HCS Newsletter Number 97 (2 September 2008)

The time has come, let us begin - with all our voices joining in
The young and old, the rich, the poor making sounds they never heard before.
Surely as the sun up above - singing brings a world of love.

Harmony by Norman Simon and Arthur Kaplan

I hope you have all had a really good summer break and are appropriately refreshed for another year of singing.
Very sadly during the summer Joe Johnson, a long time member and part rep of the basses, died. Many of us were able to share in the celebration of his life on 8 August. In a crowded church in Welwyn, over 50 members and friends of HCS formed a choir to sing Mozart’s Ave Verum. The occasion was a fitting tribute to the enormous affection in which Joe was held, and also, I thought a reflection of the strength of community that exemplifies our choir.

Among the tributes, I particularly liked the image of Joe off to work in the City with briefcase, umbrella and bowler and another of him pushing his grandchildren round and round in his wheelbarrow. As his daughter Louise observed, he was ‘an unassuming, intelligent, kind perfect gent.’ There are other memories and tributes to Joe on page 6 in this newsletter.

Although my election as chair of HCS was only a couple of months ago, already there has been much to do. Somewhat dauntingly, HCS has had a distinguished line of former holders of this office, the most recent having been Vic Knowles. At the 2007 AGM it was decided to restructure the way in which HCS is organised and managed. Essentially we separated strategic and operational processes. Looking back, something that could have been difficult and disruptive went remarkably smoothly and with considerable success. Having been chairman in the 1970s, Vic agreed to return for one year to see the changes through. On everyone’s behalf I would like to once again thank him for his tremendous work over the last 12 months.

At their first meeting in July the Trustees set three key targets for the coming year. The first of these is to recruit at least 10 new members from a relatively younger age bracket - perhaps under 50, but yet to be determined. The Trustees will be focusing on how we might achieve this target as their main agenda item at their September meeting. The intention is that a paper will follow to support part-rep meetings around early October. In the meantime your thoughts and suggestions would be most welcome.

I am sure many of you will have seen episodes of the TV programme, Maestro. As well as being good
entertainment, it demonstrated to me at least, just how difficult the business of conducting actually is. Last week they conducted some well-known choral works with the BBC Singers. Somewhat alarmingly, I thought, the fabulous BBC Concert Orchestra, with whom we will be performing in November, actually tried to follow the conductors. Let’s hope Derek isn’t watching the series or he really will start expecting us to do the same! Have a great season.

It is a while since we have given our normal four concerts in Hertford – what with excursions to Ely, St Albans and the Royal Albert Hall. However, we do have an extra special event when we shall be joining the BBC Concert Orchestra as the “choir for the night” when they give a traditional Christmas Concert in The Colosseum, Watford on 9 December. So that makes three concerts to perform this term!!

First of all, on 15 November, we have some lovely pieces by Purcell and Handel. The timing of the programme also allows us to have two instrumental pieces – the Chaconne by Purcell and a concerto by Handel. The opening piece will be by Purcell: Come ye sons of art. Tune all your voices and instruments to celebrate this triumphant day. It was an Ode written for the birthday of Queen Mary in 1694. The other choral piece by Purcell is also an Ode but for St Cecilia’s Day: Welcome to all the Pleasures. These are both “verse anthems” which means there are parts for soloists as well as choir. Our soloists will be Rebecca Outram, Timothy Travers-Brown (returning again), Jeremy Budd and Stuart Young. Jeremy is our “local boy”; maybe you heard his Proms solo début this year on 24 August. (He really will be singing in our concert!) The Handel piece is his Dettingen Te Deum first performed in 1743. It is named in recognition of the Battle of Dettingen, Bulgaria, where the British defeated the French. It was apparently the last time that a British monarch (George II) personally led his troops into battle. The orchestra will again be the delightful Hertfordshire Baroque Soloists. It all promises to be of a high quality and a happy occasion!

When Brian Kay phoned me earlier in the year to ask HCS to sing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, I was a little surprised but also very delighted. It is a great opportunity and should be very enjoyable.

Everybody should have received details of dates and pieces in the last few weeks. What I did not know at the time is that Brian is coming to take the rehearsal at Sele School on 25 November. Other information about this is elsewhere but we do need to establish very soon who will actually be singing on that concert night (Tuesday 9th December with an afternoon rehearsal at 4.00pm (probably) at The Colosseum). By the way, the BBC is paying us to do this and also paying for transport from Hertford to Watford.

We then return to join HSO for our Christmas concert in All Saints’ on Saturday, 13 December.

