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Saturday 20th July 2013
Songs about the Weather
The Fleet Singers joined forces with the Belsize Community Choir to give a performance of Benjamin Till's emotive piece for the first time since it premiered in June 2012. The Fleet Singers commissioned the piece, marking the Queen's Jubilee.
This performance included local celebrity, Diana Aubrey, as the narrator. The work is based on texts contributed by the choir and woven amongst newspaper articles spanning the past 60 years. Till noticed that there was a running theme throughout the contributed material and his piece is divided into 5 sections, at 10 year intervals through the Queen's reign, and each marked by an extreme weather event!
Songs about the Weather
The Fleet Singers joined forces with the Belsize Community Choir to give a performance of Benjamin Till's emotive piece for the first time since it premiered in June 2012. The Fleet Singers commissioned the piece, marking the Queen's Jubilee.
This performance included local celebrity, Diana Aubrey, as the narrator. The work is based on texts contributed by the choir and woven amongst newspaper articles spanning the past 60 years. Till noticed that there was a running theme throughout the contributed material and his piece is divided into 5 sections, at 10 year intervals through the Queen's reign, and each marked by an extreme weather event!
Saturday 15th June 2013
Chandos Chamber Choir perform with Chelys in a world premiere by Michael Mullen for choir and viols
The Chandos Chamber Choir teamed up with talented young viol group, Chelys, and composer, Michael Mullen, to perform a programme of music for choir and viols around the themes of gold, opulence and coronation.
For the programme, Michael Mullen composed a magnificent setting of Sadoc Sacerdos (or "Zadok the Priest") to mark the discovery of the remains of King Richard III, found buried under a car park in Leicester. The piece is scored for 8 part choir and 8 viols, and is based on the concept of the winding and textured works of the Eton Songbook. It incorporates many textures, from solo unaccompanied voice to full orchestration, and has a brilliant sense of triumph!
The programme also included a beautiful contemporary setting by David Mackay, called Aedh wishes for the cloths of Heaven. It is originally scored for choir with organ but, with the composers permission, was transcribed a few years ago by conductor Matthew Manchester.
Chandos Chamber Choir perform with Chelys in a world premiere by Michael Mullen for choir and viols
The Chandos Chamber Choir teamed up with talented young viol group, Chelys, and composer, Michael Mullen, to perform a programme of music for choir and viols around the themes of gold, opulence and coronation.
For the programme, Michael Mullen composed a magnificent setting of Sadoc Sacerdos (or "Zadok the Priest") to mark the discovery of the remains of King Richard III, found buried under a car park in Leicester. The piece is scored for 8 part choir and 8 viols, and is based on the concept of the winding and textured works of the Eton Songbook. It incorporates many textures, from solo unaccompanied voice to full orchestration, and has a brilliant sense of triumph!
The programme also included a beautiful contemporary setting by David Mackay, called Aedh wishes for the cloths of Heaven. It is originally scored for choir with organ but, with the composers permission, was transcribed a few years ago by conductor Matthew Manchester.
Friday 31st May 2013
Music for Andrew Simpson's Funeral
ChoirFixer was booked to provide the music for the funeral service of Olympic Sailor, Andrew Simpson. The funeral took place at Sherborne Abbey and the service was relayed to a gathered crowd outside the Abbey as well.
Music for Andrew Simpson's Funeral
ChoirFixer was booked to provide the music for the funeral service of Olympic Sailor, Andrew Simpson. The funeral took place at Sherborne Abbey and the service was relayed to a gathered crowd outside the Abbey as well.
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The BBC put out this report on their web site, and various channels reported on the service on TV.
'His greatness will inspire a generation' were the touching words chosen to remember Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson by his best friend and teammate. Iain Percy read the tribute at Mr Simpson's funeral at Sherborne Abbey yesterday, speaking of him as 'a proud dad' and 'an example for all sportsmen'. With Sir Ben Ainslie, Mr Percy, who won silver in the Star class in last year's Olympics with Mr Simpson and gold in Beijing in 2008, carried the coffin into the Abbey as crowds fell silent at 1pm. Mr Simpson, a father-of-two and known by friends as 'Bart', died earlier this month in an accident while training for the America's Cup. Hundreds turned out for the funeral including prominent members of the sailing community Helena Lucas, Luke Patience and Annie Lush. Chief executive of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy John Tweed was also in attendance with John Derbyshire and Stephen Park of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The service was also attended by sports minister, MP Hugh Robertson, who met Mr Simpson when he visited Weymouth during the Olympic Sailing events. Dozens more gathered outside the Abbey as hymns and tributes were broadcast to crowds on loudspeakers. Mr Simpson's home town of Sherborne was decked out in bunting in the colours of the Union Flag in his honour. Well wishers were told they did not need to wear black, and donations in his memory were given to help start a children's sailing charity in his name. The service was opened by the vicar of Sherborne the Reverend Canon Eric Woods, who paid tribute to a 'loved, honoured and respected man'. Sir Ben gave a reading during the service called 'what is dying?' written by Bishop Brent and touching renditions of Coldplay's Fix You, and One Day Like This by Elbow, were sung by a choir.
