and having all your pages means you can follow what's going on!
I got a bit confused last week, as in the middle of Gloria's Domine Fili what the sopranos were singing didn't bear any resemblance to the music on my page. My sight reading is pretty poor, but I knew there was something up when I got to several bars rest and everyone else carried on. Turns out my poor, battered copy of the Gloria was missing its middle 4 pages.
Brand new, shiny copy in hand (not that I went though the box to find a new one, of course) the rest of rehearsal went far more smoothly.
This week included the fastest rendition of the Gloria ever heard as we rattled though all the main pieces in record time. For all its brevity though, the majority is sounding really good. The Missa Solemnis is also coming on well, though the Cum Sancto Spiritu is still a case of 'hold on tight' in places, but we've plenty of time yet.
Tickets will soon be available - so details will be following.
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Saturday, 10 January 2015
Gloria, Gloria!
Chorale rehearsals started on Tuesday night after the Christmas break, and its good to be back.
It was our first proper rehearsal on the Missa Solemnis, which I've been looking forward to starting. The Kyrie went pretty well for a first bash, and has some really lovely moments in it (bizarre to think that Mozart was only 12 when he composed it). The Gloria was much more tricky, there's a fugue-style bit in the middle, where every part is singing something different at different times - it was very much a case of hang on for dear life and just keep singing. As Ian said after the first run 'The last two bars were excellent' - the rest of it needs some work. Still, it was only the first rehearsal.
We also had a run through of the other piece for the March concert, Vivaldi's Gloria which was great to hear again. We've done the Gloria before, though to be honest, listening to the whole thing this week, there were only two pieces I remembered, so that might require some note-bashing as well.
We were glad to welcome 3 new potential members who came on Tuesday to see what they thought of us - if you'd like to do the same, you'd be very welcome. Rehearsals start 7.30 at Northcliffe Church, Shipley.
It was our first proper rehearsal on the Missa Solemnis, which I've been looking forward to starting. The Kyrie went pretty well for a first bash, and has some really lovely moments in it (bizarre to think that Mozart was only 12 when he composed it). The Gloria was much more tricky, there's a fugue-style bit in the middle, where every part is singing something different at different times - it was very much a case of hang on for dear life and just keep singing. As Ian said after the first run 'The last two bars were excellent' - the rest of it needs some work. Still, it was only the first rehearsal.
We also had a run through of the other piece for the March concert, Vivaldi's Gloria which was great to hear again. We've done the Gloria before, though to be honest, listening to the whole thing this week, there were only two pieces I remembered, so that might require some note-bashing as well.
We were glad to welcome 3 new potential members who came on Tuesday to see what they thought of us - if you'd like to do the same, you'd be very welcome. Rehearsals start 7.30 at Northcliffe Church, Shipley.
Saturday, 3 January 2015
Welcoming in the New Year, New Year's Eve
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sorry I've been a bit slow with the updates, my December was crazy busy - in a good way, lots of lovely real-life events going on.
December is always a busy period for choirs, there's something very nostalgic and 'right' about hearing carols sung in 4 parts, and this December was also busy for the Chorale. Carol singing in Bradford and in Haworth were enjoyed by all who managed to make it (unfortunately, I wasn't among them), and the Christmas Concert was a great success.
I'll confess to being a bit nervous beforehand, the rehearsal had gone really well and we'd breezed through everything, which is always a bit of a worry. It might sound strange, but I'd rather that mistakes were made and sorted out in the rehearsal, so that the concert goes without a hitch.
I needn't have worried though, the choir sang really well, the audience were in fine voice in the congregational carols and the readings were well received. I particularly liked the ones about the fourth wise man (who may have arrived late, but brought practical gifts such as a voucher for nappy-washing) and the Yorkshire Messiah, about a Yorkshireman who goes to a Messiah performance, but can't understand why all the singers seem so fond of sheep. Alex Woodrow, who was accompanying the Chorale again, was on fine form, and many members of the audience commented how much they had enjoyed the evening.
Rehearsals for the next concert start on Tuesday and includes Mozart's Missa Solemnis - I've listened to it a few times now (starting early :-) ) and I'm looking forward to starting proper rehearsals on it. As ever, if you'd like to join us, we rehearse on Tuesday evenings, 7.30-9.30, Northcliffe Church, Shipley.
Sorry I've been a bit slow with the updates, my December was crazy busy - in a good way, lots of lovely real-life events going on.
December is always a busy period for choirs, there's something very nostalgic and 'right' about hearing carols sung in 4 parts, and this December was also busy for the Chorale. Carol singing in Bradford and in Haworth were enjoyed by all who managed to make it (unfortunately, I wasn't among them), and the Christmas Concert was a great success.
