Author: Siobhan Jones

Dear all

First, sincere apologies for the confusion and mess of yesterday. You should know that it was not, for once, organizational incompetence, but something that affected choirs up and down the country. For weeks, DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) has been stating that singing is permitted in Step 3 of easing. There was even a moment where a junior minister said it wasn’t – and that mistake was quickly corrected 24 hours later. So choirs like us and agencies that support singing have been completely in agreement that rehearsals could restart on May 17th. Indeed, many choirs DID rehearse on Monday evening.

But then, with unreasonable stealth, DCMS issued a new statement of guidelines. It came out in the afternoon on Monday, the day the rules changed. And it states that amateur choir rehearsals indoors are not permitted. Although this is at odds with the actual legislation, which appears to allow choir practice, we felt it was inadvisable to go ahead and hence the plug was pulled yesterday lunchtime.

My personal view is that it is either (a) another mistake inside DCMS and it may be reversed, or (b) a cynical trick by the government, not wanting to announce that Step 3 is postponed but instead changing what Step 3 means so that it is effectively just like Step 2.

Either way, please don’t write off your Tuesday evenings just yet. And if you feel like it, drop your MP a line and let him or her know that a vaccinated, safety-conscious, well-organised group such as us, with no interest in doing anything that risks getting any one of us ill, should not be further restricted from the joy of singing. We know that the umbrella organisations like Making Music and the Association of British Choral Directors are leading the way with representations to the government, but every additional flea in an MP’s ear can only help.

We will come back with updates as and when available, and at latest to confirm the situation for next week’s scheduled rehearsal. Until then, stay safe and stay dry and keep singing.

So I think we now understand how the government decided to do this. They didn’t want to postpone the easing of lockdown, because that would have been met with howls of disapproval. So instead, they quietly issued new clarification on what is allowed under Step 3 yesterday, at odds with what was previously indicated, and on the actual day that the easing took effect.

And sure enough, in the DCMS update there is a statement that ‘Indoor non-professional performing arts activity is not currently permitted.’ So we are on Step 3 of lockdown easing, but the rules in effect are no different to those in Step 2. And, I’m afraid to say, I suspect that this is going to be the way of things right through to our scheduled summer break. We will see what develops, as I am sure there will be some polite feedback provided to DCMS on this ruling, just as happened when the junior minister went against what was then policy, and obviously will let you know before next Tuesday.

Very disappointing, but we will sing again soon.

It’s great that we are so close to being able to meet and sing again. There are some bits and pieces you need to know. Here they are:

Covid protocols

• Please use hand gel at the entrance.
• Entrance is through the main door (NW corner) and exit is through the small door on the south side of the church.
• Seating is in alternate pews, which are marked, 3 to a pew: one each end, one middle, to keep 2m spacing. As before, please take a pew when you arrive and stay in that seat unless absolutely essential to move to another.
• Face masks are required for entry and exit but are no longer mandatory for singing. Based on reviewing the official guidance, policies of other organizations (including the choir of All Saints) and relevant research, we have concluded that it is no longer a requirement that we sing in masks. There are other points of view, of course. One is here. It is worth noting that this, more cautious, angle is from Making Music, a group that is in the business of insuring musicians, so they are logically at the most cautious end of the spectrum. If you prefer to wear a mask to sing, please feel free.
• Toilets are in the vestry, but just as at Christ Church, ideally they should be for emergency only, please. If we use them we have to clean them thoroughly.
• Please stay within the nave of the church at all times. No access to the chancel or vestry except for Robert.
• The “no mingling” rule before and after is still in force, so although there will be an instinct to embrace friends we have not seen for months, please don’t socialise inside or right outside the church. We will do that happily afterwards at the pub.

Dress code

Worth making sure you have a few layers, as we intend to have open doors to permit circulation. It’s mid-May, so hopefully it’s warm enough, but come prepared.

Parking

The best place to park is on south side of the common. Limits to Residents only are just for the mornings so there are plenty of bays on Lower Common South Side and Egliston Road. If you are approaching from Queens Ride, you need to turn in to Hallam Road as Willow Farm Lane is one-way. And if you do choose to park on the little road by the Spencer, make sure you park well clear of the bus turning circle!

Music to bring

The folk songs from last year:
Linden Lea
Battle of Jericho
Shenandoah
Ellan Vannin
Danny Boy

Plus:
Mozart Requiem
Cantique de Jean Racine

Drinks

In the past we have celebrated the start of a new term with a few glasses of wine before we start. We cannot do that this time for many reasons. But we hope that as many of us as possible can shuffle over to The Spencer when we finish. Under the rules, though, we will need to sit outside on the common. So definitely have coats, and if it is as chilly as lately, hats and gloves and scarves too. Keep fingers crossed that the rain abates by then.

Can’t wait to see you at 7.45 prompt on Tuesday. Iterum cantamus!

Yes, we are just 7 days away from singing together again. Thank you, Boris!

I hope you have all been able to locate your music, or print off fresh sheets.

