Fats Waller's 'Numb Fumblin' was our opening music today _ the slow stride piano a perfect pace for our focus on posture, warming up movements and breathing awareness.
The voice warm up was next and and after that we were ready to give a full sound in SENJUA, in three parts.
PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM, handed to me by a member who had carefully written down the music after hearing it sung en masse at a peace demonstration, is a beautiful round with a gently flowing 6/8 pulse which we picked up very quickly and enjoyed singing, hearing the sound of the whole group. We'll get the full effect next week when we'll do it as a round.
Moving on to concentrate on our individual voices, we sat down to sing LOVE IS COME AGAIN, a French hymn for Easter arranged by Martin Shaw. Its steady unhurried notes and open vowels give the opportunity to think about the sound we make with our own voices and to be conscious of that open throat and relaxed jaw, as well, of course, as enjoying the text and the melody.
On the instruments we returned to 'Carillon' in Carl Orff's arrangement, making a lovely sound with the four parts and those with good memories singing along.
Finally, directed by Diana, we achieved that unity of music and movement, joining in a circle dance while singing JULIAN OF NORWICH _ a good ending to our session on a fine spring morning.
