YES WE LEARNED OUR MUSIC.

The Ducks and Swans breaking the  ice (Click to enlarge)

It did pay off, even for those who don't read music, that Wolfgang's canon could be accessed on the blog last week. Today we were a real ensemble (they called it a band) and played the canon first straight through all together, then in two, followed by three, parts. Wonderful to experience the almost mesmeric effect of playing the piece, time after time, fitting in with, but yet in beautiful contrast to, the other parts.
We also started an new song today called ROW ON from Ali Burns' compilation, TEN THOUSAND PEARLS  - all of this between catching glimpses of the ducks trying clumsily to make their way over the thin ice on the pond which caused frequent hilarity.

HARMONY AND CANON

We started this morning to a track from the c.d. of Russian Dance Music compiled by the Russian/Dutch folklorist and dancer, Hennie Konings. The beautiful and remarkably open sounds of the singers inspired us to concentrate on singing gently with a relaxed and open throat. That focus led us into our version of Pachelbel's Canon which we sang in three part harmony and sounded specially good.
Next we sang the African song Banuwa with its rich harmonies.
Then we returned to I'LL FLY AWAY, remembering the three parts and enjoying how they fit well together.

After the coffee, with everyone on instruments, we learned this canon written by my good friend Wolfgang Hartmann. To begin with it's a great exercise to memorise the structure and shape of the melody, then it's good practice in crossing over the beaters and ultimately should be an effective and exciting sound played in canon with added percussion. That'll take some weeks but the process should be fun. I've copied the music here to give help with memorising, since you can't look at music while playing the xylophone!

Click to enlarge - then right click mouse below the music image to choose print

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

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.

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.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ALL READERS

CLICK ON THE PIPER TO SEE YOUR CARD

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

The Fell's Robin

Merry Christmas to everyone at Enjoy Music --- Click Here to see your Christmas Card

ENJOY MUSIC AND CHRISTMAS LUNCH IS CANCELLED

Due to continued bad weather the final session of enjoy Music was cancelled. The Christmas lunch that was to be held at Douglas Park Golf Club was also cancelled.
However Gordon and Carol walked there and had some Christmas Cheer!
Here are some pictures to show you the scene.
Hopefully we will arrange something in the New Year.

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SNOW SNOW SNOW !!

"After I heard that a number of our members were snowed in, I walked down to the Community Centre to check the conditions there and found the car park still deep in hard packed snow. That's when I decided to call off our session this week and a lucky thing too since it snowed a lot later that day. We're all missing the music and are trying to come to terms with the surfeit of weather news. Here's a comment on that."

Weather Girl on TV
A poem by Lorn Macintyre

She's dressed for summer, not the big freeze,
moving like an automaton, as if a key's
in her derrière as she wheels to the map.
Dire warnings sound like a thunder-clap,
hands spinning as she reels in a tornado
from north north east of the Faroes.
Is she going to kick off her Jimmy Choos,
swing on an isobar across to Toulouse?
She clicks the button in her hand
and bad weather masses over Shetland.
'Six inches of driven snow for Grampian.'
Not one of them has a complexion
wrinkled by sun. Who wants a plain Jane
when we're being warned of a hurricane?
But I'd prefer a toothless old crone
to come hobbling on a stick, moan
that her lumbago presages a cold spell.
Her hands claw, as if climbing to Mid Yell.
Should I put on my thermal vest
now more snow's massing in the west?
Tonight the temperature will plunge,
she warns us, with a final lunge,
head-first into the Irish Sea,
pulls herself up off Kirkcudbright.
My deep depression is clearing.
Her daft antics really are endearing.

Looking forward to our music next week followed by the Christmas lunch. Keep cosy, Moira.

WE CAROL IN THE ADVENT

Our Warm up today is with this Pfeif Drauf music

It's good to uncover an old, neglected carol (since we finish for Christmas on 7th December, we have to start early) and we did this today with THE CAROL OF THE BAGPIPERS, from Italy. It has a strong, rhythmic undertow of six triplets in two beat measures, but it's remarkable how in spite of this, the quality of the music is quite different from the jig and it will be exciting to feel it as we become more familiar with the carol. The melody has a lovely flow but as in all groups of mixed voices, we took some time to agree (?) on the key which would suit everyone best. I'm not sure if we're there yet. Next week will be decision time.
It's always a joy to revisit the old carols and the French CAROL OF THE ADVENT, to the beautiful English text by Eleanor Farjeon, is a group favourite. It was a good sing.
Finally this morning the solid rhythm section and the confident glocks playing the tune made our JIG on the instruments a joy to play. We repeated it many times really settling in to feel of it.

