Category: Choir Updates

Late call for this but if you are free tonight this promises to be an interesting evening of music, poetry and interviews about the church and its rich artistic history. All Saints is celebrating its 150th anniversary and both William Morris and Burne-Jones were involved in its original design with Burne-Jones contributing designs for the windows whilst William Morris created the tapestry ceilings. I’ll be teaming up with singers Hannah Cox and Chris Stevens for some songs broadly linked with the Pre-Raphaelite movement, including some gems by some neglected women composers Adele Maddison and Clara Kathleen Rogers, and I’ll also contribute some piano solos by Elgar, Debussy and Liszt.

Dear All

What an enjoyable and positive rehearsal with Penny on Tuesday! 

The only bit we stumbled on was the ‘Ne ab-sor-be-at….’ in Domine Jesu p47-48, bar 21-32. So, if you get chance have a look at that ahead of Saturday. 

And, after Penny’s exclamation (mid-conducting!) in the Lux Aeterna keep singing through the ‘et lux per-pe-tu-a…’ phrase p79 bar79(33) -81(35).

Saturday’s schedule is copied below together with other concert details. Please could all those who offered to help set up arrive at All Saints (https://www.allsaintschurch.org.uk/ )  for 2pm.

For SGC rehearsal arrive by 3:30 and sit in pews. The soloists will be rehearsing at that time so please arrive quietly and sit in pews until Ben calls us forward.

Ticket Sales!!!!:

It’s not too late to spread the word about the concert:    flyer here

Remember, we ask every member to sell at least 3 tickets. This is vital to cover our costs.

Please email me (siobhan.waswood@icloud.com) & Lesley ( lesley.morley1@gmail.com ) with list of names of those who have bought tickets. We will have a list of ticket holders on the door on the night.

Schedule 15/6:

2:00 Church open          

• RO set up their own chairs
• SGC set up their chairs 
• Bar set up

230: Robert’s concerto

315: Deh se piacer

330: flute quintet 

330: choir arrive quietly & sit in pews

345: three chorus numbers (so this would be when the choir are called) 

415: short break 

425: requiem

530: break

6:30 bar opens

700: concert starts

8:00 ish:’15 minute’ internal

 Concert programme running order:

• Che del ciel (La Clemenza di Tito) – Soloists & Chorus 
• Deh, se piacer mi vuoi (La Clemenza di Tito) – Soprano solo 
• Placido e mar (Idomeneo) – Chorus & Soprano solo
• Hmmm hmm hmm (The Magic  Flute) – solo quintet (SATB Soloists & Claire Michelet)
• Finale (The Magic Flute) – Chorus & Bass solo 
• Concerto No.27 in B flat, K.595 – Piano & Orchestra (conductor Martin Smith)
•  INTERVAL 
• Requiem, K. 626, 

Concert Dress:

Men: White shirt, black trousers

Women: White shirt/top, black bottom

Black Folders:

Please bring black folders for the concert. Lesley is placing an order for all those who asked for one after Tuesday’s rehearsal.

Reminder of Concert Venue:

It may be worth reminding or pointing out to any regular concert attendees that we are performing at a different venue on this occasion. I will put a note at Christ Church directing people to All Saints just in case.

Post Concert Rehearsal:

We will have a break from rehearsals the week after the concert, 18/6, but return for one last rehearsal this term on 25^th June when we will look ahead to what we will sing in September.

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

• Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term – back at Christ Church:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church
• Holly Lodge:      Thurs 5^th Dec, Christ Church
• SGC Concert:      Sunday 15^th Dec, Christ Church

Dear All

We had a thorough work through of the three opera choruses with Penny on Tuesday as well as looking at Osana from the Sanctus.

Points to take away:

Magic Flute – COME IN EARLY! at the start of of each phrase 

Che del Ciel – place clear emphasis on the ‘Cu-sto-di-sca-no Co-si’s’

Placido è il mar – smooth/even singing

Next week, 11/6, is the last rehearsal before the concert and we will run through the whole programme.

Schedule for 15/6 is shown below plus a request for VOLUNTEERS (from 2pm)! 

Note, on 15/6 choir should arrive at All Saints (https://www.allsaintschurch.org.uk/ ) by 3:30pm. The soloists will be rehearsing at that time so please arrive quietly and sit in pews until Ben calls us forward.

