HCS Newsletter Number 92 (December 2006)

Welcome to 2007 with HCS! Since the last newsletter we have performed two concerts. The M&M concert was most enjoyable. I hope you remember Psalm 95 with pleasure. It was unmistakable Mendelssohn even if not his greatest piece – and the saga of the last movement all worked out well in the end. My inclination in anniversary years is to avoid them (on the basis that everybody else is doing it and audiences may like to revisit that composer at a later time) but unquestionably Mozart is a special case – and I think we gave our audience a special performance with the help of excellent soloists and orchestra.

It was great to entertain such a large audience for the Christmas concert. The choir’s solo pieces went well and so nice that they were all by living composers! In We wish you, Howard Burrell said that “the choir rose to it exceptionally” and that overall it was “absolutely splendid”. I was certainly impressed with how you got to grips with it so well and quickly

Now we look forward to a feast of Baroque music. In particular, I am interested in Handel’s Laudate pueri dominum : it looks a lot of fun, especially for the soprano soloists, and I haven’t done it before! Bach’s Cantata 191 you might remember from 1987?! Unusually for a cantata, the text is in Latin. You will no doubt recognise the title Gloria in excelsis and may remember singing that in Bach’s B Minor Mass. It will therefore not be such a surprise that the three movements are actually taken from the Gloria of the B minor (with the words changed in the second and third). The Magnificat is indeed the famous one and Cantata 156 is predominantly for the alto, tenor and bass soloists with just a little bit for sopranos and a chorale at the end – as is so often the case in the cantatas.

So more lovely music to come – and a workshop focusing on Bach and Handel in February. I hope you enjoy it all!

Derek

I wish you all a very happy new year. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break and feel rested and refreshed for another term of singing. As you know, I am always appreciative of those members who pass on their comments on concerts or other matters especially when they are written down or emailed to me (rjaneturner20@hotmail.com). The next meeting for the joint HSO & HCS committee is 29 January, when we will review the Christmas concert and begin planning for the next one. To help us plan, we need to know what you thought about the concert and, indeed, what your friends in the audience felt about the whole concert experience. I would like to thank everyone from HCS & HSO who was involved in the planning of the concert, preparing and decorating the church, the party planners and all those who helped to put up and take down the staging.
Our second open rehearsal of the season will be on Tuesday, 23 Jan. This rehearsal is open to both singers and listeners. My introduction to the choir was by way of a personal invitation by a choir member. Who will you invite to come to the rehearsal? Please let Trish or me know of people who would like to attend.
Just before the end of last term, Miriam Nendick resigned from the committee for personal reasons. The committee and I would like to express our thanks to her for her contribution since last July.

Jane Turner

The French may not (according to George Bush) have a word for entrepreneur, but even he would know that baton (from the French baton de mesure) is the thin, tapering stick used by a conductor to give silent signals to an ensemble of musicians. Confusingly, the French word for a conductor’s baton is baguette!.. Even more confusingly, both un baton and une baguette are also types of French bread.

With acknowledgements to Classic fM magazine

Felicity Sandell (sop 2 tel 01763 272111) would like sponsors for her Vietnam Trek in March in aid of Mencap. Please support her in this worthwhile cause.

Tenors are spoiled. That’s all there is to it. For one thing, there are never enough of them. Choir directors would rather sell their souls than let a halfway decent tenor quit, while they are always ready to unload a few altos at half price. Tenors , being like gold dust, think they are the bees’ knees and imagine that they are God’s gift to women – especially sopranos. The one thing that can make tenors insecure is the accusation by macho basses that anyone singing that high couldn’t possibly be a real man. Tenors complain that the composer, of any piece they are singing, is a sadist for making them sing so high. Tenors have a love-hate relationship with the conductor because he or she is always telling them to sing louder because there are so few of them. No conductor in recorded history has ever asked for less tenor in a forte or even a mezzo-forte passage. Tenors feel threatened by the basses because, although they can’t sing any note higher than E, they sing it loud enough to drown out the tenors. It is a little-known fact that tenors move their eyebrows more than anyone else while singin

Basses sing the lowest of anybody. They are stolid, dependable people and have more facial hair than anyone else. Basses feel perpetually unappreciated but have a deep conviction that they are the most important voice part, despite the fact that they have the most boring part and often sing the same note for an entire page. They compensate for this by singing as loudly as they can get away with – and in their own time. Most basses are tuba players at heart. They complain about very low notes and make horrible faces trying to reach them. Basses like altos, except when they have duets and the altos get the good part. As for sopranos, they are in an alternative universe which the basses don’t understand. They can’t imagine why anyone would want to sing that high and sound that bad when they make mistakes. When a bass makes a mistake, the other three parts will cover him, knowing that sometime, somehow, he will end up at the root of the chord...

