So we begin with Wednesday and the final major rehearsal before the Falkland concert. We all turned up at Priestfield (our normal pre-concert venue) to test out the music avec acoustics. Maestro Boy led a warm-up that seemed to be entirely based on the blogstress' first postgraduate lecture, conducted (successfully I might add...at least no one threw any rancid foodstuffs nor did they walk out huffing so I therefore conclude that it was of relative success) that very day. We moved on to have a run through of as many pieces as we could cope with. In Harry Hill style, my 'Musical Highlight of the Week' was our vain attempt to sing blinkin' 'Margot' with quartets. Surely the most hilarious musical performance since the Peter Kay/Geraldine escapade (currently reading the aforementioned Bolton comic's second autobiography which I would heartily recommend but do avoid reading it on the bus as I actually laughed aloud much to my embarrassment. Incidentally the lady next to me on the 26 had a dog that kept reading over my shoulder - he wasn't a person sized dog, he was sitting on her knee. He managed to contain his amusement though, at least he didn't guffaw or anything which made me conclude that either a) dogs don't like Peter Kay or b) dogs actually can't read. Either conclusion is a shocking indictment on our current dog education system methinks...and on that note I should surely get out of parenthesis and back to the post).
Well, suffice to say that Maestro Boy (after saying 'ah that was lovely' or something equally insincere) decided that we should sing tutti except for verse 1 because the folks singing that are big swots and had cracked it [and of course we've sung it the most while learning the piece]. After bashing through the rest of the music (including 'If You Love Me' which I sight-read...or at least it felt like that) we were ready for Saturday.
On Thursday night the small group met to have a run through of 'Miserere' which is finally coming together (we've only been working on it for like 3 and a half years). We can now do it without panicking which is progress indeed. I got to meet Helen's snake which was very sweet and hiding in a pot.
And so on to Saturday and a trip to Falkland which turns out to be a beautiful wee village in the Fife countryside. There is even a palace where Mary Queen of Scots stayed (incidentally is there anywhere in Scotland where Mary hasn't stayed? Every time I go to any house bigger than my flat some intelligent looking guide with a name badge informs me that good ol' Mary stayed there. She must have got about a bit ol' Mary). Had a wee pre-gig rehearsal in Falkland Parish Church where we realised that though Maestro Boy thought we were singing 'In the Springtime of the Year' and the printed programme thought we were singing 'In the Springtime of the Year', the rest of the choir were unaware of this and had largely neglected to bring the music. Good job we realised this before the performance as it could have been a little scary otherwise.
So, we had a great concert all in. Some slightly terrifying moments which I won't share with the blog fans as they are under the impression that Rudsambee always gets every note right. Oh if only you knew! Overall though we had a great time - lovely venue, lovely people, lovely homebaking. I know at least one Rudsambeelet who well remain nameless (alright it was Arno but don't tell him I told you) who tried nearly every cake available and still managed a nibble back at Chez Mummy Elaine who put on a spread for us. Thanks to the fab people of Falkland who came out to support us.
So next week we are on to Christmas music in earnest. All bells and holly for the next ten weeks or so. Man I love it.
See you then
CSW
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