Newsletter 18^th July 2010  -  including outcomes from committee meeting 13^th July 2010

Hello fellow members,

Welcome to the second half of the year.

• Firstly, a HUGE thank you to Ian for teaching and conducting for the first half of the year and keeping the choir going whilst Mary was absent. And to Mary, welcome back !

Current news:     Membership.

• We are a very small group at the moment. Definitely not enough to warrant putting on a performance. Two altos, two tenors and fluctuating numbers of basses and sopranos are not enough to carry a performance.

• Our performance, if we can get the choir numbers, is likely to be on a Sunday mid to late  November, probably 14^th and 21^st also depending on venue availability.

• Would all members who intend to attend / return to choir for the second half of the year, please let me (or Ian or Mary) know ASAP…. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  text or call 0427 740843, phone 5166 1924, or by post (address above)
  There are approx 15 to 17 rehearsals before the proposed performance – depending on school holiday breaks or not.  An 80% attendance rate is 12 to 14 sessions. Can you and will you commit to that ? That is obviously excluding illness or work  commitments - we won’t be taking attendance – just a nice thought.
  

• We will need to have a serious membership drive, but meanwhile tell everyone you know that likes to sing (and is in tune ), to come along. Ability to read music is not essential, but a valuable asset nonetheless.

Performance news:

• Our performance needs to be worth doing.  As such, your committee will be seeking expressions of interest from ‘drawcard’ performers once we decide whether we have enough choir members to put on a viable performance. We hope to perform the works we have already learned, a smaller complete work (see below in second half year work), perhaps one or two Christmas themed pieces and/or pieces that we have already learned and present a guest artist or two.

Current work:

• We have learned 7 new pieces in the first half of the year. There are performance CDs, rehearsal CDs and the music available, for new/returning members to take and learn. We will be revisiting these from time to time as well, so don’t let that stop you coming.

  • Sleep Well – J S Bach – from St John Passion

  • Dona Nobis Pacem – J Haydn – from Harmoniemesse

  • Sanctus – J Haydn – from Harmoniemesse

  • Nightingale Chorus  No. 22 – GF Handel

  • Let Their Celestial Concerts – G F Handel – from Samson

  • Hallelujah, Amen – GF Handel – from Judas Maccabaeus

  • Achieved is the Glorious Work – F J Haydn – from The Creation

Second half year work:

• We are hoping to do a complete smaller work, perhaps, In Windsor Forest – Vaughn Williams, if we can source the music.  I include a couple of you tube links if you’d like a quick listen.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHwCPMwORVc&feature=related      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw0UmT4wbuY&feature=related

Other news:

• We are still in need of a pianist for next year.

• The committee is considering a complete larger work for next year perhaps Harmoniemesse, from which we have already learned two pieces this year. If you have a suggestion, please bring it to the attention of your committee.

Thank you to those members, who early this year, expressed their preferences for the music the choir learns/performs. The general consensus seems to be that the choir stay with its roots, that is, oratorio,  with perhaps a little bit of opera and general choral work. We are always listening for suggestions regarding anything relating to choral work, particularly in the sacred vein. Please contact your committee.

If you have anything that you would like listed/mentioned on the web site, please let me know. I am slowly bringing the new site up to date.

Regards

Anne Doherty

Secretary