THE PITCH BATTLE

A cold morning in a cool room with a draught coming under the door is not conducive to feeling comfortable and singing well and the particular outcome today was that pitch continually dropped downwards. However, high we started out we always ended singing in our boots. Even those with low voices noticed it and then it's really bad. Alison Burns commented during her day with us that the low ceiling was not helpful for keeping good pitch but of course it's also a 'mind over matter' thing. We addressed it by thinking 'up', lightening our voices and what made the most difference was becoming more familiar with the music so that we were less tense and heavy about it. Confronting the problem really paid off as the singing gradually improved until we did achieve that tingle moment in Pachelbel's Canon to 'Alleluyia' when the four parts blended well and we were actually listening to each other while singing.
The good sound continued in I'LL FLY AWAY which we are now able to sing confidently and you can just feel how much this song appeals to the group.

Before starting out on the JAMESTOWN JIG, we spent some time all together, practising the jig rhythm with its two-beat metres, the beats often sub-divided into triplets and getting the feel of playing these with two beaters. This is a learning process for the hands and the brain, which can take some time until it becomes automatic. Young drummers in pipe bands take years so we shouldn't be surprised if it feels awkward in the short time we spend on it.
In the end, the jig played on all the instruments, underpinned by the rhythm section of three, really had my feet tapping!

HARMONY IN SONG AND A JIG WITH RHYTHM.

My expectations were high this morning, for achieving a good sound in Alleluyia to Pachelbel's Canon and I wasn't disappointed. Being familiar now with the harmonic progressions meant that we picked up the four parts almost effortlessly, bringing them together, singing and listening to each other, to make a wonderfully full harmony. That's the kind of enjoyment that cheers a cold winter's morning!

After several weeks of playing bits of the JACOBSTOWE JIG we returned to it today and spent some time on the percussion parts. The quick beats of the jig proved quite a challenge for the hands on the bongos but the decision to use sticks instead was a good one and after some minutes the rhythm was flowing and the bongos together with the skulls proved a fine 'driver' for the energetic jig, which sounded good in the four parts on the barred instruments.
This will be a good addition to our instrumental repertoire.

ENJOY MUSIC WITHOUT MOIRA

Led by Diana --- today's session opened with "CROSS CRAWL" exercises to warm us up followed by some beautiful slow movements to " I AM BODY PRAYER" sung by Aled Jones to PIE  JESU

Isla then had all the group engaging in diaphragmatic breathing and  vowel exercises.
Sue followed on with 3 poems, FRIENDSHIP by Elizabeth Jennings, followed on by "A LARK" and "THE SMALL GIANT" by Kenneth C Stevens.
Joan was next and she beautifully played THE SHEPHERD'S SONG by Mendelssohn on her flute and this was followed on by us all singing GREEN GROW THE RASHES O.
After coffee Jim got out his Penny Whistle and played 3 Scottish Tunes --- MY BOY TAMMIE, LEA RIG AND THE YELLOW HAIR'D LADDIE.

Irene was next and had us all singing 3 parts to Jean Redpath's BOTTLES OF POP / FISH AND CHIPS AND VINEGAR / DONT CHUCK YOUR MUCK IN OUR BACKYARD !!
Diana then read out 2 of her own beautiful  poems that she had written --- BUTTERFLIES and PRESENCES
Don't have the words to put on the web --- but thought you might all like this --

A new song was then introduced by Isla called the "SHOEMAKER'S SERENADE" which we all agreed was "Tickity Boo" !
Sheila finished with another poem - 'SONG OF THE MOUNTAIN ASH FAIRY'

The morning session was then rounded off  with a couple of our old favourites JULIAN OF NORWICH  and BEAUTIFUL AFRICA

An enjoyable morning was had by all and thanks to Isla for being the leader today-- However, we look forward to next weeks session on Moira's return from Copenhagan

WE REVISIT LAST WEEK'S SONGS

Fire Drill Practice ! - (click to enlarge)

We opened today with music from a Gaelic singer new to me at least, GRIOGAIR LAWRIE. I played the track ORAN DO'N MHORAIRNE which has a lovely lilting rhythm, just right for our warming up movements. Unfortunately our two Gaelic speakers were not with us (probably on one of their frequent trips to Skye) but I look forward to hearing their translation of the text when they get back.

