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Choral Society is not a choir or a club. We've all heard about High society, the café society and so on, which identify people collectively who share a common interest. There exists amongst singers a bond which identifies and unites them in the same way. So this web-site is for choral singers who are passionate about their singing. The site is organic and constantly being developed so please come back if you find something does not work or is incomplete. If you’d like to make a contribution, tell the Webmaster |
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CHORAL SOCIETY WebMag This site is changing and developing as a result of your input and my self-indulgent additions! This web-site has become a Web Magazine for passionate choral singers. So from now on it will be known as the Choral Society WebMag. So what’s new? What happens next year when there is a ‘10’ in the date? Moving out of a ‘09 suffix means that we’ve put Mendelssohn, Haydn and Handel behind us so what do we do in ‘10? There’s, Chopin and Schumann born in 1810, Thomas Arne and Pergolesi in 1710. Samuel Barber in 1910. Not related to this but I know of three festivals which are doing Gounod’s messe solennelle de Ste. Cecile; Mayfield Music Festival (Sussex), Leith Hill Music Festival and Langlais Festival at la Fontenelle (Brittany). If you are doing it and want to learn the Gounod, click here.
Curious how this happens. Are choirs giving audiences enough variety? What do you think? Any ideas for 2010? For SALE (still) I have still have five copies for sale of Elgar’s The Kingdom at £9 each + postage. More news. At their Christmas Celebration concert on 13th December, Dorking Choral Society said farewell to their Music Director Justin Doyle. Justin was a much loved and respected member of the choir which he had conducted for ten years. The members presented him with HC Robbins Landon’s complete set of books on Haydn. This did not overshadow the other gift of a saucy calendar showing all (well, nearly) of lady members! Read more here soon about their new conductor, Gregory Batsleer CLIC Sargent and the CLIC Sargent Symphony Orchestra (CSSO) are in desperate need of your help. They need singers from across London to join them in singing Brahms’ Requiem at a Gala concert for CLIC Sargent on March 20th more Langlais Festival 2010: now booking
Five days of stimulating music including Gounod - Messe Solennelle (Sainte-Cecile) Once again, Brenda Dean is running her BMW (Brittany Music workshop) We have the dates already for twenty-ten, 25th - 29th July. She planning something big for 2011, the 20th anniversary of the death of Jean Langlais. More Where do you find your I am approached sometimes by choirs, wishing to find a professional soloist. Similarly, professionals ask me about opportunities. Recently I have had contact with Jill Davies who knows about these things. Recently she was asked to take on singers Concert Directory International so she has a list of sopranos, mezzos, tenors, bass-baritones, counter-tenors to offer. See Davies Music. Jill works frequently with choral societies. Kathryn Woodruff and Quentin Brown (below) are singing in Bach’s St. John Passion in Leeds with St. Peters’ Singers of Leeds on 15th February more
Sing with Bob Chilcott Saturday 30th January 10.00-4.30 pm St Peter & St Paul, Great Missenden and Little Hampden, Herts. £15 including score hire, tea & coffee. Bob will introduce his major new work Salisbury Vespers more Choral music is Bob's passion and on 13th March his new Requiem will receive it's world premiere at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford with the Oxford Bach Choir and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. If you're in the London area, it will also be performed on Tuesday 16th March in the Cadogan Hall more. Singing friends in the United States can hear it on Sunday 21st March at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas. Ever had the SMITF experience? St. Martin’s in the Fields is a magical venue for choral concerts. Bob Porter (Brandenburg sinfonia) is running his Spring Choral Festival there from January to March more A regular and reliable contributor is the Orlando Chamber Choir based in London. Most of the members work in or around the City (which makes rehearsals near Paddington very convenient). Quite a few are students or working on a PhD. They are ‘audition only’ but the pic shows that there is more to being in a choir than singing!
