A classic line from our valiant leader there. When we sight-read a piece for the first time we tend to mumble through it, not wanting our mistakes to be too obvious. Mumbling is upped a notch when we sing a work like Betinis' Dormi Jesu which we started last night. It is written in a ridiculous key and then dotted with accidentals, including a double sharp which Maestro Boy tried to explain to us. What is the point of a double sharp one wonders? Suffice to say we didn't come up with any definitive answer to this thorny question, but we did enjoy singing this piece. I have no doubt that there is some intelligent muso out there with a first class music degree from, say, a prestigious institution like Edinburgh University who could provide an in-depth but accessible explanation, but alas, where does one find such a person? We, rather remarkably, got all the way through, start to finish. Don't get me wrong, it's not quite at performance level yet but we were suitably chuffed with ourselves.
We were a little short of Rudsambee-lets last night but we did have two piddly altos (one was Rach so one very piddly alto :-) ). And, after Sebastian led us in a jazzy little round, we worked on with another new piece about Margot (who labourez les vignes). It is very fun and we learnt it orally (goodness, the Rudsambee-lets were on fire last night!). We then did it in smaller groups as we'll be doing lots of quartet work for Christmas. Forget the Sixteen, it's the Four you want.
Despite lots of folks being absent, one welcome return to the Rudsambee fold was Anna-Lauren who has been away for a few months. Huzzah to have you back, lady. The sopranos have been sadly lacking in glamour and extremo high notes since you have been gone.
And so the festival lumbers on like a great big bear, and town remains as busy as ever. I am having a couple of weeks off (don't even think about robbing my house in my absence blog fans - we have some serious security going on!) so will see you in September. Hopefully there will be a bit of blogging anyways so tune in.
Enjoy the sunshine and blue skies which, rather unbelievably, are present and correct in Auld Reekie this happy morn.
CSW
Thursday 27 August 2009
Thursday 20 August 2009
A night off!
Morning blog fans,
Just to let you know (in case you have awoken this morning excitedly awaiting the latest post from Relative Pitch), Rudsambee actually had a night off last night. We are resting on our laurels (I love that phrase!) after the delights of Sunday night (and because half the choir were on holiday). So the Rudsambee-lets spent the evening alone in the community somewhere. A terrifying thought! Anyways, we'll be back next week to prepare for Christmas (in a vocal rather than a putting-up-tinsel sort of way).
So without a full length blog post to read, how else can you spend that hour before lunch? Two suggestions:
1) checking out the back catalogue of the late legend Les Paul on youtube. In a rather showbiz aside, I saw him in concert last year and got to have my picture taken with him. Sad news of his death this week but if I am still rockin at 93 two weeks before my death I'll be quite contented.
2) getting on to the BBC website and following the Ashes as either a) England lose in dramatic grabbing-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory fashion or b) the whole thing is rained off, Australia retain the urn by default and it all peters out in usual British-sporting-summer disappointment.
It's your choice folks.
Until next week then
CSW
Just to let you know (in case you have awoken this morning excitedly awaiting the latest post from Relative Pitch), Rudsambee actually had a night off last night. We are resting on our laurels (I love that phrase!) after the delights of Sunday night (and because half the choir were on holiday). So the Rudsambee-lets spent the evening alone in the community somewhere. A terrifying thought! Anyways, we'll be back next week to prepare for Christmas (in a vocal rather than a putting-up-tinsel sort of way).
So without a full length blog post to read, how else can you spend that hour before lunch? Two suggestions:
1) checking out the back catalogue of the late legend Les Paul on youtube. In a rather showbiz aside, I saw him in concert last year and got to have my picture taken with him. Sad news of his death this week but if I am still rockin at 93 two weeks before my death I'll be quite contented.
2) getting on to the BBC website and following the Ashes as either a) England lose in dramatic grabbing-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory fashion or b) the whole thing is rained off, Australia retain the urn by default and it all peters out in usual British-sporting-summer disappointment.
It's your choice folks.
