Thursday 25 September 2014

and the walls came tumbling down...

So the work going on at Northcliffe Church isn't that extreme, but it did mean that we were rehearsing amongst dust sheets and plastic covers on Tuesday night.

With Alex Woodrow temporarily joining us (and I'm constantly in awe of people who can sight-read so brilliantly), Jonathan was able to conduct from the front this week. Rutter's Magnificat is coming on really well, even if we are still occasionally putting 't's in the wrong places. Christmas preparation continues as well, and we've got some lovely carols that I haven't heard before, but really like.

Date for your diaries - the next concert will be on 15th November, at Bradford Cathedral and include the Magnificat, Bach's Cantata 140 and Pergolesi's Salve Regina with the Manchester Baroque Soloists.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Christmas is coming....

I know it's early, and like most people, I find the thought of Christmas when we're still enjoying the summer incredibly depressing. However, Christmas music is something else entirely.

Normally, so early in term, we're note bashing the music for the next concert, and Christmas doesn't get a look in until afterwards. Because we're a bit more familiar with the pieces for the next concert (a fact I'm still really enjoying), we can have a go at some more festive pieces as well. Which was how we ended up standing round the edges of our rehearsal space singing 'In the bleak midwinter'. Apparently, it's meant to stop us listening to the person we sit next to, and start listening to the sound as a whole, which is a good idea in principle, but sounds really strange when you do it.

Still, plenty of time to practice....

Thursday 4 September 2014

I'll be seeing you...

....more regularly from now on, I hope.

The Chorale has been sailing some pretty choppy waters recently, following the unexpected departure of our Musical Director. With a tricky concert looming, we were lucky to find someone to steady the ship in the form of Jonathan Eyre, the Assistant Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral.

Haydn's Nelson Mass and Ralph Vaughan William's Dona Nobis Pacem are hard pieces of music for any choir, so there were a few tense moments in the run up to the concert. As ever though, hard work from all parties meant we got there, and the concert went really well.

Jonathan was officially appointed as the Chorale's new Musical Director following official auditions after the concert and term started on Tuesday. The programme for the next concert includes Rutter's Magnificat, which means I'm currently enjoying the slightly smug feeling that comes from vaguely knowing the music at first rehearsal - it's the first time it's ever happened!

If you'd like to join us for a sing, come along to Northcliffe Church, Shipley on Tuesday nights at 7.30. We'd be very pleased to see you - especially men of a Tenor persuasion!