 Of course we had to try to follow up on last week's session with Alison Burns and we started with her arrangement of PACHELBEL'S CANON sung to 'ALLELUIA" which was just getting going when the fire alarm rang with the result that we had a five minute sing in the open air, on the steps beside the pond. In spite of the morning chill, it felt good and I did hear the comment, "We should do this more often".

Coming in from the cold, we sang the lively EARLY IN THE MORNING, which had a warming effect, after which we listened to the CD track of Fly, Fly, Fly, joining in the chorus which we'd learned last week. Good to sing to the wonderful banjo accompaniment and this is one we'll work on in future.




We are gradually building up our skills on the instruments and all I'll add is that I feel sure we're on the verge of a breakthrough with the JAMESTOWN JIG. (!!!!!!!!)

I'll be away next week and will be back on 2nd November but I know the group will as ever, rise to the occasion next Tuesday, creativity to the fore, and arrange an enjoyable musical morning together.

A WONDERFUL DAY

Alison Burns (Front Row RHS) with the Enjoy Music Group - Click to enlarge

It was a treat for me today to take a back seat and hand over to ALISON BURNS, song maker, music educator, community choir and workshop leader. Our whole group benefited hugely from this exciting day.
With her gentle encouraging manner and deep knowledge of her material, she had us in the first half hour singing in four part harmony, a lovely arrangement of PACHELBEL'S CANON and since we only had to think about one word of text, ALLELUIA, we could enjoy the full impact of the harmonies as the four parts intermingled.

We moved on to a different style of singing in I'LL FLY AWAY, one of the songs from the film O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? and again we were able, in a call and response way, to bring four parts together, at the same time trying to sing in that rhythmical style of the American spiritual.
Our lunch in the Centre cafe was a good social occasion for our group as we enjoyed the food, fresh and appetising, laid on by Anne Hunter and her staff. We always appreciate being able to take our morning coffee there but that's such a short time and it felt good to have more time to talk.
The afternoon session began by exploring the DRONE, which exists in much traditional music around the world and how it feels to hold a drone as well as sing over it. We then experimented with harmony, singing different intervals together to feel the quality of the various groupings of notes. After this, we could savour fully the harmonies and dissonances of the African song we learned, with its slow, reverential first part followed by a joyful chorus.

To finish off the session we sang ALWAYS THE SINGING - Click on the link

Everyone agreed that Alison's day was a great success and there was an immediate call to have her do a return visit. To read more about Alison click here to go to her Website

WE MAKE A FULL SOUND

To get a better quality of video after pressing the play button then click on the number 240 and change to 480

This was a day of people returning from late holidays, hospital treatment and family commitments and what a difference the larger numbers made to our sound! The three parts of GAUDEAMUS HODIE blended well and the whole sound had a new richness and confidence.

Think about next week's visit by Alison Burns who will lead a Singing Day, we picked THE WIND BLOWS HIGH from her collection 'Ten Thousand Pearls', learning the second part and the tune. Of course these songs take a lot of bedding in and although today we just made a start, I think it's one we'll enjoy a lot, the better we get to know it.

Some members who had taken a glock and a xylophone home to practise surged ahead today when we moved on to the instruments and yes, we did learn and play all four parts of JAMESTOWN JIG, two sections in ABA form.
It may be halting and a little bit awkward for some yet but we are getting there!

REMINDER:

Next week, 12th October will be a music workshop day led by singer and music educator, Alison Burns. Members pay the normal fee and the day is open to friends and visitors for a charge of £5.

Programme: 10:00 coffee and introductions in the Community Centre cafe
10:30 _ 12:00 first session.
12:00 _ 1:00 lunch. Soup and sandwiches will be available to buy in the cafe, or bring your own.
1:00 _ 2:30 second session.

