Rehearsal 1st February

 Tonight we worked on Ah, Robin, gentle Robin, which will be one of the a capella numbers for our Georgian Fair performance that we can also sing at Cockermouth Live! and at Isel Hall, if that event is confirmed - should have an update on that by next week; and another a capella number, Oh, won't you sit down, which some of us have sung before. After the break we did more work on the Agnus Dei from Faure's Requiem, and finished off with a performance of Guantamanera.
We have finally managed to find a venue for our Marvejols Planning Evening. It will be held at the Victoria Hall in High Sand Lane, on Friday 24th February. Choir members are encouraged to come along and enjoy a good social evening, irrespective of whether or not they plan to join our mooted trip in summer 2013. Bring something nice for supper to share! I would like to try to make some aligot (a cheese and potato dish that is often served with sausages) - Janet Mansfield has offered to lend me her jam pan. I've been researching recipes on line, but I'm sure there are plenty of people in town who've already sampled the real thing in Marvejols who will be able to point me in the right direction! Bob Harwood is to be asked to come and tell us what would be involved - he undertook all the planning arrangements for previous trips.

Rehearsal 25th January

Choir happy to see MD Val Hetherington back from her sick bed tonight for rehearsal. Still coughing, but not quite as badly!
Four numbers worked upon tonight: Ah Robin, gentle Robin, an a capella number that looks rather Elizbethan; He Ain't Heavy, which we seem to be getting quite comfortable with; a quick look at the Agnus Dei from Faure's Requiem, which the choir performed quite some years ago and would LOVE to perform again! and finally, Guantanamera, which isn't far off 'done' either.
Announced that secretary Pat Tolley will be standing down after eight years in the job, and would like to help ease a replacement into the post over the summer. No immediate response so it might have to be plan B (behind the scenes arm-twisting..)

News for week commencing 13 january

Lots to report!
Friday 13th was the night we had our 35th birthday celebration at Hundith Hill Hotel. 65 guests were booked to attend - members, partners and friends, old members who'd kept in touch, and some very special guests. Richard Bennett started the choir all those years ago (he must still have been at junior school to judge by his photo!!). Doctor Philip Wood, the choir's second MD and favourite composer, was also there - which meant that all three of the MD's the choir has had in its whole history were present. Also there were founder members Doreen Wilson (first chairman of the choir) and Daphne Banks (previous secretary), and David and Anne Buckley. David was once accompanist, and accompanied the choir to Marvejols on their second visit.
After a delicious buffet meal, we had a quiz, organised by Carole & Arthur Ruffe. Challenging and fun! Finally, a spot of music, with an acapella  (did I spell that right?) version of The 12 Days after Christmas, which formed part of our winter programme.
Tonight, 18th, rehearsal held by Anne-Marie (He Ain't Heavy), and Phil (Faure and Saint-Saens). Val Hetherington has a wicked cough and is taking time off to recuperate. We wish  her all the best, and hope she will soon be back to strength and fit to face us all again!

Now for some photies from the party.

Rehearsal 11th january

Worked on four pieces tonight.Gwyn Arch's arrangement of Guantanamera, which we began last week; He ain't heavy, he's my brother, ditto, which we have now been right through; and, from Six Motets for Upper Voices, Saint-Saens' Ave Maria, which long-standing members will remember from Phil Woods' day; and Faure's Ave Maria, which is new to us.


Next week's rehearsal will begin at 7 and end at 9, to allow for the committee meeting held afterwards.

The keyboard connecters are gradually getting more adept at setting it all up in time for rehearsal, now that we have given up using the Music Society's piano for our rehearsals (thereby saving a substantial amount of precious income).

Lastly, Friday night is the 35th Anniversary Dinner, taking place at Hundith Hill Hotel, to which a number of old members are coming, and some very special guests. More next week (plus photies too, I hope).

Spring Term started today

Not very spring-like weather yet, but we live in hope. A good turn out and we worked on two new numbers in preparation for our next concert, whenever that might be! Val would dearly like us to learn some of them by heart. Mixed reception from members! He ain't heavy, he's my brother, and Guantanamera were tonight's pieces. Those of you who missed tonight's rehearsal can do some work on that second one at least, so you don't fall too far behind.
All our pre-Christmas performances went well. A good and appreciative audience for our Christ Church concert; a repeat visit to Portinscale WI, who particularly enjoyed our version of 'The Twelve Days after Christmas', and Christmas Eve at the Castle Inn.
Win has asked members to hunt out old choir photos - possibly of Marvejols trips - to take along to our 35th anniversary dinner at Hundith Hill on Friday 13th. Lots of old members coming along too - looking forward to a fun night.

Mammoth rehearsal 7th December

A three-hour session in preparation for Saturday's concert. Where does our MD find her energy, after a long and no doubt trying day educating Workington's jeunesse doree? But so worthwhile, especially for a choir member who's been playing hookey in Mauritius and missed far too many rehearsals. Come and see us at Christ Church in Sullart Street at 7.30 on Saturday to enjoy the results - plus the always enjoyable offerings from our guests, The Mechanics Band.
That's not it for the year though - still two visits to make: we are singing at Portinscale WI on Tuesday and then at Castle Inn on Christmas Eve.

Rehearsal 9th November

Good work done tonight on four Carol Concert items. Our joint number with the Mechanics Band is the wonderfully stirring hymn 'How Great Thou Art'. The next number was a rather tongue-in-cheek version of 'The Twelve Days After Christmas' by Fredereick (sic) Silver. We did it with Phil rather more years ago than some of us care to remember.... Then John Rutter's 'Donkey Carol' (quite a challenging soprano part!) and finally a traditional Austrian carol, 'He smiles within his cradle', arranged by David Willcocks. Nice alto drone-type part in verses one and three.
We've been through all the items in the concert now; the next four weeks we'll be polishing them up to performance standard!

Rehearsal 19th October

More work on John Rutter's Candlelight Carol this week - almost finished now. Then his Donkey Carol, which has a very catchy rhythm; and then the Willcocks' 'He smiles within His cradle'.
Next week is half term, so our next rehearsal is on 2nd November.

Rehearsal 12th October

Moving gradually closer to Christmas... tonight we worked on John Rutter's Candlelight Carol, which is lovely - of course! And then two carols from 'A Gospel Christmas' which have been sung by us before - but not whilst I've been a member, and I joined in 1999! These are The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy, and Children, Go where I send thee. I think we've been through just about all of our Christmas programme now, apart from the number we'll be singing with the Mechanics.

Two concerts and a rehearsal...October 5th

Back to Mealsgate last Friday night. It must be at least five times we've sung at the church there now, and as enjoyable a night as ever. Then on Sunday afternoon to St. Michael's in Dalston. Not a big audience but Val was very happy with the standard of performance.

Tonight, work on the Christmas programme started in earnest. In addition to Phil's new music we started work on five carols from our Carols for Choirs book. John Rutter's Donkey Carol, his arrangement of The Linden Tree Carol, and his Quem pastores laudavere; and two David Willcocks arrangements, He smiles within his cradle and Quelle est cette odeur agreable?

A good rehearsal, lots achieved!