Author: Siobhan Jones

Dear All

I hope you’re all enjoying your half term ……and maybe getting a little practice in?!

On that point, I found the practice tracks for Vast Eternal Sky (copied below & thanks to altos). Penny is also being kind to us and we’ve agreed to put aside the final Gjeilo song, The Rose, to ease the load for this concert. We’ll return to it in future for sure but it just gives us that extra time to finesse the rest of our programme and the carols we’ll be singing for Holly Lodge. 

Looking ahead to next year, we will have two (German :)) concerts:

Sat Feb 8^th ’25 – Beethoven’s 9^th with Lambeth Orchestra (rehearsing upon return in New Year)

Sat 7^th June ’25 – Brahms Requiem with Richmond Orchestra (rehearsing post Feb 8th concert)

Please advise availability for 8th Feb & if you’d like to order scores (see below).

See you at next rehearsal – 5^th November.

Rehearsal Schedule SGC Autumn Term

Practice Tracks Vast Eternal Sky:

Vast Eternal Sky – Sop 1/2

Vast Eternal Sky – Alto 1

Vast Eternal Sky – Alto 2

Vast Eternal Sky – Tenor 1

Vast Eternal Sky – Tenor 2

Vast Eternal Sky – Bass 1

Vast Eternal Sky – Bass 2

Beethoven, 8^th Feb ’25  Availability:

Our first concert next year will be a performance of Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony on Sat Feb 8^th  (details below) . We will be joining the choir of St John the Divine, Kennington at their home church and accompanied by Lambeth Orchestra. This is the concert where Ben was due to be singing the solo. The date was obviously fixed by Lambeth, but we hope most of the choir can make it.

Please could you advise your availability by messaging your section Whatsapp group.

• Date: Saturday, 8 February 2025
• Time: 19:30  20:30
• Venue: St John The Divine92 Vassall Road, London SW9 6JA

Don’t forget to advise availability for Holly Lodge as well if you haven’t already done so. Thank you to all those who have.

Date:    Thursday, 5^th Dec ‘24

Time:    7pm – 9:30pm

Venue: Christchurch

Scores Bulk Order:

We will be placing a bulk order in the next couple of weeks for the Beethoven 9^th  & Brahms Requiem scores. Big thank you to Agnes who is organising this.

Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony, Barenreiter edition – £10.50 

Brahms Requiem,  Novello edition – £11.50

To be included on the bulk order please email Agnes Corless on agnescorless@btinternet.com by Tue 5^th November . Please specify which scores you would like to order.

Many people will already have the Brahms score from a previous performance so do check before ordering!

Choir Curry:

Barbara has marvellously agreed to organise our Choir Christmas Curry this year – hurray!! It will be at an excellent curry house (tba) in Sheen. We are going to go for Tuesday 17^th Dec in the hope that most people will be able to make that day (as they won’t have realised we finished term the week before…).

Please could you let Barbara Brown know availability by emailing barbarabrown5@virginmedia.com

Date:    Tuesday 17^th Dec ‘24

Time:    evening

Venue: Sheen

1885 Choir Come & Sing for anyone who fancies it!

MOZART’S REQUIEM – COME & SING 

All Saints’ Putney is hosting a ‘Come & Sing’ of Mozart’s Requiem on Saturday 2nd November to mark All Souls’ Day. The morning workshop will be followed by a liturgical performance accompanied by Robert Bridge and June Rippon. Entry is completely free, and all are welcome. We won’t be singing the whole work, but we will be performing the best-loved sections! 

9:00 – Tea/Coffee (provided)
9:15 – Workshop 
10:45 – Break 
11:00 – Performance (liturgically as part of a Requiem Eucharist) 
12:15 – End – more tea & coffee 

Music is provided. 

Cost: There is no cost to join, but donations of £5 per singer would be gratefully received. 