Author unknown

Who’d be a bass?
Oh, who’d be a bass in the Bury Bach Choir
To face every week the conductor’s ire?
The ladies, God bless’em, are always on song
And the tenors just never do anything wrong.
But if you’re a bass, sitting up at the back,
You feel the full force of the conductor’s flack
And if we sing louder – and possibly higher
‘You sound like a second-rate Anglican choir’
We’re not Monteverdi, still less The Sixteen
And those who read this will know what I mean
But oh! for a word on a Wednesday night
To say that the basses have got something right.

(No – of course this doesn’t apply to HCS – ed)

If you are new to Hertford, or to HCS, you may not be aware that Hertford is twinned with two small European towns - Evron, near Le Mans, in France, and Wildeshausen, near Bremen, in Germany. Members of Hertford Choral Society have sung in both towns and their choirs have visited Hertford. The friendship with the Kantorei and Gospel choirs in Wildeshausen has been particularly active over the years, but for various domestic and logistical reasons, it has never been possible for all 150 members of HCS to tour together.

In order to continue this musical friendship, 'Hertford Voices' was formed in 2004, open to all singers from the local community - HCS, churches, operatic societies, and other choirs. The choir was 'launched' at the Twinning Celebrations in the grounds of Hertford Castle in June 2004, followed by a visit to Wildeshausen in October of the same year, both conducted by Derek Harrison.

The aim is to share the pleasure of travelling elsewhere, possibly abroad, to sing. Singers sign up for a particular tour or visit, and meet for a minimum of six rehearsals to sing part songs, anthems, motets, madrigals, spirituals etc. Rehearsals take place in Hertford on Saturday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm for a few weeks prior to each tour or concert.

The Kantorei is coming to Hertford from 17th - 20 May this year, to sing a combined concert with Hertford Voices in All Saints’ Church on Sat 19 May. If you would like to join us for this event, and hopefully for future tours too, please contact Harold Chaplin (01992 304606) or Trish Goldsmith (01992 589730) for more details. Rehearsals begin in March, and in common with most choirs, we particularly need more tenors and basses! If you know of other singers, who may be unable to give weekly commitment throughout the year to a choir, do let them know about Hertford Voices. We shall also need hosts for our German guests (most of whom speak excellent English) so please keep the weekend free if possible, so that we can be sure of giving them a warm Hertford welcome!

Trish Goldsmith

Part of a letter from Maisie Ditton, who has been a member of the choir for over 60 years. She is recovering from the effects of a stroke. The letter, addressed to the choir, was received last term.

May I thank you for the lovely card you sent me. I have read of all your activities over the last 18 months or so and how I wish I could have been with you! I had been warned by the ‘medics’ that, because my brain had not been affected, a period of comparative well-being would be followed by a much slower recovery period.

I am astounded to learn that our much loved director is approaching his 60th birthday. I really thought of him as being about 55! We are so lucky to have him.

I cannot play the piano at present as only one hand is ‘in action’. I was lucky to spend some time in my childhood with an aunt who taught me to play the piano. I can honestly say that (aged about 4) I learned my E G B D F and A C E G before my ABC. I eventually got up to grade 8, just for the love of it. I am always glad to hear the piano played as well as Peter does.

Thank you for your kind wishes to me.

Maisie

Part of a letter from Lynda Brown, who left HCS when she and Roger retired and moved to Wales last year.

Thank you for the garden vouchers and the lovely red rose bush which has flowered beautifully and which has survived the journey to Wales. We will save the garden vouchers until building work (400 tonnes of earth and rock removed for the foundations of the extention!) is complete. Then I will look for something special to remind me of my twenty five years of singing with HCS. Thank you too to the second sopranos (the backbone of the choir!!) for the lovely card. Sorry I did not say ‘goodbye’ but I felt too emotional and did not open the card until I got home.

Keep up the wonderful singing. HCS is a choir to be proud of.
Lynda and Roger went to New Zealand over Christmas to visit daughter Vicky, married to Warren (a New Zealander), and new baby, Cameron.

And this from some sad, pagan soul who prefers to remain anonymous..

For someone who does not believe in miracles – I lie – the whole of creation is a miracle – I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in churches, especially at Christmas, singing about virgins’ wombs (OK – a virgin’s womb) and angels. I sang my way thro’ 3 carol concerts in various degrees of tension. ‘Our’ concert sees me in a state of nerves, since our beloved leader expects high standards with attention to detail and THE BEAT. The other 2 concerts are very ‘relaxed’ affairs although not for the long-suffering organist/director who forever worries if we’re ever going to come in at the correct place or at all! The other worry was the capricious organ that finally stopped working when the kettle went on for tea and shared party fare between rehearsal & concert. This is probably the highlight of the season for me (sad soul that I am). So – where was I on Christmas Day? Having a picnic (mulled wine, smoked salmon sarnies, mince pies, crackers, party hats) with like-minded people on Ivinghoe Beacon.