Has anybody tried Warwick Audio? If you have then you’ll know that they offer concert recording, double audio CD with on-body printing, jewel case, colour insert and pay MCPS fees. All this FREE! What is your experience? See www.warwickaudio.com One of many useful contributions from Brian Maskell is this. He has used NoteWorthy Scriptorium to prepare electronic versions of pieces for himself and fellow choristers are learning. He says it is a very versatile tool and fantastic value for money. He adds, “I am not on commission!” Ever heard of MULAG? In 2002, the Eastbourne and Hastings Music Libraries closed and their Music Librarians were made redundant or moved elsewhere. The Lewes Music Library was demolished and its music collection severely reduced. So what happened to the music? The music scores, reference books and recordings from all three libraries were either 'weeded out' and sold or put into storage. These actions by East Sussex County Council have deprived local musicians, music lovers, teachers and students of an essential resource. MULAG was formed to campaign for long term Music Library provision. If you are concerned about this loss, please consider joining MULAG. You can read the the most recent Newsletter which I have by clicking here. Go to www.mulag.org.uk. Register your interest who will keep you informed. Two ‘High Note’ MULAG campaigners are Roy and Angela Goodall. They publish the excellent bi-monthly publication “Words and Music”, a valuable survey of the Performing Arts in Surrey, Sussex and Kent. I originally saw this about seven years ago in my local library (as in most) where it is distributed free. It has developed enormously so is worth ordering by post for £8 a year from R.S.C. Sparey, 14 Fox Close, Clapham, Bedford, MK41 6GF 01234 215953 A new aid from the USA to Learning the Notes. I don’t accept commercials or advertisements but if something interesting comes up for singers, I will include it in the editorial. SingleParts CDs are available to choral singers in the UK. I have had a look at this and think it is good. I personally continue to use midi files because I haven’t found anything why suits me better. Go to their web-site for more information and a demo. Tell me what you think by clicking FEEDBACK at the top of the next column. Here’s something interesting; a site called Helping You Harmonise. It is all about Liz Garnett and what she as a professional musician, can offer singers. In her own words “Helping You Harmonise offers ideas to help choral directors and singers in vocal ensembles to rehearse and perform more effectively.” We now have reciprocal links because we both feel that we can benefit one another. Take a look. It’s an interesting site. www.helpingyouharmonise.com
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FEEDBACKWeb-masters of contributing sites, please make the link to this site simply Calendar & Choirs pages have been Remember the snow?. Many thanks to Maura Fanshawe, Vice-Chairman of Mayfield Choir who sent this picture for you all to enjoy.
The year 2010 is a very special year for the choir. As their contribution to the biennial Mayfield Festival, they will be performing under the baton of Sir David Willcocks. Sir David has been associated with the choir since 1976 where he has conducted them in fifteen performances. If you want to know more, contact Robin Howden 01825 830277 e-mail: robinhowden@aol.com Maura also reminds me that Sussex Chorus is holding a Workshop on Saturday 16th January directed by Brian Kay. Tickets, to include music hire, coffee, tea and buffet lunch, £20 from Evelyn Botterill 01273 890598. Are you good enough to sing with the English Arts Chorale? Starting 11th January, Reigate-based English Arts Chorale embarks on a mammoth project to prepare Bach's St Matthew Passion, Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony. These will be performed in two concerts with orchestra in March and July. Experienced singers are invited to two or three rehearsals, after which they will be required to attend an audition including sight-reading. If you think you are up to the tusk, contact their membership secretary on members@englisharts.org Something to add to this site? Would you like the opportunity to discus ‘things’ on this site? For example, what do you think about auditioning? A board can be arranged but will it be worth all the work? Want to know what other choirs are doing in 2010? Conflicting dates are always a worry when deciding when to hold your concerts. Here is a new facility to check what is on when you might be considering a date. See what other choirs are doing, add your own, enter your events. This does not replace the New Events pages which are primarily for your retail customers to see. Either navigate from the Calendar & Choirs drop-down button below Useful Links or go there now. They’re not just pretty faces: A new contributor is Dorking Camerata. As part of the Mole Valley Arts Alive Festival, they gave a concert at St. Martin’s Church, Dorking on 17th October. Report soon. Know the name Gareth Malone? If you do, it is because you have been following his choral programmes on BBC TV. If you don’t, you will have missed out on how he’s made singing Cool to reluctant young men. You’ve also missed out on his creation of the South Oxhey Community Choir and the South Oxhey Youth Choir. More soon. southoxheychoirs.org How far is far?. So far, New Orleans One of the singers of Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, named Ginger, asked for some help on Bernstein’ Chichester Psalms. I was delighted to answer her and in passing, I said I lived about 60 miles from Chichester. She replied, The site is worth a visit. You can always learn something from other choirs. Sing Hallelujah The BEEB wants to get thousands of people to sing Handel's famous Hallelujah Chorus as part of a nationwide celebration of one of the most popular choral pieces in the world. The BBC also invites you to record your performance of the Hallelujah Chorus in any style and upload your recording to the sing web-site to reach an even wider audience. Singing Season in full swing. ◊ Capriol Chamber Choir, directed by Graham Dinnage, based near Westerham in Kent is seeking experienced singers to boost their numbers in January 2010 for a recording of new arrangements of carols for brass quintet and choir + soloists with the renowned brass group Mardi Brass. Capriol has given recitals for mainstream music societies such as the RVW Society. Mardi Brass has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and has appeared on BBC TV and radio. Enquiries to the choir secretary, ◊ Dorking Choral Society would like more men. They are taking part in the Leith Hill Music Festival (Gounod messe solonnelle, Bach St. John Passion plus). Want to sing? Contact Ges Ray, Chairman ◊ Cantamus Reigate’s conductor Nick Landauer found lots of tenors last year but is always keen to recruit all voices to sing in his ad hoc choirs. Earlier in the year, the better. ◊ City Chorus (aka National Westminster City Chorus) kicked off the Christmas season with an evening of swinging Yuletide music, including Rockin' around the Christmas tree, Let it snow, Winter wonderland, Ding dong merrily, Go tell it on the mountain, and the Louis Armstrong number, Cool Yule.