If you’d like to come, please sign-up through this link

Calendar for year

SGC Dec Concert – Sun 15^th Dec ‘24

Lambeth Concert – Sat 8^th Feb ‘25

SGC Jun Concert – Sat 7^th Jun ‘25

See Calendar tab for fill list of rehearsal and concert dates to June 2025

Subs:

 £90/term to be paid into choir bank account:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Repertoire list

For list of repertoire see Autumn 2024 Repertoire page under Music & Media Library.

Dear All

Key points to remember from last Tuesday’s excellent rehearsal:

Make it sound beautiful by thinking of the musical phrasing  – Cum sancto spirito etc….

Don’t rush to the consonant : S-AAHH-ncto  …, Glori-AA-m, S-AA-n L-AA-ight

Hot potato! Especially for the higher notes

And most important: don’t forget Penny said we were excellent at one point!!

Rehearsal Schedule SGC Autumn Term

Holly Lodge Availability, 5/12 :

Please could you advise whether you are available for Holly Lodge concert by messaging your section whatsapp group:

Date:    Thursday, 5^th Dec ‘24

Time:    7pm – 9:30pm

Venue: Christchurch

Section points of contact:

Sopranos – Caroline Cuss

Altos – Sinead Thomas

Tenors – Sue Eustace

Basses – Simon Renton

Vivaldi Gloria – soloists

Let Penny know if you’d like to sing a solo (soprano/alto) by emailing sheengatechoir@gmail.com – thank you to those who have got in touch already. 

Calendar for year

SGC Concert – Sun 15^th Dec ‘24

See Calendar tab for fill list of rehearsal and concert dates to June 2025

Subs:

 £90/term to be paid into choir bank account:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Dear All

Quick reminder this week that music for tomorrow’s rehearsal may be found on Penny’s rehearsal schedule document. Have a listen to Gjeilo’s Across the Vast Eternal Sky in preparation.

Sheen Gate Choir Autumn Term

The link may also be found at the top of the Autumn 2024 Repertoire page under Music & Media Library.

Vivaldi Gloria – soloists

Don’t forget to let Penny know if you’d like to sing a solo – thank you to those who have got in touch already. 

We are looking for soloists from the choir for the Vivaldi Gloria – at least one soprano and one alto (although there is scope to have different soloists for each solo/duet movement).

If you would be interested, please email sheengatechoir@gmail.com to make yourself known (if you have a preference for a particular solo movement, do let us know that as well).

Should we have more volunteers than solo movements, we will have auditions on 19th November.

Subs:

£90/term to be paid into choir bank account:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Calendar for year

See Calendar tab for rehearsal and concert dates to June 2025

Repertoire list

For list of repertoire see Autumn 2024 Repertoire page under Music & Media Library.

Dear All

Great effort by everyone on Tuesday. It was nice to be back rehearsing again. Those present will have noticed we started exactly on time…..so if you don’t want to miss the fun warm up make sure you’re at the church on time!

Rehearsal Schedule Autumn Term

Penny has brilliantly produced a rehearsal schedule for the whole term. To see what music you’ll need for each rehearsal (and recap what we’ve covered) click on the link to the schedule below (link is also at top of Autumn 2024 Repertoire page under Music & Media Library tab) .

Link here: Sheen Gate Choir Autumn Term

Pieces have had their names abbreviated to save space – the key on the right details what each one means.

The Vivaldi has been divided up into relevant movements, and their page numbers are included at the side (taken from the Novello edition).

Be aware that this is a living document, so may change as the term goes on – whenever you click on the link, the most recent version will become available to you, so do check it regularly!

Vivaldi Gloria – soloists

We are looking for soloists from the choir for the Vivaldi Gloria – at least one soprano and one alto (although there is scope to have different soloists for each solo/duet movement).

If you would be interested, please email sheengatechoir@gmail.com to make yourself known (if you have a preference for a particular solo movement, do let us know that as well).

Should we have more volunteers than solo movements, we will have auditions on 19th November.

Subs:

Don’t forget subs! £90/term to be paid into choir bank account:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Calendar for year

See Calendar tab for rehearsal and concert dates to June 2025

Repertoire list

For list of repertoire see Autumn 2024 Repertoire page under Music & Media Library.

(They’re always fabulous – don’t’ miss out!)

