"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