The eighty voices of City Chorus were accompanied by Joanna Forbes and the L'Estranges in the Night quartet. Joanna is a former musical director, and Alexander L'Estrange a former bassist/arranger, for the Swingle Singers. Last year I attended one of Alex’s workshops entitled “You can sing ... But can you Swing?”
It was conducted by Alexander L’Estrange writer of Zimbe! other African and Gospel music. Now this was really something special and a new adventure for choral ‘traditional’ singers. You can buy his score but why not ask him to run a Workshop with your choir? He also does similarly for schools. Singers. Learn how to sing! Choral Workshop sponsored by East Surrey College on Saturday 13th February 10am to 1pm at Friends Provident, Dorking. This is being arranged by the Dorking Choral Society and will be conducted by their new MD Greg Batsleer and is open to all. Greg is Director of the Hallé Youth Choir so you’ll learn a lot about voice production and technique. More soon but keep in touch with information on Dorking CS web-site. Oxted & Limpsfield Music Society has some very good music coming up. Looksee here. Incitement to free-lovemaking in Dorking on 4th July “How much passion and theatre can a choir put into singing 'Kyrie, Kyrie'? Not a lot. So it must have been refreshing for the Dorking Choral Society under their conductor Justin Doyle...“ Read Rupert Street’s report here On Sunday 26th July, Over 40 members of the Dorking Choral Society performed Zimbe! at the Ryedale Music Festival. This is a collection of African songs which was commissioned by DCS from composer Alexander L'Estrange.
The choir was joined by over 50 singers who took part in a workshop earlier in the day. In the first part of the concert, Dorking Choral Society sang a collection of African songs, many written by their conductor Justin Doyle. Justin spent time teaching in Kenya where he collected 75 recordings of songs which are an intuitive part of daily life. He said the Kenyan’s never sing flat! The concert was a sell-out. The choir’s faithful accompanist Gavin Roberts, had to rush to catch a train to Ghent where he was giving an organ recital the next day! The composer Alexander L'Estrange also took part in the performance where he played double-bass with his accompanying Jazz group. Requiem for Jan Palach. Liturgical Music Courses. In Exeter, Malvern and Wells. Not heard from them but I should think they’ll be doing similarly in 2010. web-site. A new contributor is the Buckland & Betchworth Choral Society. I have known of them for quite a long time but they have just decided to enter the limelight with a new web-site bbcs.org.uk. This should be up and running over the next few days but in the meantime you can read details sent to me by Chris (a lady Chris) Harris. more “The Choral Society” a novel by Prue Leith to be published in 2009. She’s not just a foodie! This is about relationships in a choir. Read the STEAMY SYNOPSIS!. |
Singers. Learn how to sing! is the title of the Choral Workshop sponsored by East Surrey College on Saturday 13th February 10am to 1pm at Friends Provident, Dorking. This will be conducted by Dorking Choral Society’s new MD Greg Batsleer. It is open to all. Greg is Director of the Hallé Youth Choir so you’ll learn a lot about voice production and technique. More Leith Hill Music Festival Sing Bach’s St John Passion with Brian Kay on 14th March at Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey. Here is a tenors’-eye view of Keith Willis who conducted the first rehearsal. Keith is a well-known music educator and MD of Bookham Choral Societywhich is one of the participating choirs.