There has been much activity among the Trustees, Team Leaders, Part Reps and others over the summer in order to prepare for the new season. It is amazing that there is so much exposure of singing in the mainstream media nowadays (The Choir, Choir of the Year, Last Choir Standing) – not to mention the interest in conducting (Maestro)! But while I very much welcome this, my concern is that it is not the sort of singing that choirs like HCS do. So I am delighted that the Trustees are also looking further ahead to ensure that HCS is still around in many years time providing the opportunity for the next generations to enjoy the “big choir experience” that we all know is so fantastic.

I hope you enjoy all our activities this term!
Derek

Thank you sincerely for all of your organisation for what was a wonderful concert.
The soaring voices and sparkling brass were a super combination and the choice of the programme content was inspired. I heard very many favourable comments throughout the evening and believe that everyone who attended enjoyed the performances greatly. All of the Band members have asked me to express their gratitude for the opportunity to join with you and we all look forward very much indeed to a return visit.
Please will you pass on once more our thanks to Hilary for looking after us so splendidly and for the very excellent food which she and her helpers provided. We enjoyed it all immensely.
Thank you again for your invitation.
Best Regards
John

This year we shall revert to the notices being given out just before the interval by one of our four team leaders.

This requires some help from members submitting notices. Please ensure that they are placed in the ‘NOTICES’ box on the piano by 7.20pm. After this time any notice will be delayed until the following week. If you will not be at the rehearsal by this cut-off time, please send it by email (hertfordchoral@hotmail.com) by 5.45pm or telephone directly (01992 586252) by 6.00pm at the latest (preferably earlier for either of these methods!). In the past, members have sometimes submitted complex notices so late that it has been difficult to sort them out or has meant that the person giving out the notices cannot concentrate on his/her singing in the first half of the rehearsal.

The notices therefore need to be submitted in clear written form as they will be read verbatim and will be then displayed on the Notice Board in the interval. The following week they will be moved at the start of the interval to the Notices Reference file where they will be kept for perusal for a couple of weeks so members who have been away can see what they were.

Hilary

Lots of people in HCS (and outside the society) help in many different ways.
Here’s a short list of the main players.
Michael Berkeley President
Derek Harrison Music Director
Peter Jaekel Accompanist
Richard Hitch Vice President
Harold Baynes Vice President
Trustees elected at the AGM
Chairman Keith Hutt
Hon Secretary Christine Muskett
Hon Treasurer Ted Sharp
Also Alan Cropp, Jill Hall,
Carole Pomfret and Robert Sibson
* * * * * * *
Hilary Laidler - General and team co-ordinator
Trish Goldsmith - Membership Secretary and publicity
Jenny Lee - Music Sourcer
Morna Braybrook - Tickets tel 01992 583272
Sheila Mander - Tickets tel 01992 420114
Colin Howard - Front of house
Ken Edmonds - Concert and Staging
Part reps
S1 Jessie Hopkins
S2 Mary Cole
A1 Jenny Lee
A2 Sheila Mander
T Hugh Parry
B (acting) Alan Cropp

As announced at the AGM, the expected result for last year is a surplus of £3,838 in addition to which the Society has received two bequests totalling £1,500. Ticket sales were above expectation for each concert so it would be good to set ourselves the target of building further on that success.

An important contribution to the results came from self-help, which produced nearly £2,000. Whilst this involved effort from a number of members, the achievement seemed relatively painless, enjoyable even, and included spontaneous new ideas from each, almost each, of the voice parts. 2008/2009 is projected to be a slightly more expensive season of concerts. A similar amount of imagination, effort and generosity will be welcome this year as well.

The membership subscription for 2008/2009 covering rehearsals, the workshop, concerts and all the required music scores is to be held at the same level as last year, namely, £145 for members over 25 years of age. Membership is free for those under the age of 25.

Subscriptions are payable in one amount by the end of October. Those received by the end of September can be reduced by a discount of £5. Some members have in previous years waived the discount and made donations over and above the amount of the subscription, for which we are very grateful. As an alternative to payment in one amount, subscriptions can be paid in three instalments by post-dated cheques, the first of £50 dated 1 Oct 2008, the second of £50 dated 1 Jan 2009 and the third of £45 dated 1 April 2009.

Gift aid increases significantly the benefit of your subscription and donations to the society at no cost or inconvenience to you. If you or the person paying the subscription is a taxpayer, there will be provision on the membership subscription form to complete and sign the declaration.

Ticket prices for the coming season are to be the same as during last year namely £15 for the centre aisle seats and £9 for the side aisle seats, all to include a free programme. There will be four concerts in the year and season tickets covering all concerts are available for centre aisle seats at a total price of £54, a discount of 10%.