This copy, from the library,
is difficult to read.
The printing's clear, but someone else
has felt an urgent need
to use their pencil - liberally -
I'm feeling rather vexed;
there's so much scribbling round the notes
I just can't find the text!

The fortés have been underlined;
the rests are all crossed out;
while every beat of every bar
is writ, in BOLD throughout!
With arrows, circles, crossings out,
it's really most confusing.
The battle to decipher it
is one I fear I'm losing!

I wonder who last sang from this
poor mutilated sheet;
and did they, as instructed here,
'Always watch the beat'?
Commands like Faster! Louder! SHOUT!!
are sprinkled everywhere……
hence, when this work was last performed
I'm glad I wasn't there!

Trish Goldsmith

(Auntie Di advises that whilst all singers should use their pencils (3B for preference) as instructed by Derek, extra information such as rehearsal times, shopping lists and amorous messages should be removed before copies are returned. The next borrower may learn more about you than you would want him/her to know…..)

O western wind, when wilt thou blow,
That the small rain down can rain?
Christ, that my love were in my arms
And I in my bed again

June Crew (junecrew@brox1.demon.co.uk)

How many sopranos does it take to change a light bulb?
One, while the rest of the world just revolves around her.

How many altos does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to change the bulb, and four to stand beside her complaining, "It's too high, it's too high!"

How many tenors does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to change the bulb, and four to say they could have done it much better.

How many basses does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They don't respond well to any kind of change.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phnoneaeml pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rhasreeecr at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy – it deosn’t mttaer in waht odrer the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sltil raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the haumn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas thohgut sllpeing was ipmorantt!

‘A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf during the summer with our worthy treasurer, Ted Sharp, and HCS indispensable, Tom Laidler. We had such a pleasant outing that we decided on a repeat performance in the summer of last year.

We were joined this time by Ken Edmonds and were thus able to have a match between two tenors and two basses. The outcome of the match is hardly worth mentioning since the very taking part is the essence of the English sporting spirit.

Over lunch and a pint after the match, it was suggested that this most agreeable fixture should be repeated this summer and could be extended to include other HCS members who play golf. We know there are some, including, of course, lady members. So, if there is any interest, please make it known to me. The tenors came second, by the way.’

Alan Cropp

QC Chamber Choir
Sat 10 Feb 7.30pm
Hoddesdon Methodist Church
Popular anthems. Tickets on door
Sat 3 March 7.30pm All Saints, Hertford
Featuring Durufle Requiem with Andrew Parnell on organ. Tickets on doo

Braughing Music Society
Sat 24 March 7.30pm
St Mary’s, Braughing
John Benson Allstar Jazzband
Tickets £8, £10 reserved tel 01920 822167 or on door
www.braughingmusicsociety.co.uk

Harlow Chorus
Sat 10 March 7.30pm
All Saints, Hockerill, Bishop’s Stortford
Durufle: Requiem, Will Todd: Angel Song II,
Lauridsen: Lux aeterna
Tickets: tel 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk

Hertford Music Club
Sun 11 Feb (Tickets on door)

Sara Jane Bradley (viola)
Jonathan Ayerst (piano) Brahms & Schumann
Sun 11 March (Tickets on door)
Alison Stephens (mandolin)
All concerts at 3.00pm at The Friends Meeting House, Railway Street, Hertford.

Haileybury
Thurs 29 March 7.30pm In chapel
Orff: Carmina Burana

Hoddesdon Music Club
Sat 24 Feb 7.30pm
URC, Mill Lane, Broxbourne
Warren Mailley-Smith – piano
Mozart, Schubert, Rachmaninov et al
Tickets on door

Soundbites at All Saints Church
A lunch date with a difference, admission free, donations welcome. Lunch (soup, sandwiches, cake, drinks) 12.15pm - 1.00pm. Concert 1pm
Wed 7 Feb
Gordon Pullin - tenor, John Cooper - piano Barbara Manning - piano solo
Wed 14 Feb
‘Anything Goes’ String Quartet

Sat 3 March 7.30pm St Nicholas Church, Great Munden
Spiritus returns with another magical evening of vocal music.
Tickets Hertford Tourist Office tel 01992 584322

>> HCS Newsletter Number 91 (September 2006)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 90 (April 2006)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 89 (January 2006)