We will send out a practicalities post at the weekend to give you everything you need to know, but for now – a chance to remind yourselves of just how good we sound when we sing.

I hope this inspires you and whets your appetite for restarting next Tuesday, May 18th.

Voyagers’ Chorus from Idomeneo

Qui Tollis Peccata from Messa di Gloria

We had a scare this week when a DCMS minister incorrectly stated that amateur choirs singing again is step 4 of easing restrictions. Thankfully she corrected herself 24 hours later and we are therefore still on track for a May 18th restart.

We met with the administrator at All Saints today to go over logistics. All very similar to what we are used to at Christ Church so nothing to worry about. We will circulate details in due course.

SO FOR NOW – let’s blow the cobwebs off our music folders. Or just rummage around to see where they have gone. Dave advises that for this term we will stick to stuff we know well and/or have been working on most recently. If you would like to remind yourself of some tunes, or even arrange a sneaky garden sectional rehearsal, here are some pieces to pull out.

+ Linden Lea
+ Shenandoah
+ Cantique de Jean Racine
From Mozart Requiem:
+ Dies Irae and
+ Lacrimosa

You can find copies of the first three on the website, along with practice tracks for the first two. You can click on the link here or go to Music and Media Library in the menu, and the sub-heading Repertoire for 2020 Concert. The printed copies are accessed from the link behind the name of each piece.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I know we have been here before, but surely this time it is for real. We are getting ready to restart.

Our provisional start date is Tuesday May 18, based on the third step down of restrictions which is due to occur on May 17. Dave is ready to go, with a program designed to ease us back into singing, with some of the traditional songs we were learning pre-Covid, and some old favourites. And Robert will be back at the piano.

Christ Church is not yet ready to reopen its doors outside of services, so we have secured a temporary base for the summer term not far away at All Saints on Putney Common. Nice acoustic, plenty of parking and a good pub a few steps away. If anyone needs help with transport, please let us know.

We want to see as many friendly faces as possible, make a lovely sound again, and reconnect with each other and with music. Please rejoin us, invite any friends who like to sing, be in touch with former choristers who will be longing to be part of a choir again and let’s sing!

2021. Not at all like 2020.

Just in case you were wondering, we are not rehearsing this week. For a multitude of reasons.

We are all hoping beyond hope that we will be singing together soon, so please watch this space, but until otherwise instructed please use your Tuesday evenings for bridge, book club, binge watching Netflix or whatever else keeps you amused.

If the news tonight is bad and we are expecting to lose another chunk of Tuesdays, we may revisit the virtual concert trip that a small number of us enjoyed a few weeks ago. That and I will start making up some more quiz questions.

As if you didn’t already have enough reasons to be hoping for the best.

For those coming along, thank you! If you haven’t committed, please do come. The weather is going to be fine, and we owe it to ourselves to sing our little hearts out once more in 2020. Just easy, familiar stuff – the running order is at the bottom.

If you don’t have 100 Carols for Choirs, your music pack is here: https://sheengatechoir.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Carols-2020.pdf. If you do have the book, by all means print page 22 if, like me, you can’t remember all the gifts my true love gave to me.

Friends and family are welcome and we think we have a few coming. They are welcome to sing too, of course. Music sharing permitted within a family bubble.

And just in case anyone is worried, we are confident that we are 100% compliant with today’s Covid regulations, which make specific provision for singing carols. We just need to be finished by midnight.

Reminder – Don’t forget some way of seeing your music in the dark. A thermos of something seems like a good plan. Meet on the path between the Fife Road entry and the West Temple Sheen entry just before 8pm. 

Hasta luego, amigos! Y FELIZ NAVIDAD A TODOS!

Once in Royal David’s City

Silent Night

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

In the Bleak Midwinter

The First Nowell

O Come All Ye Faithful

12 Days of Christmas

Dear all

Unfortunately Christ Church have decided that they are not comfortable with having us use the church while we are in Tier 2. So I am very sorry to say that we will not be meeting to sing carols tomorrow or next week.

I guess it’s a fitting way for 2020 to draw to a close….

Given that we may be in Tier 2 for a while, we have been thinking about alternative rehearsal spaces. If anyone has any thoughts, and specifically if anyone has any contact at Sheen Lane Centre, could they please make themselves known?

And in the meantime, very best of the holiday season to everyone. Special wishes to our wonderful leader Dave and his family; to our virtuoso accompanist Robert; to Jean Oxley, recovering from a broken hip; and to the several choristers who lost a loved one in 2020. We all look forward to rediscovering the joy and comfort that singing together brings, and to celebrating our ten eleven years of musical happiness next year.

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone. Just a short one to say that we are working with Christ Church to figure out our rehearsal schedule for the rest of 2020. We think that we are able to continue on the same basis as before, so please keep your calendars open for Tuesdays Dec 8 and 15, but we are are waiting for the church to confirm. All being well, we will be permitted the joy of singing some Christmas favourites.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again to see out 2020…