Dear All
Rehearsal on 25th Nov will be back at Christchurch as usual. We’ll start off with Stars.
Neavan was delighted with our efforts this week. Our run through of the Brahms convinced him (after admitting some doubts, it being a challenging piece!) that it should stay in the programme. Well done everyone for the obvious efforts preparing that one. We also had a nice run through of Stars and O Radiant Dawn.
An die heimat: be aware of maintaining the ensemble singing for the less familiar/trickier bits which will help keep them together and sounding good. For the more familiar/secure sections make the most of the nuances eg the many hairpins (louder then softer markings).
O Radiant Dawn: WATCH for the Amens at the end – they should be sung piano & with fervent, almost fearful character!
Stars: PLAY-adies is the pronunciation we’re going for in bar 16
Please print off and bring Away in a Manger, link here, to next rehearsal. This is the joint song for Holly Lodge. It’s a straight foward arrangement and we’ll look at it next week. There is also a Makaton signing video for anyone who has time to learn it – see below.
Spread the word for our concert 6pm 14/12 at Christchurch. Flyer will be available soon. Reminder that all choir members are asked to sell minimum 3 tickets for concerts so we can cover costs.
Holly Lodge 4th Dec – Away in a Manger:
We will be singing this carol with the two schools at the Holly Lodge Concert.
Singing arrangement as follows:
Verse 1 – Children only (Sheen Mount and Clarendon)
Verse 2 &3 – Sheen Gate Choir join in at the start of verse 2 when the arrangement goes into 4 parts and sing V2&3 with children singing sop part.
Children will all be doing Makaton signing at same time as singing. They’d be delighted if anyone in the choir could join in too. Learning video below.
Link to music here.
Link to backing track (to give you an idea of accompaniment) here.
Link to Makaton video here.
Music Order for Summer Concert (4th July 2026):
Pease place order by Tues 25th Nov latest!
We will be singing Karl Jenkins The Armed Man for our Summer Concert.
If you’d like to be included in the bulk order we’ll be placing please email me on Siobhan.waswood@icloud.com
Scores will cost £16.99 (link here)
Local Concert:
You may be interested in a local concert put on by people with links to the choir (note the date it was incorrect in last week’s post):
Violin & Piano Concert,
Friday 21st Nov, Christchurch
Link to flyer here
Organised by a friend of David Corless from the tenors.
Choir Social – Tue 16th Dec:
Will be in The Hare and Hounds, East Sheen on Tuesday evening 16th Dec. Booked from 18:30 til late – get there anytime you can. Thank you to Barbara for organising!
Programme for December Concert:
James MacMillan – O Radiant Dawn
Bob Chilcott – Where Riches is Everlastingly
Ole Gjeilo – The Rose
Bob Chilcott – The Twelve Days of Christmas
Kim Andre Arnesen – Cradle Hymn
Bob Chilcott – We Wish you a Merry Christmas
Brahms – An die Heimat
Benedict Landauer – Stars
Subs:
Subs will remain at £90 this term – payment details below:
£90/term to be paid into choir bank account – please put your name and ’subs’ as reference:
Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir
Account Number: 47107324
Sort: 60-01-39
Working Term Dates:
Autumn 2025:
16 Sep – 9 Dec except 1 week half term 28 Oct
Holly Lodge Concert: Thursday 4th December
Concert Date: Sunday 14th December
Spring 2026:
13 Jan 26 – 24 Mar 26
1 week half-term 17 Feb 26
= 10 weeks
Easter is 5 Apr 26
3 week Easter break (31/3, 7&14/4)
Summer 2026:
21 Apr 26 – 30 Jun 26
1 week half-term 26 May 26
= 10 weeks
Concert Date: 4th July
Autumn 2026:
15 Sep 26 – 8 Dec 26
1 week half-term 27 Oct 26
= 12 weeks
Concert Date: Sun 13 Dec 26?