Mr Simpson's coffin was carried out of the Abbey as the choir sung a rendition of Sailing. |
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Saturday 18th May 2013
The Fleet Singers and Camden Young Singers join to give the premiere of Ode to Living Things by Philip Godfrey
Commissioned by the Fleet Singers, Ode to Living Things was written by Philip Godfrey, who is also the accompanist to the choir. It is a set of short movements with a biological flavour. It begins with a movement entitled Ode to the Amoeba, setting the scene for a discovery and development of natural themes through the rest of the piece, with a very patriotic movement about trees at the heart of the set.
The Fleet Singers were very pleased to be able to work with the Camden Young Singers, for whom two of the movements in the Ode were written.
Just a couple of weeks earlier, the choir gave a preview of some of the movements of the new work, performing them at the Southbank Centre on 6th May as part of the Chorus Festival.
The Fleet Singers and Camden Young Singers join to give the premiere of Ode to Living Things by Philip Godfrey
Commissioned by the Fleet Singers, Ode to Living Things was written by Philip Godfrey, who is also the accompanist to the choir. It is a set of short movements with a biological flavour. It begins with a movement entitled Ode to the Amoeba, setting the scene for a discovery and development of natural themes through the rest of the piece, with a very patriotic movement about trees at the heart of the set.
The Fleet Singers were very pleased to be able to work with the Camden Young Singers, for whom two of the movements in the Ode were written.
Just a couple of weeks earlier, the choir gave a preview of some of the movements of the new work, performing them at the Southbank Centre on 6th May as part of the Chorus Festival.
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Wednesday 1st May 2013
Channel 4's staff choir sing in the sunshine
Channel 4's staff choir sing in the sunshine
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4Tunes celebrated the arrival of summer with a concert for their friends and family, held in the Channel 4 building on Horseferry Road, near Victoria in London.
The concert revealed a number of star soloists, as well as attaining new levels of vocal confidence in improvisation. Here are two short clips of the event, performing a Spiritual medley: |
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Saturday 20th April 2013
Aylesbury Festival Choir perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle
Aylesbury Festival Choir perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle
In a review in the Bucks Herald, Joss O'Kelly nicely sums up a wonderful evening of music, with some star soloists:
Aylesbury Festival Choir was in fine voice for a terrific concert on Saturday April 20 at the Methodist Church.
The evening began with a sweetly sung Panis Angelicus by César Franck and continued with the same composer’s Prelude, Fugue and variation for Harmonium and Piano. The pianist was AFC regular Thelma King, while on the harmonium was Anne Page, a musician at the forefront of the revival of this beautiful instrument. Both played superbly in this and the main work of the evening, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Since the demise of the Civic Centre, AFC have been performing in a space that does not allow for an orchestra as well, but on this occasion it didn’t matter as the original was scored for piano (well, OK, two pianos) and harmonium so there wasn’t the lurking feeling that we were missing something.
Neither little, nor especially solemn, the Petite Messe is a work that abounds in great tunes, many of which are reminiscent of Rossini’s usual occupation as an operatic composer.
Joining the choir and instrumentalists was possibly the best line-up of soloists in recent years: soprano Catherine Pope, alto Anaïs Heghoyan, tenor Tom Lowe and bass Jimmy Holliday, the latter making a welcome return visit.
They sang in various combinations in virtually every section, as well as providing solos, all of which were deservedly well received. The showstopper was Tom Lowe’s highly operatic Domine Deus, which sounded like an aria in which the hero is about to ride off and rescue his girl from the clutches of the villain!
Aylesbury Festival Choir rose to the occasion with an impressive performance throughout, under the baton of Musical Director James Davey.
Review by Joss O’Kelly
Aylesbury Festival Choir was in fine voice for a terrific concert on Saturday April 20 at the Methodist Church.
The evening began with a sweetly sung Panis Angelicus by César Franck and continued with the same composer’s Prelude, Fugue and variation for Harmonium and Piano. The pianist was AFC regular Thelma King, while on the harmonium was Anne Page, a musician at the forefront of the revival of this beautiful instrument. Both played superbly in this and the main work of the evening, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Since the demise of the Civic Centre, AFC have been performing in a space that does not allow for an orchestra as well, but on this occasion it didn’t matter as the original was scored for piano (well, OK, two pianos) and harmonium so there wasn’t the lurking feeling that we were missing something.
Neither little, nor especially solemn, the Petite Messe is a work that abounds in great tunes, many of which are reminiscent of Rossini’s usual occupation as an operatic composer.