Concert programme running order:

• Che del ciel (La Clemenza di Tito) – Soloists & Chorus 
• Deh, se piacer mi vuoi (La Clemenza di Tito) – Soprano solo 
• Placido e mar (Idomeneo) – Chorus & Soprano solo
• Hmmm hmm hmm (The Magic  Flute) – solo quintet (SATB Soloists & Claire Michelet)
• Finale (The Magic Flute) – Chorus & Bass solo 
• Concerto No.27 in B flat, K.595 – Piano & Orchestra (conductor Martin Smith)

 INTERVAL 

• Requiem, K. 626, 

Ticket Sales:

Keep spreading the word about the concert:    flyer here

Remember, we ask every member to sell at least 3 tickets. This is vital to cover our costs.

Please email me (siobhan.waswood@icloud.com) & Lesley ( lesley.morley1@gmail.com ) with list of names of those who have bought tickets. We will have a list of ticket holders on the door on the night.

Schedule 15/6:

2:00 Church open          

• RO set up their own chairs
• SGC set up their chairs 
• Bar set up

230: Robert’s concerto

315: Deh se piacer

330: flute quintet 

330: choir arrive quietly & sit in pews

345: three chorus numbers (so this would be when the choir are called) 

415: short break 

425: requiem

530: break

6:30 bar opens

700: concert starts

8:00 ish:’15 minute’ internal

Volunteers:

Volunteers are needed on the day. Please see list below and let me know if you can help.

We have a much shorter window than usual for setting up and will be working round Richmond Orchestra so we need as many helpers as possible to be there at 2pm.  

For door and bar we ideally need some non-singers (partner/friends or grown up children) so that we can keep things manned after the choir assemble.

2pm -2:30pm   set up choir & bar

6pm       bar complete set-up and man

6:15       door

c8:00    interval bar

end        clear up – we ask everyone to help with this 

Concert Dress:

Men: White shirt, black trousers

Women: White shirt/top, black bottoms

Black Folders:

Please bring black folders for the concert. Lesley is placing an order for all those who asked for one after Tuesday’s rehearsal.

Reminder of Concert Venue:

It may be worth reminding or pointing out to any regular concert attendees that we are performing at a different venue on this occasion. I will put a note at Christ Church directing people to All Saints just in case.

Music for 11^th June (bring all music & a pencil):

• Mozart, Requiem 
• Mozart, Tito -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Post Concert Rehearsal:

We will have a break from rehearsals the week after the concert, 18/6, but return for one last rehearsal this term on 25^th June when we will look ahead to what we will sing in September.

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

• Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term – back at Christ Church:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church
• Holly Lodge:      Thurs 5^th Dec, Christ Church
• SGC Concert:      Sunday 15^th Dec, Christ Church

Dear All

We had an excellent run through of the whole Requiem on Tuesday. Ben is very pleased with how it’s going! 

And here are his specific notes to work on (three weeks and two remaining rehearsals before the concert!).

• Find space in e and i vowels – get the yawn in the sound so it doesn’t get tight, especially in the upper register

• Confutatis – place more importance on the semiquavers – it’ll help things line up better. “con-FU-tatis ma-LE-dictis flam-MIS” etc 

• Sopranos and altos – “Voca me” – you can put tone and pitch through the V – do this and get in early to make sure we’re not scooping up to the note. 

• Altos throughout: you’re probably musically the most secure, I’d love you all to show off a little bit more in the juicy bits 

• Tenors: I know you’re having a sectional this week, thank you! Things are improving ALL THE TIME. I know Robert will have thoughts too: from me, just Rex and the Osannas could do with a zoom in, if you get a chance. 

• Sopranos – lux aeterna – in the phrases where you imitate the soloist, can you accentuate the contrast between what you’re doing and the angular stuff in ATB by being as legato as possible – leave the consonants (think of them as like the necessity like flour in a cake batter) as late as possible, and spend as long as possible on the vowels (cream and butter) to make the contrast, and the sound as luxurious as possible.  

• Have a general look over the opera bits please, these will be the focus on the first rehearsal back, then 11th June is a full run through. 
  