If anyone is around this Sunday afternoon (29th Sep), and fancies an hour of unashamedly gorgeous Romantic piano music, then St.Margaret’s Church on Putney Park Lane is the place to be. I will be there at 4pm playing music by Chopin, Brahms and Franck. Entry is by donation and there are plenty of lovely drinks to be had. The link to the concert is HERE

If you have never been to St.Margaret’s before please do not try to drive up Putney Park Lane: it is (a) gated and (b) unmade, and you will risk (c) being locked in and (d) losing the bottom half of your car. Better strategy is to approach via Hazlewell Road and St.Margaret’s Crescent and walk through Church Walk alongside Paddock School.

Hope to see a few friendly faces!

Dear All, 

Huge thanks to Penny for leading us on such a poignant evening last week. It was a lovely tribute to Ben and I know he will remain in our thoughts when we come together again to sing. 

Many people have asked about his funeral arrangements. We are in touch with his dear friend Claire Filer, through Claire Michelet,  who has kindly promised to let us know as soon as she has a date. Unfortunately, they have to wait for a postmortem. Claire F was very touched to hear about our evening last week and the affectionate gestures like the crocs.

We will have our first rehearsal proper this Tuesday 24^th Sep. The pieces we will cover are listed below.

I’ll bring the scores for anyone who has ordered (& paid for!) music but not yet received it. If anyone missed out on the order let me know. There are scanned copies of all the music being covered this week on the repertoire page of the website where you will also find links to practice tracks and a recording. Note – some scores have been delayed so you may need to print off some of the Gjeilo.

The rehearsal and concert schedule for the year is copied below. The Beethoven’s 9^th performance in February with Lambeth Orchestra is an extra concert for us and came about because Ben was due to sing tenor at it. After hearing the sad news about Ben, the conductor, Peter Selwyn will be dedicating the performance to Ben’s memory which will make it all the more special.

There is another opportunity to sing Beethoven’s 9^th, with Kew Sinfonia & Chiswick Community Choir on 16^thNovember. Details below. This is open to anyone who is able to make the weekend rehearsals and is a free to enter event. A measure of self-preparation will be necessary as SGC will not be rehearsing this until January, but it would be fantastic preparation for those interested. There is a connection with Ben here too as he had been hoping to sing the tenor part. The choir director, Zac Moxon, would love as many members of SGC as are able to take part. He asks that everyone interested signs the google form in the link below.

We are looking for a volunteer from the choir to take over the bulk ordering of scores – it’s a neat, limited job that should only require time ahead of Autumn and Spring terms, but I’d be super grateful for the help if there’s anyone who thinks they’d have time to do it :):)

Just to confirm for those not present on Tuesday: we are postponing the Come & Sing and will revisit this once we have settled into the new term.

Don’t forget subs! £90/term to be paid into choir bank account.

Music for next week 24/9:

• Vivaldi, First movement I, Gloria in excelsis Deo (p1-6)
• Vivaldi,  Movement X, Quonium tu solus sanctus (p45-46)
• Vivaldi, Movement II, Et in terra pax hominibus (7-14)
• Ponniah, Seeing the Star
• Gjeilo, Ecce Novum (if there’s time)

Repertoire  for 15^th Dec Concert:

Gloria (whole work),  Vivaldi,     Vivaldi – Gloria

The Rose  Gjeilo,    The Rose – Gjeilo                                                             

Ecce Novum  Gjeilo,   Ecce Novum – Gjeilo                                         

Across the Vast Eternal Sky,  Gjeilo,    Across the Vast Eternal Sky – Gjeilo                   

Seeing the Star, Ben Ponniah,   Seeing the Star – Ben Ponniah          

Ukranian Bell Carol,  Leontovych

List of music is also on music and media library page (yes I know it’s still showing spring/summer….), with recordings, and some with links to scans & practice tracks.

