Hard Work for a Monday Night

We started on our new pieces in earnest this week. I mean I started on our new pieces this week. Everyone else has been at then for some time now. I find they grow on you. I learnt a lot this week. We tried to make some sense of the words and Declan was very illuminating in teasing out meanings, double meanings, allusions, word play. I think he must be a very good teacher. He, like me, is a 1st Bass so we are finding the Bass parts a bit too low for comfort.

So there endeth the first lesson.

We then moved on to discuss with the Donagh the rapidly changing time signatures ( at least I think that's what he called them) and for the first time it made sense. He demonstrated 7/8 time and then 4/4, 3/8, 5/4 and made it all crystal clear although a lot of it looked like the SP from the Greyhound Track after a bad night for the Bookies. Another gifted teacher.

And there endeth the second lesson.

We were all getting a bit tired at this stage so we werent a bit pleased to be called out for a class with Dierdre Masterson. The last thing we wanted was to be dragged from the other Basses (and Tenors) to have to listen to a stunningly beautifull, amazingly talented vivacious soprano giving us the benefit of her experience with verve and humour and enthusiasm. But for the sake of peace and quiet we put up with it.

This picture gives you some idea of how put out we were. If the one on the left smiled any more his brain would fall out.

Three brilliant teachers in one night and insights galore. This thing just gets better and better.

BY the way

I have a few pics from the AGM when we brought home the bacon from Sligo as it were and filled it up (if that isn't too mixed a metaphor)

Just about to fill up

As can be seen we are a VERY formal outfit. We all dress for dinner and we all just rushed out to get to the very efficiently run AGM

This is a nice shot of the Altos just before they started to fight over the drink

Choir comes first in S and M Competition

I have just realised that I haven't written anything since the middle of last month. The reason was that we were so busy getting ready for our assault on the Sligo International Choral festival. The Boss decided that we would enter into four Competitions, that is eight pieces, amidst a certain amount of cribbing. I, of course, not knowing what I was talking about, was quite happy to face 4 competitions. . We had a good team of 26 players and assorted groupies all hot to trot. Percy made his welcome reappearence as Sgt Major and had us all lined up as required. As Sligo is so far we might as well get as much value out of it as we can

And it is a long way, especially on a Friday afternoon wiith 6 k tail backs in Moate. But was it worth it when we all finally got there ?

We had a not very satisfying rehearsal as people continued to arrive all through it. After dinner a couple of scoops before an early bed because we had a very early start next morning ( well it was an early start for me). We were due to sing in the first two competitions of the day both starting at the same time and at either ends of the SIT campus. We sang our Light Music, (T fr 2 and Why do fools) and then rushed off to sing in the Sacred Music ( Cantate and the de Regge). As we came off the Stage we were met by Paul who had collected our First Prize in the other Competition. Here he said casually you won. Oh Thanks. We WHAT? WE WON!!!!!!!!!! Great.

We took it in our stride almost as if we expected it (which we didnt) The rest of the day had to be an anticlimax. The fabulous Norwegian Choir won the Sacred Music amidst scenes of great joy and celebration.

And we set off for lunch and a gig in the entrance to the shopping centre. All excited but tired and the prospect of two more efforts in the PM. We'll just sing for 10 minutes said the Boss. 30 minutes later we decided to call a halt in front of a highly appreciative crowd.

Back for the Madrigals and boys to be put through a long rehearsal of Weep Oh Mine eyes and Joly Jeu. Some good singing in the entrance hall of the SIT and an opertunity for me to take some arty pics of the Choir.

Then back to the Competition. The Norske Ladies sang beautifully but unfortunately they werent singing madrigals and so lost out. However they did a display of marching off the stage in their National Costumes and lining up in front of their chairs before sitting on the word of command that was awe inspiring. They are all fine healthy examples of the benefits of good food and fresh air and their national costume is not, how can I put it, the most slimming of outfits so the resemblence to a platoon of Grenadier Guards in drag was compelling.

What's Happened?

Giving it stick in the Madrigals and even the sopranos are

smiling

We were delighted to come second in the Madrigal Competition. Now we had won a cup AND 600 euro. And there was still the S and M Cup to fight for. We like Gospel Music and we did it well. But the big difference was the solo by Robert Rowe in "Im gonna sing" which was totally superb. It made the difference between winning and losing. So lo and behold we added another Cup presented by S and M Sligo and another few euros.

Here are our favourite adjudicators

We were delighted and Im going to draw a veil over the rest of the evening as we celebrated well but not too wisely.

A few past and present Chairmen with the Boss

Well done to everyone involved( and that does mean ALL the Choir)