I’m still searching for a version of Placido with more legible Italian. As soon as I find it, it’ll be with you! Homeward straight!

Half term this week so next rehearsal (still at St Mary’s) will be 4^th June.

Ticket Sales:

Keep spreading the word about the concert – flyer here.

We will be collating ticket sales after half term. We ask every member to sell at least 3 tickets. This is vital to cover our costs.

Please encourage tickets to be bought in advance. If choir members are buying on behalf of friends/family then please pay direct to choir bank account as that avoids Sum-Up fees, and include name and ‘tickets’ in reference. Otherwise it’s very easy for guests to pay via the link or QR code on flyer (remind guests to include their email address – they’ll also see this request when they pay). Tickets will also be available on the door.

Tickets £15 per person (under 16s free)

Choir Bank Details:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Music for 4 & 11^th June (bring all music & a pencil!):

Bring ALL music to remaining rehearsals:-

June 4^th focus will be 3 opera choruses, June 11^th full run through 

• Mozart, Requiem 
• Mozart, Tito -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

• Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church

• Concert:               Sunday 15^th Dec

A good session with Penny Homer last week cracking Rex Tremendae and the Offertorium. If you were not there, hope you have had chance to catch up on those with the learning tracks or your own chosen method. Tomorrow Ben would like to run the whole Requiem to assess what needs particular attention. Don’t forget your pencil!

Dear All,

Last Tuesday we focused on the following parts of Mozart Requiem and here are the notes:

Hostias – p57, bar 46: mark first syllable of faceas as FARK

Confutatis – we must sing through the AR in ConfutARtis – attack!

Agnus Dei – there is no R in the middle of Donna Eis make sure this is two words not donnareyis. 

Lux Aeterna – this is nearly but not quite the same as the Kyrie with different words. We have to attack it especially in the lower parts where the sopranos are floating over the top. Very last two bars – mark the middle S in pi-uS es as attached to the last note so it is pee- uuuu – ses! (because you are merciful)

Next Tuesday Penny Homer is taking us through:

Rex Tremendae – new

Offertorium – new

And other bits of the Requiem. Do try the learning tracks/listen these before if they are new to you or you need a reminder.

TICKETS – choir members can and are encouraged to buy tickets by payment direct to the bank account. Then no fees for us. Just let me know so I am not guessing whether its your subs or six tickets. Lesley.morley1@gmail.com

Dear All

This week we did some thorough work on Tito’s Che del Ciel, and looked at the last movement of the Requiem, Lux Aeterna (beautifully similar to the first), and the Hostias, including the ‘Quam Olim Abrahae’.

Ben’s tips:

Brighten the sound of Hostias by aiming for a mid-Atlantic ‘Has-tias’ pronunciation and keep the semi-quaver runs in the Lux Aeterna light rather than laboured.

Next week we will work on:

• Lux Aeterna 
• Hostias (make sure you prep the Quam Olim Abrahae bit if you can!) and 
• Confutatis Maledictus (new movement).

Do have a look at the cyberbass site  when learning the new pieces it really is very helpful. Using the go slower button makes the tricky bits learnable and the Tutti option is a great way to test which bits need some more focus.

Concert flyer is available now – see below. Huge thanks to David Corless for this – it takes a lot of work! Please circulate and get your friends and family signed up.

Music for 23rd April (bring all music & a pencil!):

• Mozart, Requiem 

-Introitus

-Kyrie

-Dies Irae

-Confutatis Maledictus

-Lachrymosa

-Hostias

-Sanctus

-Benedictus

-Agnus Dei

-Lux Aeterna

• Mozart, Tito -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Concert Flyer 15^th June:

Concert flyer here (as seen on homepage). Payment can be made via link on flyer.

Subs:

Don’t forget to pay subs! £90 / term. Please pay by bank transfer to the choir account – details as follows:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

• Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church

• Concert:               Sunday 15^th Dec

Dear All

We made good progress on Tuesday working on Tito’s Che del ciel, a first look at the start of the Hostias up to bar 55 (start of Quam olim Abrahae), Agnus Dei and a run through the Kyrie.