Until next week then
CSW
Sunday 16 August 2009
A jolly night at St Giles
Good evening folks. An extra blog post this week to fill you in on this evening's concert. Singing at St Giles is always a "generally entertaining" experience as you have the double fear of the sheer amount of spectators and the acoustic which, though beautiful to listen to music in, is tough-as-you-like to get right. After running through the festival crowds (including negotiating a man on a tall ladder) we arrived in time to have a bit of a warm-up, beginning rather ambitiously with Bogoff.
After a cup of tea, Angus realising he had brought the wrong shirt (so he wore pink all night - hee hee!), usual lost folders, and Anne handing out her customary politically-incorrect sweeties (probably best not to ask about this if you don't know what on earth I'm talking about) we were off. So, the actual concert went very well. Sfogava was a wonderful (if hair-raising) singing experience; Man, the acoustic made a huge difference. Even Tormis' swingy girl song passed as a piece of music. And Kay and I managed to fumble our way through the Thuma Mina/Akanamandla link without too much bother. We finished with possibly the world's quickest ever version of Jede Sedlak. Maestro Boy fancied a challenge methinks.
As usual, the audience were very encouraging and St Giles proved to be a crackin' venue - as always. So on Wednesday, out come the bells, the tree and the baubles as we start on our Christmas music. I know, I know. However, I am slacking off for the week but hopefully there will be a blog post - I'll leave it in the safe (relatively safe) hands of our resident Editor.
Thanks to all who came to support us tonight. It would have been a bit dull without you all... and we would have felt a little foolish, especially when it came to the bowing!
Until next time blog fans
CSW
After a cup of tea, Angus realising he had brought the wrong shirt (so he wore pink all night - hee hee!), usual lost folders, and Anne handing out her customary politically-incorrect sweeties (probably best not to ask about this if you don't know what on earth I'm talking about) we were off. So, the actual concert went very well. Sfogava was a wonderful (if hair-raising) singing experience; Man, the acoustic made a huge difference. Even Tormis' swingy girl song passed as a piece of music. And Kay and I managed to fumble our way through the Thuma Mina/Akanamandla link without too much bother. We finished with possibly the world's quickest ever version of Jede Sedlak. Maestro Boy fancied a challenge methinks.
As usual, the audience were very encouraging and St Giles proved to be a crackin' venue - as always. So on Wednesday, out come the bells, the tree and the baubles as we start on our Christmas music. I know, I know. However, I am slacking off for the week but hopefully there will be a blog post - I'll leave it in the safe (relatively safe) hands of our resident Editor.
Thanks to all who came to support us tonight. It would have been a bit dull without you all... and we would have felt a little foolish, especially when it came to the bowing!
Until next time blog fans
CSW
Thursday 13 August 2009
"It's very entertaining"
...an opening quote from Kay there, an apt description of the rather jolly 'Star of the County Down'. The small/large group - affectionately known as Rudsam-wee by this blogstress - singing the piece were not entirely sure how to take that. But it was very entertaining, as was our warmup led by none other than Maestro Boy himself. We began with singing our reactions (squeals of delight or groans of frustrated horror)to the all-encompassing Edinburgh festival. For those not in an EH region, Auld Reekie has been taken over by, well, the entire world it would seem, who flock to the Capital to see Art, good and bad. Legendary theatre director Tyrone Guthrie suggested that "Everyone enjoys it, except my Edinburgh cousins who complain of the phenomenal and outrageous rise in the price of carrots". In our contemporary-carrots-for-pennies-you-can-even-get-them-ready-sliced world I must admit the price rises in the vegetable sphere largely do not affect me. The traffic, people stopping abruptly while walking on pavements and the endless leaflets do. Yet I will not turn Scrooge. It is still an exciting city to be in at present.
So last night was our final rehearsal before St Giles. Even the Tormis swing song was "entertaining," i.e. according to soon-to-be-teacher Robin, it actually sounded like a piece of music. Huzzah! And (in an even bigger shock - hold the 'phone!) the Monteverdi is beginning to sound like a real piece too. This is going to be magnifique in St Giles and will be worth the ticket price alone... especially since it is a free gig!