I'll confess to being a bit nervous beforehand, the rehearsal had gone really well and we'd breezed through everything, which is always a bit of a worry. It might sound strange, but I'd rather that mistakes were made and sorted out in the rehearsal, so that the concert goes without a hitch.
I needn't have worried though, the choir sang really well, the audience were in fine voice in the congregational carols and the readings were well received. I particularly liked the ones about the fourth wise man (who may have arrived late, but brought practical gifts such as a voucher for nappy-washing) and the Yorkshire Messiah, about a Yorkshireman who goes to a Messiah performance, but can't understand why all the singers seem so fond of sheep. Alex Woodrow, who was accompanying the Chorale again, was on fine form, and many members of the audience commented how much they had enjoyed the evening.
Rehearsals for the next concert start on Tuesday and includes Mozart's Missa Solemnis - I've listened to it a few times now (starting early :-) ) and I'm looking forward to starting proper rehearsals on it. As ever, if you'd like to join us, we rehearse on Tuesday evenings, 7.30-9.30, Northcliffe Church, Shipley.
Monday, 24 November 2014
Magnificat!
Last Saturdays concert was excellent! (if I do say it myself)
Singing in Bradford Cathedral is always a great experience, and hearing it filled with beautiful music even more of a pleasure. The first half of the concert was relatively simple for the sopranos at least, the Bach Cantata 140 having a steady soprano line while the other parts dart around each other. The choir then got to sit and listen to the marvellous orchestra and the Manchester Baroque Soloists who were excellent (I won't try and name everyone, couldn't if I attempted)
The second half was Rutter's Magnificat, and parts certainly lived up to billing. Soprano soloist Martha Hayward was on top form, and the slower pieces were really beautiful. The audience seemed to enjoy the music very much, and several people commented on how well the choir sang.
All in all, a great success! (Now onward to Christmas!)
Singing in Bradford Cathedral is always a great experience, and hearing it filled with beautiful music even more of a pleasure. The first half of the concert was relatively simple for the sopranos at least, the Bach Cantata 140 having a steady soprano line while the other parts dart around each other. The choir then got to sit and listen to the marvellous orchestra and the Manchester Baroque Soloists who were excellent (I won't try and name everyone, couldn't if I attempted)
The second half was Rutter's Magnificat, and parts certainly lived up to billing. Soprano soloist Martha Hayward was on top form, and the slower pieces were really beautiful. The audience seemed to enjoy the music very much, and several people commented on how well the choir sang.
All in all, a great success! (Now onward to Christmas!)
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Dashing away with a smoothing iron...
and the crinkly musical moments are smoothed out!
Tuesday's rehearsal went really well and the wobbly moments were sorted out. If I say it myself, we're sounding pretty good. The Chorale is being joined by Martha Hayward and David Heathcote, both of whom are fantastic soloists, so Saturday is shaping up to be a really good concert.
Tickets are available on the door, 7.30 Bradford Cathedral.
Hope to see you there!
Tuesday's rehearsal went really well and the wobbly moments were sorted out. If I say it myself, we're sounding pretty good. The Chorale is being joined by Martha Hayward and David Heathcote, both of whom are fantastic soloists, so Saturday is shaping up to be a really good concert.
Tickets are available on the door, 7.30 Bradford Cathedral.
Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
By George, I think she's got it!
The last few weeks have been rehearsals as usual for the Chorale. With the concert getting ever closer (only just over a week - eek!) we've been concentrating on really ironing out any crinkly bits of the Magnificat and the Bach. It's required some hard work in places, (especially when we're trying to make it sound 'musical' rather than just 'right') but we're getting there - and it should be a really good concert.
Speaking of which, tickets are now available for the reduced price of £10 when bought in advance. Details of how to buy them can be found on the Chorale website http://www.bradfordchorale.org.uk/
Speaking of which, tickets are now available for the reduced price of £10 when bought in advance. Details of how to buy them can be found on the Chorale website http://www.bradfordchorale.org.uk/
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Ding, dong, merrily...
Christmas preparations continued this week at choir, with the programme for the December concert being finalised. I'm not giving anything away, but there's a nice mix of traditional Christmas favourites, audience carols, and one or two new ones, including a great arrangement of Ding, Dong Merrily on High.
We're also bombing along with the November concert programme, the Bach is pretty much there, requiring the odd bit of polishing in various places, and the Magnificat is getting to a similar point.
I'm reliably informed that tickets for the November concert (Saturday 15th November, Bradford Cathedral) will be available next week, so information on prices and availability will follow shortly.
We're also bombing along with the November concert programme, the Bach is pretty much there, requiring the odd bit of polishing in various places, and the Magnificat is getting to a similar point.
I'm reliably informed that tickets for the November concert (Saturday 15th November, Bradford Cathedral) will be available next week, so information on prices and availability will follow shortly.
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