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Dear all

Fantastic rehearsal today! All the pieces we covered today are sounding great, and we are really starting to shape it into a great performance! Well done to all present!

We started with a working run of the VW Te Deum. Each phrase is now sounding excellent, but a lot of them only sounded excellent the second time through! We really need to make sure we concentrate all the way through this piece, especially during the organ interludes, so each entry is powerful and effective. Make sure you note in your own scores where there are awkward page turns and rhythms you are not expecting (eg at the bottom of the penultimate page).

We then went through select bits of the Faure (Offertory, Agnus Dei and Libera Me). These are all sounding very good now and the dynamic shapes of the phrases are coming through really well. Especially tenors, watch tuning at during the unaccompanied bits of the Offertory. In Libera Me, please try not to slide around the jumps in the tune at the end!

Finally we spent 5 minutes on the Antiphon. Dynamics are key here, especially the big crescendi up to each “My God and King”. Everyone should make sure they know the “And above all the heart must bear the longest part” section, as this is always the hardest bit!

With only one rehearsal left before concert day (!) a few reminders:

1. Everyone should be at the church ready to sing at 3pm on Saturday 18th June. We will rehearse with the small band and organ until 5.30pm latest.
2. Free time from 5.30pm but please be back at the church, dressed and ready to start by 7.15pm. Doors open at 7pm and we will start at 7.30. We should finish by 9pm.
3. Dress code: Black and white
4. Volunteers still needed to help behind the bar I believe!

Thanks all, see you next week.

Dave

Details to follow

Dear all

Huge apologies that these roundups have been few and far between this term – life has well and truly taken over!

Well don to all for the last two rehearsals, both of which have been extremely successful.

Last week (17th May) we sang through the concert repertoire in order. For those not there, this order is:

Vivaldi Gloria

Vaughan Williams Festival Te Deum

Faure Requiem

Vaughan Williams Antiphon

We identified the bits that needed most work and will focus on them in the remaining 3(!) rehearsals.

Today, we sat in the positions we will perform from and were accompanied from the organ, which really helped get into the concert mood! We focused mainly on the two Vaughan Williams pieces, especially the Te Deum, which is now starting to sound really secure. Please use the rehearsal resources available to learn this more thoroughly (Chris tells us that the basses have used these more than any other section… and it showed!)

We also took apart the Antiphon a little, which was really useful and this again is sounding very confident now. Enunciating the words as clearly as you can is the key to getting this piece across convincingly.

Before these two, we also sang through some of the Faure and Vivaldi, to get used to the organ behind us. In movement 2 of the Faure – keep the tempo steady through the unaccompanied sections (altos and tenors mainly) and sopranos – when you enter at the end keep it string but not too loud.

The next 2 rehearsals will finish at 9pm so I can work with soloists until 9.30.

That’s all for today – see you next week!

Dave

Dear All

Great rehearsal last night. Four more until the concert so please make sure you come to them all!

TICKETS: We also need to get tickets sold. In order to cover the costs of the concert we’re asking everyone to sell at least 3 tickets each (including one for ourselves). Tickets will cost £10 each. Payment can be made by bank transfer to the choir account (NB direct payment from members only please) or cash to me (Siobhan) at rehearsal. Please could you also email me with number of tickets sold so we can keep track. Flyers will be available shortly.

CONCERT DAY (18^th June) TIMINGS: Set-up 14:00. Rehearsal start time 15:00. Concert start time 19:00. There will be a break between rehearsal and concert for everyone to freshen up and change. 

SETTING UP & CLEARING UP: We need as many volunteers as possible to set up before the rehearsal. The altar area will need clearing and seating for the orchestra arranged. Please could you let me know if you are able to arrive at 14:00 for set up. All hands on deck for clear up immediately after the concert, please!

DRESS CODE: Men- black trousers, white shirt; Women – black & white, smart-casual

Hi all, better late than never I have made practice files for the RVW Te Deum. At this point they will be useful for tidying up and making sure we have our notes right rather than learning, but worth having. Sorry it is so delayed.

