Category: Choir Updates

Dear all

Huge thanks to all who came tonight – it’s great that we can all meet and rehearse again!

For those who don;t know (or don’t remember) I will try and send a roundup after each rehearsal, so that a) those who couldn’t make it know what we covered, b) I can give you things to look at during the week (if you can), and c) there is a written record of the things I’ve asked you to mark in your scores!!

Today, we looked at the middle section of Swansea Town, which is much easier than it looks with theirs and basses in octave on their chromatic figure, and altos just moving up and down an octave every now and then! Make sure you mark in breaths every 2 bars (where the phrase phrase marks stop and start again) and we will keep practising this with the dynamics – growing and fading like waves (under the verse about the storm – see what he did there?)

We then spent some time on Danny Boy. This was actually sung extremely well considering how little time we have spent on it, and we even managed to do it a capella! The key to this piece is know your parts inside out – it’s not an easy one to read each time, so it’s all about note bashing until you can’t do it wrong. The general pause after the word ‘hushed’ (page 4) will be a proper break, so make sure it’s marked in your score.

We then tackled Battle of Jericho. The nots are much easier than they look and don;t take long to pick up, so this piece is all about the performance. Ideally this will need to be from memory in the concert, because the effect will be lost if we all have our heads in scores! I’m saying this now – the concert is about 3 months away so there’s plenty of time! We will work on this regularly.

Finally, we sang through Shenandoah. We spent most time working with the sopranos and altos on the 4th verse (page 5), with the sop 1, sop 2 and alto singing the tune in stretto – this is most difficult for second sopranos, trying to fit in between the other two! It worked really well in today’s rehearsal, but it’s a section that needs concentration!

That was all for this week. Please continue to bring all the music shared so far to each rehearsal from now on. We may add more depending on prioress and timing for the concert, but we have plenty to fill our time for the moment!

Dave

Dear All 

The website is now up and running again – huge thanks to David Corless for finding the time to sort it out.

If anyone continues to have any problems please email me on jonezfamily658@virginmedia.com

For tomorrow’s rehearsal please bring all the pieces we have been looking at over the last year (listed below).

Danny Boy

Linden Lea

Ellan Vanin

The Lover’s Ghost & Turtle Dove

I love my love & Swansea Town

Shenandoah

The little light of mine

Battle of Jericho

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

Dear All 

I have been gently reminded (thank you Chris!) that we usually gather for a little social session before the first rehearsal of term begins and we definitely want to do that this year. 

So please bring a bottle of whatever you fancy to the church and some spare plastic cups if you have them and we’ll have a little catch up to start with.

Dear All 

We hope you are all feeling refreshed after the summer and are looking forward to rehearsals starting again tomorrow (Tuesday 14^th September): 19:45- 21:30 at Christchurch.

As mentioned before we will be picking up where we left off with regards to music and Dave has asked that you bring the following pieces to rehearsal:

Shenandoah

Swansea Town

Linden Lea

Danny Boy

I hope everyone has been able to access the music on the choir website. Please email me if you have any problems doing so – jonezfamily658@virginmedia.com.

Subs for the term are £70 to be paid by bank transfer to the Sheen Gate Choir account as before.

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible tomorrow!

You will likely need to log in again, and any old bookmarks may not work and need to be updated.

Hi all, some of you may have encountered a strange message about a security certificate when you have tried to log on to read the wonderful news about singing again. First, there is nothing to worry about. It was a purely technical issue, and there is no security breach. Second, even if there was, we do not have anything to steal apart from email addresses. We don’t have any other personal details on file. And third, it should now be sorted, but you will likely need to log in from fresh, and your old bookmarks may not work and need to be updated. Eagle-eyed choristers may notice that the address has changed from http://sheengate…. to https://sheengate….

Sorry for the inconvenience, any ongoing tech problems let Siobhan, Lesley or me know, and see you all soon.

Dear All

I’m delighted to say Christchurch are happy for us to resume rehearsals this term. 

Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays from 7:45 – 9:30 as before and term dates will be from 14^th September – 14^thDecember with a one-week half term on 12^th October. Happily, subs will remain the same this term (£70).

We plan to continue with the repertoire we were working through before. The music, or details of where you can buy scores, is on the website.

In the meantime, you may be interested to know Christchurch are now routinely offering a Choral Evensong service at 5pm Sundays. All welcome.

We hope you have all had a lovely summer and are raring to go singing again. See you in September!

Dear All 

I am very sorry to inform those who do not already know that Tricia O’Neill’s husband has sadly passed away. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say our thoughts and prayers are with Tricia and her family.

For those who would like to pay their respects Tricia has kindly let me share the funeral arrangements.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday 2^nd September 11am at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church, North Worple Way, SW14 8PR and 12:40pm at Mortlake Crematorium. Refreshments will be at the Pig and Whistle from 1:30pm, 86 Sheen Lane SW14 8LP.   

Reminder that the choir will be having a get-together for those who can make it on Tuesday 29th June from 7:30pm at 35 Deanhill Road, East Sheen SW14 7DQ. The football will be on!

Please bring a bottle of whatever you prefer to drink and maybe a few nibbles. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions – my number (Siobhan – altos) is 07887 648 422.

Dear All

Tricia came up with an excellent idea – we might not be able to rehearse together, but luckily we can all have a drink together in the garden. So if you’d like the chance to catch up with other choir members please come to 35 Deanhill Road, SW14 7DQ on Tuesday 29th June from 7:30pm.

May I ask that everyone coming brings a bottle of whatever they prefer to drink (lemonade, vodka etc) and maybe a few nibbles. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions – my number (Siobhan – altos) is 07887 648 422.

That was going to be our last rehearsal day, but it is looking unlikely that we will be able to re-start this term. Obviously if this changes we will let you know and change plans.

Dear All

Sadly, after this evening’s announcement, it’s not looking promising for the remainder of our rehearsals this term (last one was due to be on 29th June). We’ll keep an eye on guidance in case this changes. No rehearsal tomorrow.

Do write to your MP to make your feelings known and don’t forget the petition if you haven’t already signed it.