Tuesday 30 October 2007

Orff Take Off

New members Sheila Garden and Sheila Carr are settling in and finding their voices and yes, we are beginning to bounce those beaters and accompanied by Joan on her flute, our scales on the Orff instruments are sounding joyful.
Today we made a start on ALL the parts of the Orff arrangement BOOMFALLERA which we are now singing in the 2 parts and beginning to get a feel for how our instruments will sound together.
The janitor continues to struggle with building problems but assures us that by next week we will have our storage in the basement so that we won't have to carry them down the stairs.

Tuesday 23 October 2007

The Beaters are Bouncing !

The Heron under Gull attack --- click to enlarge

The Heron under Gull attack --- click to enlarge


Our downstairs room with the scenic windows was a delight today since we enjoyed the great view of a handsome young heron perched on the swans' nesting island as we sang.
The group swelled to 15 including a new member, Sheila, who comes from Balfron.
After warming up our voices with some scales, we moved on to call and response with What shall I do with the baby?
Isla, Irene, Mairi, John and Jim each led a verse and the responses were strong and tuneful.
The vocal line in 2 parts of the Orff arrangement Boom- fal- er-a, is progressing and after some scale practice on the barred instruments, when I could see those beaters definitely beginning to bounce, we started learning some of the instrumental parts.
We followed Jim's I hae laid a herrin in saut played on the whistle, singing the verse.and ended the morning, by reviving Everyone of us has a special gift.
Note: We'll continue with harmonies for Senjua next week.

Tuesday 16 October 2007

Senjua - The Liberian Song of Welcome

Senjua, the Liberian song of welcome, and our warm-up song today, was a fine chance to work on improvised harmonies, bass and soprano and by the time we finally managed the three parts, that 'welcome' word, _ Senjua, was sounding so much warmer and meaningful. Our hearts, as well as our voices were truly warmed up!

Working on the instruments next it was encouraging to see how those beaters were gliding up and down so much ore nimbly after only oneweek and another reminder of the importance of that learning interval during which our brain seems to absorb a pattern quite subconsciously, giving us the enhanced ability when we return to a learning challenge.

After the break, Jim treated us to 'I hae laid a herrin in saut' on his tin whistle, lovely words and a delightful tune but a tricky sing which we are picking up gradually.

Finally we returned to Boomfalera, singing the chorus in 2 part harmony and taking a brief look this time at some of the Orff instrumental ostinatos.

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Studio 49 Instruments arrive

Eleven members attended today. Irene, Isla, John and Moira were on holiday while Sally had a medical appointment.
Our beautiful STUDIO 49 instruments, on their trolleys. awaited our group as they arrived this morning so the warm up movements, to Ladysmith Black Mambaso, were kept suitably brief.
Playful delight and excitement at realising it’s impossible to make an ugly sound on these instruments, gave way to intense concentration as everyone focused on mastering the ‘left right left’ patterns as we went up and down scales to various rhythms.
Everything came easier, as it does, after the coffee break and Jakob took good pictures.
We ended by learning the chorus and singing with great gusto, ‘Boomfalera’ from the Orff volume 1, the instrumental parts for which we’ll begin working on next week.
I’ll be having a relaxing evening with an in-house concert watching my DVD of Gordon & John’s Glasgow Philharmonic Male Voice Choir.
Wishing all a good week,
Cheers Moira
Click to play enjoymusic1
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Thanks go to Jakob for taking the photographs today