As is our custom at present, Rudsambee chunked (see previous posts) and mixed up which really helps with tuning. And, since Rachel was standing just in front of our Editor Christopher, she provided him with a perfect music stand, folder balanced on her head. Yet even with the chunking last night you could largely tell where the sopranos were as for some reason Mummy Elaine, Alison and Helen all wore Rudsambee uniform of black and red. I wore pink just to be difficult! And to clash, but only visually not musically.
The African set was interesting last night as I entirely forgot how the piece even went. Excellent, considering that Kay and I are leading off. Don't panic blog fans - I will wander about singing it for the next couple of days and all will be well.
Just to fill you in on last Saturday, the wedding went off without a hitch. Helen's Ave Maria was spectacular, and we all started on the right note for Irish Blessing but that was probably because Anne was belting out a Bb on the organ as loud as possible. The congregation didn't really join in with the responsorial psalm but they all nodded so maybe 'response' meant just that ('Ah yes, quite right' nods) rather than actually singing along. They didn't have the words anyways so it might have proved a little difficult. Congrats to the happy couple and to Douglas who looked pleased as punch (eh? What sort of a saying is that?) all day.
So we look forward to Sunday evening. It should be a great concert so I'd recommend it - I'd be a bit foolish not to.
As usual a post-concert blog update is to be expected...
CSW
So last night was our final rehearsal before St Giles. Even the Tormis swing song was "entertaining," i.e. according to soon-to-be-teacher Robin, it actually sounded like a piece of music. Huzzah! And (in an even bigger shock - hold the 'phone!) the Monteverdi is beginning to sound like a real piece too. This is going to be magnifique in St Giles and will be worth the ticket price alone... especially since it is a free gig!
As is our custom at present, Rudsambee chunked (see previous posts) and mixed up which really helps with tuning. And, since Rachel was standing just in front of our Editor Christopher, she provided him with a perfect music stand, folder balanced on her head. Yet even with the chunking last night you could largely tell where the sopranos were as for some reason Mummy Elaine, Alison and Helen all wore Rudsambee uniform of black and red. I wore pink just to be difficult! And to clash, but only visually not musically.
The African set was interesting last night as I entirely forgot how the piece even went. Excellent, considering that Kay and I are leading off. Don't panic blog fans - I will wander about singing it for the next couple of days and all will be well.
Just to fill you in on last Saturday, the wedding went off without a hitch. Helen's Ave Maria was spectacular, and we all started on the right note for Irish Blessing but that was probably because Anne was belting out a Bb on the organ as loud as possible. The congregation didn't really join in with the responsorial psalm but they all nodded so maybe 'response' meant just that ('Ah yes, quite right' nods) rather than actually singing along. They didn't have the words anyways so it might have proved a little difficult. Congrats to the happy couple and to Douglas who looked pleased as punch (eh? What sort of a saying is that?) all day.
So we look forward to Sunday evening. It should be a great concert so I'd recommend it - I'd be a bit foolish not to.
As usual a post-concert blog update is to be expected...
CSW
Thursday 6 August 2009
"If it sounds simple it's because we are good at it" (J Wexler Esq 5/8/09)
T'rific opening line from Monsieur Wexler with reference to the Boy's Song (someone one day will tell me the actual title of the Russian/German ditty). And, of course, it could just as readily be applied to all Rudsambee performances, except for the Girl's Song (Timid Girl by Tormis) which sounded "poo" (C Warden 5/8/09).
So we began last night with a jolly version of Row, row, row your boat led by Claire 2...with actions...and sound effects. In fact the whole exercise confirmed only one thing for this blogstress, a fact learned in primary school - boys are rubbish at things. Actually our gentlemen redeemed themselves with some excellent performances for the rest of the evening, which perhaps confirms that they are just more rubbish at doing ridiculous action songs than girls...which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
We spent quite a bit of time on our African songs last night which are really begining to sound quite good. Now the Soweto Choir we ain't but even so...For the first song Sebastian leads us and so we just have to follow him; for the second the whole choir follow the sops which is a very dangerous thing to do especially as this blogstress made up half the lyrics. Kay and I also get to set the pace which is a bit of a responsibility.
