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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 WEB MAG 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 Web Mag. So what’s new? What happens this year when there is a ‘9’ in the date? Expect a lot of Handel because he died in 1759. Next a bit of Haydn because he died in 1809. It is curious how choirs often perform the same works in their year. The Armed Man has been a favourite for the last 18 months followed by Brahms’ Requiem. A lot of Fauré Requiem and a bit of Cantique. Haydn’s Nelson and Paukenmesse have been ‘in’. Suddenly there is a lot of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria around. Curious that this happens. Are choirs giving audiences enough variety? What do you think? Now then, 2009 would be a wonderful year for everybody to sing Haydn’s Creation. Somebody has suggested that it to be sung up and down the country on the same day. What about considering having a combined concert with another choir and paying for an orchestra? The Creation needs a big choir and could offer the opportunity for small chamber choirs to enjoy a really big work. Request for help (1) For SALE I have five copies for sale of Elgar’s The Kingdom at £9 each + postage. More news of your events. Now here’s a happy group of singers at last year’s Langlais Festival, sent to me by Brenda Dean.
Brenda promotes the Summer Choral Course as part of the 5th Langlais Festival in La Fontenelle, Brittany. It takes place from 27th to 31st July. This is confirmed and Brenda says there are a few vacancies for sopranos and tenors so the closing date has been extended. More Do you sing south of Eastbourne? If you do, you’re probably very good at gargling. If you live within a 15 mile radius of Eastbourne (forgetting the water) Maggie Bennett would like to hear from your choir. She has formed an association of amateur choirs rehearsing and performing in Eastbourne and the surrounding area. The association was founded to promote the mutual benefit of the individual organisations, local singers, potential singers, and local audiences and to encourage and support the development of choral music. Tell Maggie that you read about it on this site, choralsociety.org.uk Just to show that this site caters for choirs other than in the South East, I have been contacted by The Chanterelles Female Choir from Leicester and The City Of Bath Male Choir (as seen on the TV series ' Last Choir Standing'). They have a concert on 18th November. More on New Events Calling all fans of Carmina Burana! I have sung Carmina Burana with Jo Forrest, Press Agent for Tony Palmer. She tells me that Tony Palmer's new film about Carl Orff - "O Fortuna", is now on DVD on and is due to be screened on Sky Arts. Drawing extensively on his personal circumstances, plus exclusive interviews with three of his surviving wives and his only daughter, a tale of almost unbelievable sadness emerges. It's a MUST SEE for all Carmina Burana fans! www.tonypalmer.org 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 |
FEEDBACKSomething to add to this site? Want to know what other choirs are doing? 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. “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!. Where do tenors go in the Summer? There are three rehearsals before the day - Wednesday 24th, Monday 29th and Wednesday 1st July. Venue: Powell Corderoy School, Longfield Road, Dorking, RH4 3DF. 7.45-9.45pm. Ideally, extras should come to all but it is not essential. Interested? Contact the Secretary, Something Curious in Chatham, on Friday 24th July. A Lieder recital. Still curious. So am I. more The ubiquitous Jo Forrest not only promotes choral groups but also sings! On Leatherhead Choral society Saturday 4th July will perform an evening of jazz and gospel music including John Rutter's Feel The Spirit. more On Friday 10th July National Westminster City Chorus is presenting something very different for lovers of Baroque. They have sent this pic. Send yours and it could appear here. To see the programme click more
___________________________________ Requiem for Jan Palach. On July 2nd Bob Porter, Artistic Director of Brandenburg Sinfonia is promoting the opening concert of the St Martin’s American Festival and how better to capture the buzz of America’s finest musical era than a concert centred on Gershwin’s popular masterpiece RHAPSODY IN BLUE? So having established the jazzy flavour, who better to deliver the goods than Bob’s great friend James Pearson and the internationally acclaimed Ronnie Scott’s Allstars? Throw in a couple more of Bob’s old friends – beautiful, characterful singer Debra Andrew and the multi-talented Lizzie Ball combining violin and vocals - and a superb evening of entertainment lies ahead. Not the regular Brandenburg repertoire but an equally high standard in a different genre. more Can you Swing It? FREE Choral Workshop sponsored by East