Joining the choir and instrumentalists was possibly the best line-up of soloists in recent years: soprano Catherine Pope, alto Anaïs Heghoyan, tenor Tom Lowe and bass Jimmy Holliday, the latter making a welcome return visit.
They sang in various combinations in virtually every section, as well as providing solos, all of which were deservedly well received. The showstopper was Tom Lowe’s highly operatic Domine Deus, which sounded like an aria in which the hero is about to ride off and rescue his girl from the clutches of the villain!
Aylesbury Festival Choir rose to the occasion with an impressive performance throughout, under the baton of Musical Director James Davey.
Review by Joss O’Kelly
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Tuesday 19th April 2013
Workshop for Brighton Chamber of Commerce
The Brighton Chamber of Commerce held an event called "Business and Pleasure" and during the day, which attracted hundreds of local businesses, they scheduled a Pleasure Hour - in keeping with Brighton's reputation as a Pleasure Beach.
James Davey was invited to lead one of several activities for delegates to enjoy during Pleasure Hour, and formed a choir with 60 or so delegates. The results of the final 15mins of learning are recorded here:
Workshop for Brighton Chamber of Commerce
The Brighton Chamber of Commerce held an event called "Business and Pleasure" and during the day, which attracted hundreds of local businesses, they scheduled a Pleasure Hour - in keeping with Brighton's reputation as a Pleasure Beach.
James Davey was invited to lead one of several activities for delegates to enjoy during Pleasure Hour, and formed a choir with 60 or so delegates. The results of the final 15mins of learning are recorded here:
Thursday 31st March 2013
Chandos Chamber Choir perform Howell's Requiem
The Chandos Chamber Choir performed Howell's Requiem as the centrepiece of this most challenging programme. Organist, Ian Shaw, accompanied expertly in the Cantata by Kenneth Leighton, Crucifixus Pro Nobis, with the tenor soloist Ben Thapa. A highlight of the evening was the set of songs from Benjamin Britten's Sacred and Profane, as setting of Medieval texts, the first of which the choir had memorised. The programme closed on a flourish with William Walton's The Twelve.
Chandos Chamber Choir perform Howell's Requiem
The Chandos Chamber Choir performed Howell's Requiem as the centrepiece of this most challenging programme. Organist, Ian Shaw, accompanied expertly in the Cantata by Kenneth Leighton, Crucifixus Pro Nobis, with the tenor soloist Ben Thapa. A highlight of the evening was the set of songs from Benjamin Britten's Sacred and Profane, as setting of Medieval texts, the first of which the choir had memorised. The programme closed on a flourish with William Walton's The Twelve.
Thursday 24th January 2013
From Desk Til Dawn - at the London A Capella Festival
James Davey lead a Music In Offices workshop for singers and visitors to the London A Capella Festival at Kings Place. The singers learned two songs to perform to the crowds from the festival's Foyer Stage. The participants learned Stephen Hatfield's Run, Children, Run and a traditional Jamaican spiritual called Shut the door.
From Desk Til Dawn - at the London A Capella Festival
James Davey lead a Music In Offices workshop for singers and visitors to the London A Capella Festival at Kings Place. The singers learned two songs to perform to the crowds from the festival's Foyer Stage. The participants learned Stephen Hatfield's Run, Children, Run and a traditional Jamaican spiritual called Shut the door.
Thursday 24th January 2013
Music of Life Foundation at Clifford Chance
Young singers from Stepping Stones, a School for children with special needs based in Surrey, performed songs form the shows to delighted office staff at Clifford Chance, as the workers had their lunch.
Music of Life Foundation at Clifford Chance
Young singers from Stepping Stones, a School for children with special needs based in Surrey, performed songs form the shows to delighted office staff at Clifford Chance, as the workers had their lunch.
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The performance included solo items from one young singer who had recently passed an audition to benefit from Music of Life Foundation's professional musical training scheme, and the lunchtime show was rounded off with some delicious musical cakes!
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Saturday 22nd December 2012
Chantage on ESPN before the Liverpool Vs Fulham Match
Chantage recorded a version of Carol of the Bells by Leontovych, for broadcast on ESPN sports TV channel, ahead of the big match between Liverpool and Fulham on Saturday afternoon. The song was modified to include some of the names of footballers in the teams, as well as comments on their managers!
The video of the broadcast, during the Christmas holiday, is here in two parts:
Chantage on ESPN before the Liverpool Vs Fulham Match
Chantage recorded a version of Carol of the Bells by Leontovych, for broadcast on ESPN sports TV channel, ahead of the big match between Liverpool and Fulham on Saturday afternoon. The song was modified to include some of the names of footballers in the teams, as well as comments on their managers!
The video of the broadcast, during the Christmas holiday, is here in two parts:
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