We're looking forward to a great day!

OUR BASS SHOWS HIS METTLE

Autumn holidays, health appointments, unmissable golf ties and a multitude of other reasons mean that there is always some variation in the attendance from week to week and today there was one, lone bass voice. This can be a stress for that individual, or it can be a chance to shine and the latter was the case on Tuesday when we sang GAUDEAMUS HODIE. Our bass held his part beautifully, even enjoying it while the others modified their sound accordingly to create a fine blend. Good to hear this sensitivity developing in our singing.

The smaller number today meant that everyone had a good practice on the instruments and as a result we mastered the whole of JAMESTOWN JIG, everyone playing the melody which, with its triplet rhythms is a great exercise in playing with the two hands alternately.

After that, learning the simpler accompanying parts will be a dawdle!

A GOOD CHANCE TO RECAP

Several members returned today after a long summer holiday and this was a good opportunity to recap on the new music we've learned in the past two weeks. It'l always a good feeling to revisit the familiar and enjoy settling in to a piece.
EARLY IN THE MORNING is sounding good and in GAUDEAMUS HODIE great to hear the basses enjoying their line while the three parts come together well.
Coming to our instrumental piece JAMESTOWN JIG we gave some thought to the importance of keys. Because of our mixed group, mostly singing in unison, many of our songs are in key C where the range of the melody is comfortable for most of our voices. This Jig is written in D major, a key with a bright quality and a refreshing change. The F sharps were duly put in place and we proceeded to play. Playing the triplets with alternate hands takes some getting used to, but week by week we'll get there!

WE JIG THE RHYTHMS.

Coming back to our warm up song EARLY IN THE MORNING today, it was obvious that the singing going home in the cars had paid off and the song had become embedded in the intervening time since last week. Those who were hearing it for the first time were completely swept along by the others, very quickly singing with confidence and enthusiasm. Strange how some songs simply facilitate our voices and in this one I could hear good high notes from some unlikely quarters!

Next we returned to GAUDEAMUS HODIE, revising the tune and the bass part, before adding the third, high voice which, sung softly and with clarity, completed the harmony in a beautifully balanced way. We did make a good sound.

The JAMESTOWN JIG, by Paul Wilson, Community Musician and workshop leader in Devon, has triplet rhythms which struck me as fitting perfectly with the names in our group and so that's how we learned first the rhythms and then the tune:

Gordon, Carol, Malcolm,
Moira, Sheila, Irene,
Gordon, Carol, Malcolm,
Isla, Kate and Ruth.

Middle section:
Joan Gemmel and Sue Ramage and
Joan Gemmel and Lyn,
Joan Gemmel and Don and
Valerie and Jim.

We then transferred our 'song', first section, onto the tuned instruments and added temple blocks, bongo and tambourine making a good ensemble sound. Next week we'll add the middle section.
After that considerable achievement we ended our morning session, leaving with a jig in our step.

GOOD TO BE BACK

After our three month recess, it was good to meet up again. We were all conscious of feeling the voices a bit rusty but it's wonderful how the group feeling takes over and the energy builds.
Our springboard for loosening up the limbs, the back, the head, in fact the whole body, with easy movements while concentrating on deep breathing, was a vocal piece by Grassroots from Zimbabwe, singing in typical warm, rhythmic, repetitive and mesmeric style.
We continued after that with some rhythmic clapping, making a variety of vocal sounds in the gaps between claps. This loosened up the face muscles and we began to use our voices with some abandon.
Scales then focused us on the quality of our own voices, concentrating on accurate pitch and good sound.

EARLY IN THE MORNING is our new vocal warm up song.
The words made us laugh and we felt like moving to its funky rhythm.

Early in the morning
When I wake up
Early in the morning
When I wake up
I brush my teeth,
I eat my bread,
I drink my coffee and go back to bed,
Early in the morning
Early in the morning.

Building on the good sounds of the warm up, we then learned a short song which has 3 parts in harmony, GAUDEAMUS HODIE.
Our 2 bass singers readily picked up their part and we sang well together, leaving the third part to be added next week.
Due to a problem with keys, our instruments remained locked up today, so after a chatty coffee break, we finished the morning with ALWAYS THE SINGING and BRAND NEW DAY.