After our friends in York performed Dindirin in its original Spanish/French/who knows/a bit of a mixture, Rudsambee (not to be outdone) decided we would give it a go. Actually it sounded rather good but not good enough to avoid the customary language discussion (Jen and I found a comfy seat on the couch and had a snooze at this point). In the end we were treated to a Sonny and Cher performance by Anne and John so if you want to know about pronunciation for this, ask them.
"Half past nine, half past nine, hang your knickers on the line". Advice there from Kay who apparently said that little rhyme all the time as a child. The mind boggles. The mind was equally boggled by Chris' suggestion that after the wedding on Saturday (don't panic happy couple, I am coming to that), something is happening on Corstorphine Hill. As Jen lives in the vicinity of that peak (sorry, 'peak' is a bit much, 'mound' might be better) anything could be happening up there. Attend at your peril.
We also, of course, spent a bit of time on Sfogava which is sounding...better than last week. So Saturday is the wedding and the Rudsambee-lets are all ready to go. The priest apparently doesn't know any bride that has ever been on time (actually I baulk that trend, arriving early for my wedding and that in spite of the rugby being on the telly) so we have to bring all our current music just in case. Bride, if you are 20 minutes late or more, your poor guests may well be treated to a round of Kanarbik or something really inappropriate like Dindirin which speaks of a doomed love affair, so I would make haste if I were you.
That's all for tonight. Just to bring you up to date with the rubbish crisis, my bins have now been emptied and I smiled at the bin man this morning, half because the weather is beautiful and it is dificult not to smile under blue skies, and half due to the relief of finally being able to remove a pizza box from my kitchen that has be sitting rather forlornly on my side for a week as I was unable to squeeze anything else into the 'bucket', as the Scots would say.
Until next time
CSW
So we began last night with a jolly version of Row, row, row your boat led by Claire 2...with actions...and sound effects. In fact the whole exercise confirmed only one thing for this blogstress, a fact learned in primary school - boys are rubbish at things. Actually our gentlemen redeemed themselves with some excellent performances for the rest of the evening, which perhaps confirms that they are just more rubbish at doing ridiculous action songs than girls...which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
We spent quite a bit of time on our African songs last night which are really begining to sound quite good. Now the Soweto Choir we ain't but even so...For the first song Sebastian leads us and so we just have to follow him; for the second the whole choir follow the sops which is a very dangerous thing to do especially as this blogstress made up half the lyrics. Kay and I also get to set the pace which is a bit of a responsibility.
After our friends in York performed Dindirin in its original Spanish/French/who knows/a bit of a mixture, Rudsambee (not to be outdone) decided we would give it a go. Actually it sounded rather good but not good enough to avoid the customary language discussion (Jen and I found a comfy seat on the couch and had a snooze at this point). In the end we were treated to a Sonny and Cher performance by Anne and John so if you want to know about pronunciation for this, ask them.
"Half past nine, half past nine, hang your knickers on the line". Advice there from Kay who apparently said that little rhyme all the time as a child. The mind boggles. The mind was equally boggled by Chris' suggestion that after the wedding on Saturday (don't panic happy couple, I am coming to that), something is happening on Corstorphine Hill. As Jen lives in the vicinity of that peak (sorry, 'peak' is a bit much, 'mound' might be better) anything could be happening up there. Attend at your peril.
We also, of course, spent a bit of time on Sfogava which is sounding...better than last week. So Saturday is the wedding and the Rudsambee-lets are all ready to go. The priest apparently doesn't know any bride that has ever been on time (actually I baulk that trend, arriving early for my wedding and that in spite of the rugby being on the telly) so we have to bring all our current music just in case. Bride, if you are 20 minutes late or more, your poor guests may well be treated to a round of Kanarbik or something really inappropriate like Dindirin which speaks of a doomed love affair, so I would make haste if I were you.
That's all for tonight. Just to bring you up to date with the rubbish crisis, my bins have now been emptied and I smiled at the bin man this morning, half because the weather is beautiful and it is dificult not to smile under blue skies, and half due to the relief of finally being able to remove a pizza box from my kitchen that has be sitting rather forlornly on my side for a week as I was unable to squeeze anything else into the 'bucket', as the Scots would say.
Until next time
CSW
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