Ticket sales in the 2007/2008 season exceeded budget. In particular, sales for the summer concert were almost a sell-out. The coming season promises to be just as popular so, to avoid disappointing your friends and relatives, we suggest that you make good use of the season ticket offer. This guarantees you centre aisle seats for each concert. Season ticket forms will be available from Morna Braybrook.

Ted Sharp

Expenses for hired copies of printed music are included in the HCS subscription fee. All music must be returned directly after the end of each concert for the library team to return to the hire libraries. Every late copy means extra work for
the team, an inconvenience to the next borrowing choir, extra cost to HCS and a fine for the culprit..

Braughing Music Society
Tickets tel 01920 822167 or on door
Sat 27 September The Brodowski Quartet, one of the UK's most exciting string quartets.
To book your seat please call 01920 822167. Ticket prices are £10 prepaid premium, £8 standard prepaid, or £12 on the door
www.braughingmusicsociety.co.uk

Hertford Symphony Orchestra
Sat 8 November Messiaen Les offrandes oubliees
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 Emperor
Elgar Symphony No 1
7.45pm Castle Hall, Hertford
Tickets Castle Hall Box Office tel 01992 531500
Sat 13 Dec 7.30pm Christmas concert with HCS

Hertford Music Club
3.00pm at Friends’ Meeting House, Railway Str.
Sun 19 October Brodowski Quartet - Haydn, Wolf, Tchaikovsky
Sun 16 November David Massey - Guitar
Tickets on door £7 (or £28 for 6 concerts – a bargain)
www.hertfordmusicclub.co.uk

Hertford & District Churches Together
Sat 18 October 'Sing Gospel'- a workshop and concert at the United Reform Church, Cowbridge, Hertford Scott Stroman (Guildhall School of Music),
Eclectic Voices (London), L.D. Frazier (New York)
Workshop for ‘Sing Gospel’ (on the day)
10:30am start with refreshments
Sessions: 11am - 1pm and 2:15 - 4:30pm
Cost: £10 adults, £8 under 18s
Concert 7 - 9pm Tickets £8 adults, £6 under 18s
Reservations: singgospel@gmail.com or 01992 304606

QC chamber choir
Sat 25 October 7:30pm - All Saints’ Hertford – QC Choir with organ, Bach, Dvorak et al
Sat 6 December 7:30pm - St Joseph’s Hertford - Christmas fare. Tickets on door

Hoddesdon Music Club
7.30pm at The United Reformed Church, Mill Lane, Broxbourne
Sat 20 September
Sasha Grynyuk piano recital
Schubert, Chopin, Debussy
Sat 1 November
Solstice String Quartet – Haydn, Bartok, Beethoven
Sat 29 November
The City Waites Welcome my Lord Sire Christesmas. The Waites sing, play and jest their way through early music (incl carols and wassailing songs) on fiddle, lute, cittern, crumhorn, rebecs, recorders etc
Tickets from Felicity Foster tel 01992 462528

Soundbites at All Saints’ Church
A lunch date with a difference, admission free, donations welcome. Lunch 12.15pm – 1.00pm.
Concert 1.00pm
Wed 10 September Neil Crossland playing Beethoven sonatas. Neil has won major prizes for piano and composition.
Wed 17 September Jessie Richardson - cello
John Ekins – piano - Beethoven and Shostakovich
Wed 24 September Artistes and programme tba
And every Wednesday until Advent

Ware Choral Society Christmas Concert
Sat 6 December 7.30pm Ware Drill Hall
Tickets £12 (incl drink and mince pie) on door

Our publicity team regularly sends information about our concerts to churches in and around Hertford. A short article is sent by email for the parish newsletter or notice sheet and we rely on our members to take posters and fliers too. We would like to improve on this means of communication and we’re aware that we have many church members singing with us. If you are one of them, we would like your help please. We are looking for one person from each church to be our official link, as hopefully they will know who currently deals with displaying posters and who produces the newsletter or notice sheet.

Is this something you could do for HCS? If so please speak to Elizabeth Sibson (S2) 01279 723305 or Trish Goldsmith (S2) 01992 589730.

We have accepted the opportunity to perform a Christmas concert with the BBC Concert Orchestra in Watford. This is certainly “a feather in our cap” and naturally we all want to make sure we do a good job. That will make it more enjoyable and, who knows, might lead to other exciting things! Brian Kay, who is conducting, is very aware of the pressures on choirs at this time of the year so every effort will be made to align this concert with the Hertford concert the following Saturday (13th).