Hopefully, everyone is now clear on the pronunciation of the Italian in the Tito chorus. The Kyrie was sounding really good; remember Ben’s tip, now that we are more familiar with the semi-quaver runs of the Christe eleison, to sing freely and with confidence even if it’s at the dispense of missing the occasional note (& “you’re thinking but I’m singing fiction”!).

Next week we will work on:

• Tito’s Che de Ciel (Ben found a clearer version HERE, also on repertoire page)
• the second part of the Hostias from bar 55 (start of Quam olim Abrahae) 
• Lux Aeterna (the last movement of the Requiem). 

Note it is very worthwhile listening to the practice tracks for the Quam olim Abrahae bit of the Hostias as it is a tricky piece at first glance (after which it’s in danger of never leaving your head). Lux Aeterna is very similar to the Introitus which is very helpful to us! 

I probably don’t need to remind you to make sure you have all pieces printed off ready for rehearsal. If anyone has any trouble finding the music on the website, or indeed has any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at siobhan.waswood@icloud.com

Music for 23rd April (bring all music & a pencil!):

• Mozart, Requiem 

-Introitus

-Kyrie

-Dies Irae

-Lachrymosa

-Hostias

-Sanctus

-Benedictus

-Agnus Dei

-Lux Aeterna

• Mozart, Tito -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Subs:

As mentioned last week subs have unfortunately had to go up to £90 per term to cover increased venue costs. Please pay by bank transfer to the choir account – details as follows:

Account Name: Sheen Gate Choir

Account Number: 47107324

Sort: 60-01-39

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

• Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church

• Concert:               Sunday 15^th Dec

Dear All

We had a marvellously energetic and productive first rehearsal at St Mary’s looking in detail at the finale of the Magic Flute and the Introitus and Kyrie from the Requiem. Ben was very pleased with how it went!

Some of Ben’s tips:

Attack the ‘Dona’s’ in the Introitus as though flicking a rubber band, articulating the ‘D’

Bring out the brightness of the ‘Ex audi…’ (the citrus in the heavy treacle sponge…)

Be brave energising the semi-quaver runs of the Chris-te e-le—son’ in the Kyrie

Next week we will work on Che del ciel (Tito), Placido è il Mar (Idomeneo) and Hostias from the Requiem.

For those still figuring out their best route to St Mary’s, there appeared to be plenty of parking spaces on Tuesday evening on North Worple Way and Worple Street, both a short walk from St Mary’s ( St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Mortlake ).

Note, Autumn term dates are shown below and on calendar page – we’ll be holding our second Come & Sing on Saturday 28th Sep. Put it in your diary!

Music for 23rd April (bring all music):

• Mozart, Requiem 

-Introitus

-Kyrie

-Lachrymosa

-Dies Irae

-Hostias

-Sanctus

-Agnus Dei

• Mozart, Titus -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Summer & Autumn Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

Summer Term:

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

Concert Sat 15th June

Autumn Term:

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

• Come & Sing:     Sat 28^th Sep, 10:30am – 4pm, Christ Church

• Concert:               Date tbc but likely Sunday 15^th Dec

Dear All

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter.

We’ll be back singing next Tuesday 16^th April – hurrah! Remember we’ll be in ST MARY THE VIRGIN’S church Mortlake, 19:45-21:30 as usual. Please allow plenty of time to find parking which is a bit trickier than at Christchurch. The entrance is accessed via the path (‘Church Path’) running alongside the church. The big wooden door will be open – push through the inner glass doors.

We will be working on the three opera choruses: Titus, Che del ciel; Magic Flute, Finale & Idomeneo, Placido è il Mar.

For those not familiar with St Mary’s ( St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Mortlake ), parking may be found on side roads nearby or (usually easier and a short walk away) on the South side of the railway on the roads off South Worple Street. 

Music for 16^th April (bring all music as usual & pencils!!!):

• Mozart, Requiem 

-Introitus

-Kyrie

-Lachrymosa

-Dies Irae

-Hostias

-Sanctus

-Agnus Dei

• Mozart, Titus -Che del ciel
• Mozart, Magic Flute – Finale
• Mozart, Idomeneo – Placido è il Mar  

Summer Term Dates (also see Calendar tab):

16th April – 25th Jun inclusive, except half term 28th May & 18^th June when we’ll have a week’s break post-concert.

Concert Sat 15^th June