Beethoven’s 9^th – Chiswick Community Choir, Chiswick Voices & Kew Sinfonia:

Chiswick Community Choir, Chiswick Voices and Kew Sinfonia are putting on a performance of Beethoven’s 9^thon Sat 16 Nov. Zac Moxon, head of music at Chiswick School, has invited members of SGC to join the (already 100 strong) chorus for the concert. Zac would be absolutely delighted if members of SGC joined the performance. He passed on his condonlences  to us and plans to include a tribute to Ben at the concert.

The rehearsals will be held at weekends together with Chiswick Community Choir. 4 rehearsals remain (the first one took place today, but Zac is happy for our members to join from the next one). He would like us to attend the remaining rehearsals if we are going to perform in the concert. 

He has asked all interested members to sign up on his google form. Link here.

The form has further information about the rehearsals and concert but key points are:

Concert date:                   16 November, sometime in the evening

Concert venue:                Chiswick School Sports hall

Rehearsals:

Saturday 21 September 3-5pm at Gunnersbury Baptist Church

Sunday 6 October 4-6pm at Gunnersbury Baptist Church

Half Term 

Saturday 2 November 1:30-3:30pm,  Chiswick Voices and Kew Sinfonia in the sports hall.

Weekend of 9/10 November. TBC – we will decide collectively at the end of the 6 October rehearsal

Saturday 16 November – rehearsal sometime in the afternoon and concert in the evening. 

Music:

Every singer should bring their own score. Any edition will do. SGC plan to use the Barenreiter edition on 8^th Feb which may be purchased  here from Presto Music who are currently offering 25% discount on this piece! It might also be worth checking the library in case they have copies in stock.

Choir Staging:

Zac made a big plea to help source choir staging enough for the 100+ singers. He has organised for a van to do a huge collection of various stages across london on Friday 15th. If you know any churches/schools/community that could lend their stages to us for the weekend, he’d  be most grateful. 

Schedule for Autumn Term – back at Christ Church:

17^th Sep – 10^th Dec, except 2 week half term 22^nd & 29^th Oct. 

• LVB9 Kew Sinfonia:                        Sat 16 Nov, evening, Chiswick School Sports Hall
• Holly Lodge:                                      Thu 5 Dec, 7pm, Christ Church
• SGC Concert:                                   Sun 15Dec, 6pm, Christ Church

Working Schedule for Spring/Summer 2025:

Summer term dates are planned around doing the concert with Richmond Orchestra again and they have requested an earlier date of 7^th June

Spring Term:

7Jan-1April except 1 week half term 18 Feb, 12 weeks

• Sat 8^th Feb LVB9 Lambeth Orchestra 

Two week Easter break (not the usual 3 weeks) 8/4 & 15/4.

Summer Term:

22 Apr-10 Jun except 1 week half term 27 May, 7 weeks

• 7^th Jun Summer Concert, Brahms Requiem & RB performance (Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue)

Dear All

We have some positive news about the choir: we’re delighted to say Penny Homer has agreed to carry on as Music Director for SGC following Ben’s passing. She will follow Ben’s programme for the year up to Summer ’25 and take us forward from there.

It has been difficult while we are all still reeling from Monday’s dreadful news to consider how best to carry on without Ben’s ebullient leadership. We have been buoyed by reminders of his faith in us as a choir and the delight he took in our successes. He was keen to make sure we were supported by people who shared his commitment when other duties called him away and you will not be surprised to hear that Penny Homer was one such person.

Ben held Penny in high regard, admired her work and considered her just the person to lead us when he was absent. He particularly arranged for Penny to kick off this term for him when he realised he wouldn’t be able to make it. Most importantly, she has proved very popular with the choir. It seemed fitting therefore to ask Penny to fill this role and we are delighted she has accepted the challenge! It is also rather nice that Penny was the first candidate to audition for the MD position last year on an evening that left us all excited for the future of the choir. 

Penny was really pleased to be asked to take on the role saying it was a huge honour to carry on Ben’s legacy. 

It will be lovely to see everyone next Tuesday while we remember Ben. For those of you who may have missed it, here is a link to a moving tribute on Radio 3 posted by Clare Filer, his best friend, who sang soprano for us at our Summer Concert this year. Thank you to Claire Michelet who drew our attention to it. (If you can’t access via the Facebook link, try BBC Sounds R3 Breakfast 10th September at 1h23m in from the start.)

