sing a song
I have just spent a weekend at Minsteracres, a monastery set in beautiful woodlands (avenues of giant seqouia trees) close to Hexham, Northumberland. (Hexhamshire, technically, for those who care..) It was a residential weekend with a local choir I have tenous connections with. We sung and sung. Gospels, barbershop, plainsong etc etc.
The days were broken up by sectionals with professional choir trainers based at the SAGE (Newcastle's new music hall, have I mentioned it??) and I enjoyed their input, enthusiasm and great voices. Last night we sat around with wine, nibbles, guitars and an accordian in addition to our songbooks. We were treated to "acts" from amongst the more confident members of the group, including some excellent renditions of Geordie folksongs. We were all hoarse by bedtime.
The weekend included a song writing workshop where some creative spirits produced some inspired songs, and stretched the already wide variety of music a little further by including punk music about August sausages (?). As always I enjoyed making music with enthusastic others. The choir is open to all regardless of ability but the frustrations of the ensemble perpetually slowing down and the intonation going flat were counterbalanced by the sheer fun of it all.
I increasingly enjoy singing, and hope to seek out a way of joining this merry band on a more regular basis. My Brahm's Requiem in German continues to challenge me, but for sheer enjoyment, this weekend cannot be beaten.
The days were broken up by sectionals with professional choir trainers based at the SAGE (Newcastle's new music hall, have I mentioned it??) and I enjoyed their input, enthusiasm and great voices. Last night we sat around with wine, nibbles, guitars and an accordian in addition to our songbooks. We were treated to "acts" from amongst the more confident members of the group, including some excellent renditions of Geordie folksongs. We were all hoarse by bedtime.
The weekend included a song writing workshop where some creative spirits produced some inspired songs, and stretched the already wide variety of music a little further by including punk music about August sausages (?). As always I enjoyed making music with enthusastic others. The choir is open to all regardless of ability but the frustrations of the ensemble perpetually slowing down and the intonation going flat were counterbalanced by the sheer fun of it all.
I increasingly enjoy singing, and hope to seek out a way of joining this merry band on a more regular basis. My Brahm's Requiem in German continues to challenge me, but for sheer enjoyment, this weekend cannot be beaten.