Message from Derek Harrison, Music Director
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
Message from Jane Turner, Chairman
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 have a word for it…
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
Stop Press
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.
Guide to the Chorus (continued)
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 singing.
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)
Hertford voices
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
Personnel
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.
Hire copy – the obliterated version
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
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)
Changing light
bulbs:
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.
Believe it or not
– you can read it:
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!
Anyone for golf?
‘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
Other Dates
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 door
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
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Newsletter Number 94 (Sept 2007)
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