SEE elsewhere on website for details: Members Area / Activity Details

Joe’s wife Audrey (of 54 years) spoke to family and friends (including about 50 members and friends of HCS) at Joe’s funeral. The following is taken (with a few additions) from Audrey’s notes and from the notes of their son, Robert.

Joe was the eldest of five siblings, the son of parents of high moral values. He knew from early days, living in Romford, that integrity, honesty and kindness to others was very important. He went to The Royal Liberty School (all boys) where he made friends, some of whom remaining friends for life. The school had an icy-cold, algae-covered pool but Joe became the school’s best breast-stroke swimmer, representing Essex at the Southern Counties Championship. Aged 13 years with pigtails, Audrey met Joe at Romford Town Swimming Club. He was 15 years old with blonde hair to rival Boris!

Joe enrolled for National Service and was posted to Germany where he played water polo for his regiment. He returned with a working knowledge of German and a desire to see more of Europe. He took a ‘gap’ year (before the word had been invented), after briefly working in a factory, to travel around Europe, returning to a position with Societe Generale, a leading French bank in the City, where he stayed for about 35 years, most of them as personnel manager. He was often in Paris on business and became fluent in French. Languages were his forte; he achieved an A grade in A level Italian when he was 70 years old. It was his regret that he had never had the opportunity to go to university when he was clearly a very bright and talented young man.

By 1954, Joe and Audrey had saved all of £200 to enable them to marry and set up home. They had two children, Louise and Robert and there are four grandchildren – Joe’s pride and joy. Robert remembered Joe’s effortless lengths of the swimming pool from his position of sitting on his Dad’s shoulders! When Joe retired he followed his abiding interests, top of the list being music, to which he listened every day. Tavener’s The Lamb, Mozart’s Ave verum (sung by HCS members) and Vivaldi’s Gloria was some of the music played at Joe’s funeral in St Mary’s Church, Welwyn. He learnt to sail, even taking his navigation exams although at the time he had been no further than Stanborough Lakes at Welwyn Garden City! He eventually passed his yacht master exams and with his friend, John, explored the French and English coasts.

Joe was modest, even reticent, a listener rather than a talker but he laughed readily and had a dry wit.
Unmaterialistic, Joe was still driving an old banger that he had bought for £200 18 years ago! Joe was the HCS bass rep for many years.

Poem by Louise (Joe’s daughter) This gentleman was once a city gent With briefcase, umbrella and bowler he went. Early retirement one day came his way Oh, how wonderful to fill his day With singing and sailing and Italian too Time for the family and friends anew. To be a grandfather, oh so proud Grandchildren in his wheelbarrow round and round School plays to enjoy and achievements celebrated Family days out - such pleasure created. His delight in travel, a cruise more than once Over to France at any chance Classical music to listen to, his garden to potter Choral society commitment never to falter. Most important of all his love for his wife Children as well, who were his life Remembered with affection by all he met This unassuming, intelligent, kind perfect gent

Louise Huxtable

Joe at HCS garden party in 2005

The life of one we lost is never lost
Its influence goes on through all the lives
it ever touched.

Helen Steiner Rice

I didn’t know that I was going to learn so much this year about Sir Reginald Blomfield, one of the three leading British architects of the War Graves Commission. The other two were Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. All three were recommended by the Director of the British Museum, Sir Frederick Kenyon after WW1. Knowing little of all this, nevertheless I was truly moved and privileged to be waiting to sing with Hertford Voices at the ‘Last Post’ ceremony (held every evening at 8pm since 1928) at the Menin Gate, Ypres, in March this year. Blomfield’s great arch over the main road, fromYpres to Menin, holds 55,000 names of the missing dead of WW1. Six more memorials were built in Belgium to accommodate the others. Then, when the Voices were singing with the Laudate Choir from Wildeshausen in May, in Haileybury Chapel, I noticed, at the top of one of the memorial panels that are all around the walls:-
‘In memory of Sir Reginald Blomfield
Litt.D., R.A., F.S.A., Edmonstone 1869 – 75
President O.H. Society. Died December 1942’

At Haileybury, Blomfield won a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, where he read literature and humanities before beginning a career in architecture.

The Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Blomfield, was one of the enduring symbols of the War Cemeteries. The first cross was erected at the main entrance into Haileybury. Probably the most iconic war memorial is Lutyens’ Cenotaph in Whitehall where the Service of Remembrance is held every year. Blomfield’s other work for Haileybury was the Cricket Pavilion, various service buildings and Bradby Hall. His other designs include the Victoria Embankment, Lambeth Bridge, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, and memorials in Leeds, Torquay and Luton.
On Sunday 1 June (Hertford’s Fun Day), this year, I was the guide on an old green bus, which was taking people around the town, where I described buildings, places and people of interest. On checking my facts beforehand, I read that Blomfield designed Hertford Library & Art School, built 1888 – 90, at Old Cross!
Blomfield was knighted in 1919. He built two houses in Hampstead, living in one of them with his wife and two sons and

A daughter. He was once described as ‘A big man of huge energy,
sincerity, downrightness, pugnacity and scholarship; he thoroughly enjoyed the controversies he met in his career’ (i.e. he liked a good argument!). There is a Blomfield Society.

Sheila Pettman

“Every little helps” ‘tis said”
As all of you will know
Especially for HCS
This is most surely so

At break-times on a Tuesday eve
When all our throats are dry
Please spare a thought and join the queue
Do come along and buy

Only the best is good enough
For singers such as we
Biscuits of the highest class
And squash instead of tea

Trips to Waitrose, Tesco too
A good choice is my aim
Each week a different make is bought
So I won’t get the blame

Jan, the tenor football fan,
Enjoys his ginger nuts
I try to keep a good supply
So that he never tuts

Our Peter is a hungry lad
We need to keep well fed
Blackcurrant is his favourite drink
So no expense is spar-ed

Derek too needs sustenance
And extra squash with wat(t)er (sorry!)
This helps to keep him in the mood
To deal with those who chatter

Ted Sharp the man in charge of cash
Tells us how much is made
So far this year - three hundred plus
From our refreshing trade

The money that we raise each year
Builds up our funds you know
Dig deep on Tuesday evenings
To help them grow and grow

Joyce Clarke

Dear All, June 08

I was taken completely by surprise when I received your card, full of so many kind thoughts and good wishes, and my favourite gift; browsing bookshops with a book token in the hand is definitely one of life’s pleasures for me!

Come next term I know I will miss the choir, but I look forward to the treat of being able to enjoy the balanced performance at the concerts. Very many thanks and kind regards.

David Marshall (tenor 1 retired!)

Eleven members of the HCS Golf Division met at Essendon Golf Club on 17 July. A great time was had by all and winner was Jeremy Taylor. An autumn outing is suggested, same venue, possibly for 2 Oct. Any HCS member (or other half) who might be interested but who is not yet on the golf list, please contact me. As with singing, a modest aptitude is an advantage but many of us seem to get along well without a superabundance of it.

Alan Cropp B2

That time o’year
It’s Simmer, Autumn’s blawin in
Wi fog, mair frost an bitin win,
Leaves aw fain fae the trees
Din doon by damp destructive breeze,
An aw across the darknin sky
The pinkfoot’s unmelodic cry
An whoopers’ wings beat fae the north.
Dae they, lik me, think ‘Is it worth
The time an effort keeping oan
This pointless road that’s too shin gone?’
It’s Autumn, Winter’s nearly here,
It’s wance again that time o year
When jakedaws, throstles, blackies aw
Tak shelter fae the icy blaw,
Eke oot a livin scrimpin scraps
A human, kind or careless, draps,
Or, shiv’rin fur the want o beild,
Seek life in stervin stubble field.
Dae they, lik me, feel bleak an drear?
A ken, it’s jist that time o year.

Leslie Hunter

Gladys I’m really sorry you’re leaving HCS.
Di Not true – are you trying to tell me something?
Gladys But you were given a lovely bunch of flowers at the AGM
Di Not me – that was Diana, the red-haired nightingale, otherwise known as Rapunzel; tireless worker for HCS – mostly behind the scenes – concert programme writer and general stalwart since time immemorial.
Gladys Gosh – so who will replace her; who can replace her?
Di Are you offering?
Gladys What me?
* * * * * *
Bright young thing Why doesn’t HCS enter the competition for Last Choir Standing?
Di Stand! Are you mad? Isn’t there a competition for last choir sitting?
BYT Oh – come on – you must have seen it on TV. The songs are all choreographied
Di You mean they move about?
BYT It’s called ‘dancing’
Di But how could you hold your music and dance at the same time?
BYT They don’t have any music
Di collapses in a heap
BYT ANYONE GOT ANY SMELLING SALTS?

>> HCS Newsletter Number 96 (April 2007)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 95 (January 2007)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 94 (September 2007)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 93 (April 2007)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 92 (December 2006)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 91 (September 2006)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 90 (April 2006)

>> HCS Newsletter Number 89 (January 2006)