Here’s a new choir - well, nearly new. The UCS Centenary Choir was formed as a direct result of University College School’s centenary celebrations in 2008. (Zingy web-site.)The singers had such a good time that they just kept going! There are about 100 members at present and the only requirement for joining is an ability to sing in tune, hold a part, and most of all, be enthusiastic. Membership is open to all SATB singers. You don’t have to be a pupil, parent or anything like that. They meet at the school in Frognal, Hampstead, North London. Next concert is Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. more Concert at St. Margaret the Queen, Buxted Park. Saturday 10th October
The Buxted Event has now run for 15 years. The 2009 concert was a sell out. This was a Voices for Hospices event and over £4,000 was raised for the St. Peter & St. James Hospice, Sussex Reports in the Courier of October 30th p.20 and Sussex Express of November 6th p.26. Next year’s date is Saturday October 9th with a workshop day on Saturday October 2nd – church, conductor and organist are booked so please put it in your diaries and tell your friends. Tell David Waddington if you’d like to take part. dwaddington@talktalk.net By request this link is left at the request of singers who want to Learn Brahms’ Requiem - click here This item about Robin Milford, composer, was introduced to me by Nick Landauer, Conductor of Cantamus Reigate. Robin grew up in Surrey. Thanks to response from David Pettigrew, Publicity Manager of Epsom Choral Society, I can tell you this. “this Society (Epsom) was founded by Sir Humphrey Milford in 1922 in order to give his son Robin experience as a choral conductor in the Leith hill Musical Festival. He was a pupil of Vaughan Williams and Holst and was a lifelong friend of Gerald Finzi, all of whom influenced his music. Mainly in the 'English' style, it includes choral, solo and chamber music, cantatas, a symphony and an Oratorio. He took over the direction of the Leith Hill choir, Dorking. Nick is very interested in performing some of Robin's works. I am considering making this a feature on this site, provided there is more than one choir interested in exploring Milford. Please contact me Webmaster if this resonates with you. (See Cantamus Reigate on New Events.)
Epsom Choral Society performed a work by Robin Milford in their Christmas concert. Click the pic to hear it! News here soon about Dorking Choral Society’s new conductor. Keep looking! Wingrave Singers appoints Wingrave Singers welcome their new conductor - Alexander Campkin. He is a young high-flyer, representative of the new wave of high calibre of musicians. See his web-site www.alexandercampkin.co.uk Based in Wingrave, near Aylesbury, . Buckinghamshire this friendly mixed voice choir of about 25 singers. They have a wide repertoire of religious and secular music. The choir have a strong background of visiting cathedrals around the country. Their recent concert in Coventry Cathedral was a big success. They sang some of Alex’s work.
This is a robed choir (pictured with Alex in Coventry Cathedral) when singing in cathedrals, church services and weddings. The choir rehearse weekly in term time on a Friday evening in Wingrave Parish Church from 7.45pm to 9.30pm. Interested? and yet another new MD ...
www.shalfordchoralsociety.org.uk ____________________________________ Cathedral Season
Season almost over? Can’t believe it is but I need to be told what’s on. Arun Choral society has just returned from singing Elijah with their 'twin choir’ KANTOREI MARIENFELDE in Berlin. The choirs will joined to sing to sing Elijah in Arundel Cathedral on 24th October. Arun CS is also having a singing day in November with Bob Chilcott. More here soon. 2010 CLIC Sargent Gala Charity Concert, March 20th. CLIC Sargent and the CLIC Sargent Symphony Orchestra (CSSO) are in desperate need of your help. They need singers from across London to join them in singing Brahms’ German Requiem at an amazing Gala concert for CLIC Sargent. More here Like-minded... John Hooper is a like-minded singer, musician and doer of all the sort of things which would interest you. Go to his web-site at www.thehoopers.demon.co.uk where there are a few Midi Files that might be of assistance to Choral Singers far and wide. Very good Haydn Creation midi files there. The Robert Bouffler Music Trust If you’ve heard of The Robert Bouffler Music Trust, you will know that it was established in 1988 to sustain the spirit and objectives of the late Robert Bouffler's work, by encouraging and supporting young musicians from the East Surrey area. Michael Barlow conductor of the Hurst Green Singers (Surrey, not the Sussex) has been appointed their Musical Adviser. I have attended the RBMT concerts and many of the musicians are outstanding. The Robert Bouffler Music Trust returned to the Oxted United Reformed Church for another concert given by their beneficiaries on Sunday 1st November. Who went? New Requiem for choirs. Philip Ledger's new Requiem "A thanksgiving for life", was written for performance by choral societies. Another choir has chosen to perform this next year. Watch for further announcements. More information about Ledger scores from Encore Publications in Matfield. |
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Commissioned by William Owen and the Choir of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, USA, the choir gave World Premiere on 4th November 2007. 
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