Yes, we are small and so, to be frank, was the number of people who leapt to their feet (actually, they were non-existent – the action generally was decidedly less energetic than that though much appreciated all the same) after our triumphant return to the stage at St Giles Cathedral on Sunday. But a standing ovation is a standing ovation and it was all very thrilling, let me tell you. And also, I feel, well deserved. It was a damn fine concert, dontcha know and we was well proud!!
A long rehearsal starting at 2 o’clock paid rich dividends. Amazingly enough we all maintained enough energy and voice to delight the crowds (and, yes, there were crowds, even at the rehearsal) in spite of all the work we had put in earlier in the day. The girlies got thoroughly to grips with the Abbie Betinis song that had had us pulling our hair out at previous practises and so we were able to perform it and to give our Jenny the chance to terrify the audience with her opening holler (very tuneful but quite extraordinarily loud, as I think I have said before) as the first item on a pretty marvellous programme. Recently we have got into the habit of singing Bogoroditse Djevo as an opener but we threw that aside this time and got all female and Eastern and wail-y instead and it was great. I think we are likely to repeat it. Often. (And just to put your minds at rest; however tempted, I didn’t pull faces to get attention even though, as predicted, I didn’t get to sing a solo (or a duet for that matter. I know my place!)
Three of our pieces this time were accompanied. Yes, three. Can you imagine? You might find that shocking if you know us as an a cappella choir but it’s nice to have a change from time to time and we have allowed other musicians to join us before and it is rather good fun as well as having the most unusual and gratifying effect of keeping us in tune. The first song was accompanied by a viola (lovely) and a tambourine - well, a Riq; it looks like a tambourine but let me tell you if you think tambourine-jingly-jangly-shaky-clinky then you’ve never heard this in the hands of Hilary, famed belly-dancer and owner of Hilary’s Bazaar on the High Street. You can get an unbelievable number of sounds from this if you know how – and she does. Woo-hoo!
We also sang the beautiful Five Hebrew Love Songs – thank you Mr Whitacre – for which there must be a piano (played by our multi-talented Anne who has always given up her right to sing these lovely things with us in order to play piano instead) and a violin, played by a friend of Sebastian whose name, shamefully, I don’t know – but she played gorgeously and with very little practise too, so huge thanks in great awe is hereby extended by yours truly. (And everyone else, no doubt, and they probably know your name [it's Charlotte]).
Our final piece, the glorious Cloudburst - Mr W again, how clever is he? - requires all sorts and conditions of instrumental activity ranging from the singers through piano (not Anne this time), hand bells, cymbals, little chime-y thingummyjigs [aka windchimes], a thunder sheet and a very, very big drum not to mention finger-snapping, hand-clapping, leg-slapping shenanigans from the members of the choir. Anna Lauren actually managed to bruise her legs she was slapping them so hard in rehearsal... I only hope she managed to restrain herself somewhat in performance or her husband will get peculiar ideas about Rudsambee and may make her give us up which would be nothing short of a disaster.
Anna Lauren, we need you!
Especially as this was Helen’s last concert with Rudsambee. She is leaving to head for the bright lights and the hustle bustle and the dirt and the noise and the crowded streets of London Town. We didn’t manage to catch hold of her to sing the Irish Blessing at her. She says she is coming to rehearsal on Wednesday so that we can say goodbye then but I have my doubts... she may have escaped unserenaded, in which case she’ll be the first person ever to have achieved such a thing. Speaking of which, we waved farewell to (and sang at) Angus last week. He’s off back to Oz with the family and we shall miss him.
So to the second part of tonight’s story: The Return of the Diva. Yes, Claire1 was back with us again on Sunday and this time she joined us in song. Marvellous. Given a half-hour or so to learn the Abbie Betinis that we had been struggling with for weeks she was able to sing that and the Hebrew Love Songs and Cloudburst with us at the concert and also the necessary encore (at last a chance to sing Bog Off (by which I mean Bogoroditse Djevo, of course)) because she knew all those from her former days as a member – or should I say THE member of Rudsambee (sorry Diva!). It was lovely to have her back even if for a very brief appearance but very confusing to be one of two Claires again having got used to being the-one-and-only – a condition much more suited to my disposition, as I’m sure you realise.
So – that’s about it, folks. I didn’t write last week as I was off down south for a long weekend and this week I’m off to Germany for the same (oh! the life of a jet-setter) so you may well have to wait for a report on Wednesday’s fun and games until next Monday or later. Maybe Jenny will oblige if any really exciting news needs to be imparted for I may well have forgotten everything well before I get back from Munich. Usually I’m hard-pressed to remember anything by Thursday morning.
Thank you to anyone who came to the concert – especially if you were one of the stander-uppers.
Catch you later.
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