Surrey College. Zimbe! other African and Gospel. Try it on Saturday 11th July 9.30-12.30. More Liturgical Music Courses. In Exeter, Malvern and Wells, offer splendid opportunities for choral singers to perform in some of England’s most beautiful settings. More here soon or you can go directly to their web-site. Mayfield Festival Choir Since the choir was reconstructed in 2004, it has grown in size (70-80) and quality. The conductor, Graham Caldbeck makes rehearsals fun as well as hard work. www.mayfieldchoir.co.uk
Mayfield Choir’s next concert is in November. If you want to know more, contact Robin Howden 01825 830277 e-mail: robinhowden@aol.com New Requiem for choirs. Philip Ledger's new Requiem "A thanksgiving for life", was written for performance by choral societies. More information about Ledger scores from Encore Publications in Matfield. Cathedral Season
Bury St Edmunds Cathedral Ely Cathedral (Lady Chapel) Wells Cathedral Chichester Cathedral Arundel Cathedral |
Concert at St. Margaret the Queen, Buxted Park. Saturday 10th October
Learn Brahms for Buxted - click here The Buxted Event has now run for 15 years for the benefit of the St. Peter & St. James Hospice, Sussex. The October 2008 concert raised £3286. The 2009 concert will be a Voices for Hospices event. performed by the Parikian Chorus & Orchestra. Main work is Brahms’ Requiem. There is a Workshop for the Parikian Chorus on Saturday 3rd October. There was a workshop last year and apart from being very productive, it was a good day out; warm and sunny. There are still vacancies for singers in some sections. If you have already accepted, you must confirm this with David Waddington, please. If you are interested but not yet told David, then click HERE to go to a simple form submission. Please act now! Thanks. More info from David Waddington, Wingrave Singers are looking for a Musical Director. Is this the opportunity you’re seeking? Based in Wingrave, near Aylesbury, . Buckinghamshire this friendly mixed voice choir of about 25 singers was founded in 1977. They have a wide repertoire of religious and secular music. The choir have a strong background of visiting cathedrals around the country and singing weekend services whilst the resident choirs are on holiday. These visits are generally limited to two per year. They also perform one or two concerts per year and are available to sing at weddings.
Click Brenda Dean for more information or ‘phone 01296 688976. ____________________________________ Do you ever sing in The Really Big Chorus events? If you do, you will be interested in their new Facebook page here. ____________________________________ Robin Milford, composer, has been introduced to me by Nick Landauer, Conductor of Cantamus Reigate. Robin grew up in Surrey. 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 in 2009 which will be the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death. 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.)
I’m told that St. Peter’s church, Limpsfield has a very competent choir but this is really an excuse to introduce their Summer Organ Recitals in July and September. It has long been an ambition of Margaret Steinitz of London Bach Society to hear Bach on the fine organ installed and restored from Shorncliffe Camp by Peter Collins. No singing, take a cushion, sit back and enjoy the music. more 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. Their next concert will be at the Blue House Festival in October at Oxted.
Dress rehearsal? This pic has been sent in by Stephen Mills of Hurst Green Singers, to show that it is not just the sops and altos who have good legs. At their Summer Concert on 9th May they combined as usual with Shoreham Singers to perform Handel's "Samson" in St John's Church, Hurst Green, Oxted. A repeat performance will take place in Shoreham (Kent) church on 27th June as part of the Sevenoaks Festival.
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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. 
Three women in their fifties - one widowed, one divorced and one never married - meet when they join a choir. Lucy, a food journalist, is obeying her bossy daughter who prescribes singing to assuage her grief. Joanna, the successful businesswoman for whom failure is not an option, is tackling her inability to sing a note. And much-divorced Rebecca is unashamedly looking for another mate.
When they decide to combine their talents to restore a run down hotel on the Cornish coast and turn it into a spa offering holiday courses, conflict is bound to result.
Lucy, Joanna and Rebecca are a sympathetic and engaging trio, very different women, each with private demons to confront. We feel for them as they cope, or fail to cope, with the pain of the past and fear for the future. Prue Leith makes their intertwined journeys riveting and ultimately satisfying, even uplifting.
The choir teaches them a good deal more than how to sing …