The Youtube link is https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG-EA0a7_w2mk19vd9ZQjxnk2gEJNyUB-

Don’t forget that you can control the playback speed on Youtube via the settings cog. Worth using for this because the recording is at the scored tempo which rattles along.

Please don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you have not already done so, thanks!

Dear All 

Reminder – no choir on Tuesday 10^th May. Next rehearsal, Tuesday 17^th May.

Also, please see message below from former choir member Marcia Kelson who is looking for a keyboard player to accompany the cast of one of her plays being performed at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith!

If anyone is interested or knows someone who might be, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Marcia.

WANTED: Performer keyboard- player who can improvise with a small cast to  produce some incidental music to perform live for a one hour play. 3- 4 rehearsals in june/early july,  performances at Riverside Studios Hammersmith 12-16 July. (Tech afternoon 12th july 13.00-17.00, performances 12-16 july, evenings). Music mainly needed for intro,  in short bursts up to a couple of minutes at each change of  scene and for end of play. Types of music include french country music (the type often played on an accordion), Egyptian gods music (think Indiana Jones), music to accompany a medieval troop of  actors! Profit share production so beer money, not paid.

Please see below message from Robert:

If you happen to be free this evening this is a last-minute call for a concert at All Saints’ Putney starting at 7.30pm. Organised by their Director or Music, Alex Turner, this is the first of three annual concerts that lead up to a 150th celebration for All Saints. Tonight’s programme includes the glorious Duruflé Requiem and a chance to hear the Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs in their entirety – the last of which is the Antiphon which you are singing at the moment – in a version for soloist, choir, piano and string quintet. Why I am named as a soloist is beyond me: I have a fairly minor role!
Should be a lovely way to spend a sunny evening and if you get in quick you might still be able to bag a ticket at the advance price.
Robert

Dear All 

SGC has been contacted by Steve Banks, composer of a new choral work which will be premiered in London on 14^th May. Details of the performance and the new work are below. Steve has said he may be able to offer the choir a guest ticket or two, so if you would like to attend please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with him. 

Steve’s message:

“I’ve composed a ground-breaking, inspirational new sacred choral work, ‘Blue Pearl: A One World Oratorio’. There is a demo recording at my website www.stevebanks.info and also a PDF of the vocal score. 

The world premiere is going to be at St Giles Cripplegate, London on 14th May, with the London Mozart Players, Excelsis and Vox Farnham Chamber Choirs, Angela Hicks (soprano), Luthien Brackett (mezzo-soprano), David de Winter (tenor) and Geoff Williams (bass), conducted by Rob Lewis. 

Blue Pearl conveys a *human* spirituality – a contemporary synthesis of the ancient spiritual traditions of the East with the modern psychology and science of the West. It is a radical new work; fresh and original, yet rooted in the western sacred choral tradition. The music is harmonic, tuneful, and moving; very accessible. 

Rob Lewis, Musical Director of Excelsis and Vox Farnham Chamber Choirs say: “Steve has used different styles of music to great effect to evoke the whole range of our shared human experience: from joy, humour and sexuality to the opening of our hearts in compassion, to the spiritual mystery we encounter in stillness and silence. ‘Blue Pearl’ is a wonderful and moving celebration of our shared humanity.” 

Dear All

I hope you had a lovely Easter.

Choir resumes next Tuesday 26^th April. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Robert will be taking things a little easier this term after some unexpected health issues over Easter but hopes to be back to play for the choir in September. I know I speak for all of us in wishing Robert a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him soon.

David Terry who covered for Robert at the end of last term will be stepping in to cover the run up to the June concert.

We are all set for tomorrow night. Acceptances number about 14, so if there are any latecomers I am sure we can squeeze you in. Let me know.

Venue – Black Salt Sheen. Address – 505-507 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London, SW14 7DE. Date and time – Tuesday April 12, 8pm

Black Salt happy for us to come early for a drink, so if you want to mosey on down from 7pm, please do. Christmas regalia optional – if anyone has some old Christmas crackers knocking around, bring them along. Otherwise, the odd bit of tinsel and Christmas headwear would not go amiss.

See you tomorrow. Rog