Sheen Gate Choir Committee

Hi All

I hope everyone is bearing up after Monday’s sad news. 

Here’s the music we will be singing next week. We’ve picked a few of the more familiar and, we hope, well-loved pieces from the many Ben guided us through last year. The intention is to enjoy a bit of singing with gusto in honour of Ben. No pressure, but plenty of butter and cream and lashings of luxury. 

It will be lovely to have Penny Homer directing us and we will be accompanied by both Robert and a gentleman call Makoto (Max) James whom Ben arranged to accompany us this term while Robert takes a break before joining us again in January for Brahms Requiem.

List of Music:

Vivaldi, Gloria, first movement – music link here

Fauré, Cantique de Jean Racine – music link here

Mozart, Requiem lachrymosa – music link here

Tallis, If ye Love Me – music link here

Mozart, Requiem last movement – maybe just an extract depending on timing

Bring your Mozart and Vivaldi scores and / or print off the music using the links above.

Dear All

I am so very sorry to pass on the devasting news that our wonderful Music Director Ben Thapa died today. We understood he was on the mend while being treated in hospital but clearly this was not the case. I know this will come as an awful shock to everyone. 

Ben said to me many times that he just loved bringing people together to sing. He really believed in our choir and I know many of you felt inspired by his enthusiastic and committed direction. As seems fitting, we are going to go ahead with our first rehearsal next week, with Penny Homer at the helm as originally planned. We then hope to continue the term following Ben’s programme– more information to follow.

Rather than start the new programme next week, we invite everyone to bring a drink of their choice to the rehearsal at Christchurch- usual time 19:45. We will have a toast to Ben then sing some favourite pieces from our year with him – details will follow shortly. I’ll be bringing most of a very nice bottle of gin that Ben brought to the Summer choir party and left behind, together with some Fever Tree tonics. I had hoped to return them to him at the start of this term, but instead it would be very nice to share with anyone who fancies a glass.

Dear All

We will be delaying the first rehearsal back by a week, so will re-start on Tues 17th Sep rather than next week.

I’m sorry to say Ben has been unwell & is in hospital at the moment but he’s on the mend which is great news. Sending you best wishes from us all for a speedy recovery Ben!

We’ll be back at Christchurch, East Sheen this term, 19:45-21:30 as usual. Another post will follow with details of music to be covered at the first rehearsal.

Apologies to anyone who has tried to contact me via email in the last couple of weeks. My iCloud account was blocked by Apple after I spammed you all with choir messages before I went away. I’m hoping to get it fixed in the next few days. Please let me know if you didn’t receive my email on 15/8 – I can be contacted on 07887 648 422.

Thank you to all those who have paid for music. I will confirm receipt of payment shortly. Should anyone wish to pick up scores ahead of rehearsals restarting, please let me know and I will leave it for you in the porch. Very much looking forward to seeing you all in a week or so.

Music for Autumn Term:

Repertoire list for next term will include the five pieces listed below (note practice tracks for The Rose below and on repertoire page if you fancy having a look!). 

The Rose – Gjeilo                                                            

Ecce Novum – Gjeilo                                        

Across the Vast Eternal Sky – Gjeilo                  

Seeing the Star – Ben Ponniah                                 

Vivaldi – Gloria

Working Programme for Autumn Term (still being finalised):

December Concert – Sun 15^th Dec:

Gloria (whole work)                       Vivaldi

The Rose                                             Gjeilo 

Ecce Novum                                     Gjeilo

Across the Vast Eternal Sky       Gjeilo

Seeing the Star                                Ben Ponniah 

Ukranian Bell Carol

Practice Tracks for The Rose:

The Rose SOP1 practice track

The Rose SOP2 practice track

The Rose ALTO practice track

The Rose TENOR1 practice track

The Rose TENOR2 practice track

The Rose BASS1 practice track

The Rose BASS2 practice track