Tuesday 25 January 2011

BURNS DAY

Wee sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou needna start awa sae hasty
Wi bickerin brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi murdering pattle!


This verse was just the ticket to get the voices going and loosen up the mouth muscles. At one point it felt as if the whole building resonated with these wonderful words as we walked around, all reciting in our best voices.
THE DEIL'S AWA WI THE EXCISEMAN is a tough one for those new to it and specially for our Welsh and English born members but its driving jig rhythm carries it along, more so when supported by the percussion, making it a joy to sing.
We did spend weeks last year learning GREEN GROW THE RASHES O and I was pleased to hear how well everyone remembered it. The men were effective in their verse "Gie me a canny hour at e'en" and the whole song sounded good.
Similarly with AULD LANG SYNE, which was also well remembered from last year. It's set low for the women's voices but since the men are comfortable and able to sing out the whole sounded rich and good.
We finished sharp at 12:00 to be in good time for our haggis lunch at Douglas Park Golf Club.

That was good food, songs and poetry readings all in the true spirit of ENJOY MUSIC!  ---- enthusiastic participation and warm appreciation from the audience.
I need say no more, as the pictures speak for themselves.   !



To see larger photographs CLICK HERE and then click on the slideshow

Tuesday 18 January 2011

WE FIND OUR VOICES AGAIN

Listening to Custer LaRue this morning as we limbered up inspired us to vocalise the lovely melody of her song. The text, being in old Scots, is not clear so "la la" had to suffice; we enjoyed the brightness of the old tune and made a good sound.
We revived the old favourite which really invigorates the facial muscles I NEED A WAITER, in 3 part round which worked well and then moved on to LOVE SOMEBODY YES I DO, singing with gusto and harmonising the last two chords.
Coming back to HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?, today we managed to lighten it up and make it flow as it should, with a full sound through the two verses and choruses.
In THE TURNING OF THE YEAR the extra attention we gave to opening our vowels and crisping up the consonants paid off with a much more lively sound and the thoughtful, almost meditative last phrase achieved quite a lovely tone, finishing with fine harmonies on the last two notes.
On the xylophones today we improvised melodies over jig rhythms played on percussion _ good practice and fun to enjoy the sounds of the instruments in this way.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

BACK AFTER SEVEN WEEKS.

It wasn't easy to get started today as people, while eager to sing, had to catch up with each other after such a long break.
Amazing to tally that its really six weeks since we had to cancel our meeting and then our Christmas lunch because of the snow and listening to ourselves this morning we agreed the break had been too long and the voices had suffered. So the warm up took some time but we got off to a good start listening and moving to the beautiful voice of Custer LaRue with the Baltimore Consort singing the text from 1620 by the Scots poet Montgomerie, COME MY CHILDREN DEAR.

Listen to her singing IN A GARDEN SO GREEN---- CLICK HERE

Title: In A Garden So Green

Anonymous, pub. Forbes, Cantus, Songs and Fancies, 1662 Scotland

In a garden so green in May morening
heard I my lady pleen of paramours. complain
Said she, my love so sweet, come you not yet nor yet?
Heght you not me to meet amongst the flowrs? pledge
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.

The skies upspringis, the dew down dingis,
the sweet larks singis their hours of prime.
Phoebus upsprentius, joy to rest wentis
lost mine intent is and gone's the time,
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.

Danger my dead is, false fortune my feid is, enemy
langour my leed is, but hope I despair. dreariness, song
Disdaine my desyris, so strangeness my feir is,
deceit out of weir is, adew I fare.
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.

Then to my lady swyth did I my presence kyth, swiftly, make
saying, my bird be blyth, am I not yours?
So in my arms two did I the lusty jo
and kisst her tymis mo then night hes hours.
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.

Live in hope, lady faire and repell all dispaire.
Trust not that your true love shall you betrase. betray
When deceit and languor banished is from your bowre. refuge
I'll be your paramour and shall you please
Elore, elore, I love my lusty love, elore lo.

Some weeks ago Rosemary had given me the words and music of HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? and today we learned this beautiful hymn, singing it many times.
My life flows on in endless song
above earth’s lamentation.
I catch the sweet, though far off hymn
that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my in-most calm
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

We followed this with THE TURNING OF THE YEAR, the song which celebrates the lengthening of the days, before stopping for coffee. Hearing the JAMESTOWN JIG I realised that some good practising had taken place over the holiday period. The fingers were nimble and at last the parts fitted comfortably together.
In a quick discussion at the end of the morning it was clear that everyone was in favour of the idea of having a Burns Lunch on 25th January. We'll now try to arrange that.

Saturday 1 January 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ALL READERS



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