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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? This year is what matters but what happens next 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 Mozart C Minor Mass 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) Request for help (2) For SALE I have five copies for sale of Elgar’s The Kingdom at £9 each + postage. More news of your events. Do you sing south of Eastbourne? Coming soon: news of another combined event. 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. For more information, go to Tell Maggie that you read about it on this site, choralsociety.org.uk The Colonel's Fund This has been created by Prince Philip, particularly in view of the fact that no less than 5 young Guardsmen have lost their lives, 32 been severely wounded and many more seriously traumatised during recent operations in Afghanistan. The First Battalion is due to return to a second tour of duty in Afghanistan as soon as 2009. In support of the fund, a Concert is being arranged to take place on Saturday 29th November 2.00pm at St. Dunstan's Church, Mayfield. The organiser is Mark Dury, a former Grenadier. Mark is a regular reader of this site and I have sung with him on several occasions. See how you can support the event, either as a contributor or a listener. I was attached to the 3rd Battalion and even though we were in tents, their style was inimitable! Read more 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 |
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Their next concert is in November. the main work is the wonderful Mozart C Minor Mass for which rehearsals started on 5th September. 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. 
Commissioned by William Owen and the Choir of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, USA, the choir gave World Premiere on 4th November 2007. The first UK performance was given by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, on Remembrance Sunday 2007 as the musical setting for a service in King's College Chapel. Both performances were conduced by the composer.
The first performance of the orchestral version was given in a concert by Eastbourne College and the Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Graham Jones, in Chichester Cathedral on 3rd May.
Spin-off ...
Sue Ingram, chair of the Renaissance Choir in Hampshire, tells me that a choral group from churches around Emsworth intends performing this Requiem on Good Friday, 2009. She needs scores. Can you help her, please? Sue Ingram
Sir Philip Ledger was educated at King's College, Cambridge. When appointed Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, he became the youngest cathedral organist in the country. Subsequently, he took up the post of Director of Music at the University of East Anglia where he was also Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Music. He was Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge, from 1974-82 and he became Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1982.
More information about the scores from Encore Publications in Matfield.
Contact Tim Rogers 01892 725548 info@encorepublications.com
www.encorepublications.com
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Arun Choral Society at
Arundel Cathedral
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Arun Choral Society always has something new coming up. Next is their concert at Arundel Cathedral on Saturday 18th October. Fauré’s Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobius Pacem conducted by John Henville
They have a new web-site; gone is the dark blue!. As well as their usual programme they are travelling to Berlin in the Summer 2009 to sing Elijah with their 'twinned' choir and with a return visit in the Autumn. Also, they have been invited to sing Beethoven Mass in C in .... wait for it .... Carnegie Hall! Thirty-five members will be going. Cap that!
www.arunchoralsociety.co.uk
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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 next year, 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.)
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What’s Organ Recitals doing here?
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
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Plaxtol Music Festival 2008
has nearly finished!
Marius Carboni, Artistic Director of the Festival tells me, “After a gap of nine years the Festival returns with the same breadth of classical and jazz music by respected professionals in their own fields as did the previous series of concerts. The only difference this time is that the events are now spread over several months, from January to September.
The Festival is community based and the 2008 concerts take place in Plaxtol Church, Plaxtol Memorial Hall and Plaxtol Primary School - with artists to cover all tastes.”
The programme is very interesting. Read more on New Events page.
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Concert at St. Margaret the Queen, Buxted Park. 4th October 2008
The Buxted Event has now run for 15 years for the benefit of the St. Peter & St. James Hospice, Sussex.
Parikian Chorus & Orchestra. Programme is Haydn's "Nelson" Mass (because most of you know it!) with Zadok the Priest as a curtain raiser.
There is a Workshop for the Parikian Chorus on Saturday 20th September 11am to 5pm.
The rehearsal on the day of the concert will be at 3.15 pm to arrange seating and start at 3.30 pm. Vocal scores (Novello edition) will be available for hire from July onwards - again to encourage homework! Hire price £2 plus £1 postage, or copies may be collected from Hadlow Lodge (01825-830723) - also available at the workshop but only if pre-ordered. To find the Learn Haydn files, click here.
Levon Parikian expects you to be note-perfect for this rehearsal!
Entries closed but download application pdf Buxted 2008 to read about it..
Main contact is David Waddington,
E-mail: dwaddington@talktalk.net
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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.
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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.
They have a big charity event coming up in October. Details will be posted here.
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