rehearsal went well, despite the relatively short notice (the Chorale normally have a week off after Easter) there was a fair number gathered to rehearse for the April concert. We ran two movements of the Faure Requiem, which seemed to go well, needing only minor tweaks. Our French and German is also improving and both Gott ist mein Hirt and Cantique de Jean Rancine are sounding far better than they were when we started. Just as well, as the concert is now less than a week away.
As ever, you can apply for tickets through the Chorale's website, or see any member of the Chorale.
Friday, 6 April 2012
Hallelujah!
Saturday's concert of the Messiah was a triumph! Many thanks to all those who turned out to support both the Chorale and the Reg Vardy brass band, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Unfortunately, I had to miss the afternoon rehearsal, so was slightly apprehensive about singing Messiah through with a brass band for the first time on the night, but I needn't have worried, it all sounded brilliant, especially our wonderful soloists. I did get a bit confused when Paul (our director and man-in-charge) turned to the audience and gestured for them to stand for the Hallelujah chorus. Apparently its a custom that dates back to the London premiere of Messiah, when according to belief, George II stood for the duration of the piece (thanks Sheila). Having never been to a performance of Messiah before, the sight of 197 people rising (some uncertainly) to their feet took me rather by surprise!
On Tuesday we were given our concert notes, mostly good (Hurrah!) and cracked on with preparations for the April concert, now only three weeks away!
The concert, which will consist of Faure's Requiem, Allegri's Miserere and other works, is on 21st April at St. Paul's Church in Shipley. As always, tickets are available from any member of the Chorale, or visit the website to order online.
Happy Easter!
Unfortunately, I had to miss the afternoon rehearsal, so was slightly apprehensive about singing Messiah through with a brass band for the first time on the night, but I needn't have worried, it all sounded brilliant, especially our wonderful soloists. I did get a bit confused when Paul (our director and man-in-charge) turned to the audience and gestured for them to stand for the Hallelujah chorus. Apparently its a custom that dates back to the London premiere of Messiah, when according to belief, George II stood for the duration of the piece (thanks Sheila). Having never been to a performance of Messiah before, the sight of 197 people rising (some uncertainly) to their feet took me rather by surprise!
On Tuesday we were given our concert notes, mostly good (Hurrah!) and cracked on with preparations for the April concert, now only three weeks away!
The concert, which will consist of Faure's Requiem, Allegri's Miserere and other works, is on 21st April at St. Paul's Church in Shipley. As always, tickets are available from any member of the Chorale, or visit the website to order online.
Happy Easter!
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