Harmonise news October 2013

Hello friends and a very warm welcome to new members who have joined us this term

The two singing opportunities for Harmonise members which were flagged up at the break on Monday are: 

1. To take part in Edinburgh's Christmas Light Night celebrations on Sunday 24th November in the afternoon. A row of stages will be set up along George Street and performers of all ages/talents/arts have each been invited to perform for 10 minutes on one of the stages.  The overall theme is the 12 days of Christmas. We are signed up to sing and initial thoughts are that we'll identify a song (or 2 songs) that we know well and put 'new' words to these tunes to match the theme. It's excellent that so many members are keen to take part. 

2. For individual members to join, when they can, a singing group based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH). The group is called Heart and Soul and is led by Penny Stone. 
They meet on Tuesdays, 3-4pm, in the Glasshouses at REH. They would particularly like people to join them for a) a performance at the Hive, the social centre at REH, 6.30 -7.30 on 15th October and b) for a performance at the Talbot Rice Gallery at Edinburgh University, 6-8pm on December 6th. Penny is going to provide us with a short leaflet about volunteering with Heart and Soul. The Harmonise link people for this are Sally and Liz (Elkind).

Many many thanks to Olive for all the work she's work been doing around membership and to Anne (Clark ) for all the work she has been and is still doing on the new website. 

All for now

Sally   

Tony Backhouse is running an a capella gospel workshop in Edinburgh on Saturday 21st September. 

Here are the details 

Augustine United Church                                              George IV Bridge                                                        Saturday Sept 21                                                             10am – 3 pm                                                                        £25                                                                                            To book, or for further information please contact            Irene Railley:irene.railley@blueyonder.co.uk

Hello everyone 

Here is a short message from Rosemary re. Gaudete 

Guadete, the new choir being formed by Matthew and Rosemary is open to everyone, not just to members of Harmonise.  We currently have 19 people coming along to the taster session on 6th September at North Leith Church in Madeira Street, but would welcome anyone who'd like to join us.  Tell your family and friends, basses particularly welcome!  For further information please call Rosemary on 07584624070.

xSally 

Here is some information for us from Rosemary, about a new community choir in Edinburgh 




 

Interested in singing classical music but not so sure about reading music? Doing something every evening? Gaudete,a new community choir in Edinburgh will give you the chance to sing sublime music in 4 part harmony without an audition, on a weekday afternoon, taught by ear by our exciting young musical director, Matthew Todd. Why not come along to a free taster session at 3 - 5pm on Friday 6th September at North Leith Church Hall, Madeira  St, Edinburgh. No previous singing experience required! Our emphasis will be on producing excellent results in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Please email rositaburnett@gmail.com if you would like further details or to register your attendance. Or ring me on 07584 624070 

Dear friends 

Here are just a few Harmonise things you will be interested (I'm sure...) in hearing about.

The first is that Harmonise is going to have more sessions this coming year. We've added 2 weeks onto our 1st and 2nd terms. The summer term will remain 10 weeks long.  

The term dates for 2013 - 2014 are 

Term one:         23/9 to 09/12     (12 week term)

Term two:        13/01 to 31/03   (12 week term)

Term three :     28/04 to 30/06     (10 week term)

The fees will rise a small amount to cover costs associated with the extra weeks' hall hire and Matthew's extra time. The early bird fees will be £50 and £30(conc) per term. 

Also we have a provisional date for a holiday sing and picnic at Seton Church. The date is Saturday 24th August. Graeme is kindly looking into this. We'll let you know once we have confirmation. Meanwhile put the provisional date in your diaries and your energies into ensuring sunshine!

And.. re. the concert, the plan is to hold the concert early in the summer term. This will give us a good number of weeks to learn and practice and time, as well, for more relaxed singing.

All for now 

xSally 

 

  

Notices about 2 local upcoming opportunities 


This notice is from Nicola 

My other choir, St Andrew’s Camerata, are performing Haydn’s Theresienmesse and Te Deum by Albrechtsberger this Saturday 22nd June at 7.30pm at the Canongate Kirk.  Tickets are £12 full price, £8 concession.  If anyone is interested, please come along, I’m sure tickets will be available at the door.


And this one is from Sangstream 

SANGSTREAM SUMMER SESSIONS

  

Open to all friends, family, other singers, pass the word around. 

Your opportunity to have an exciting evening with a different MD every week

 

Venue: Christ Church Hall at Holy Corner, Morningside

Time: Thursdays 7pm - 9pm

Cost: £5 per evening

 

11th July: Susie Kelly: Traditional Musician for the Borders: really energised lady who will give us an exciting evening of Traditional Songs in harmony

 

18th July: Jennifer Sterling: young tutor gaining great credits in SMG. Probably traditional songs in 3 part harmony

 

25th July: Wayne Weaver: MD for Edinburgh Youth Chorus, harmony arrangements from the musicals. 

  

Came along & enjoy an evening of song

xSally  

Just a quick Newsflash to say that the Feedback Box will be back at Harmonise on Monday. 

Please have a think over the weekend, write down your thoughts, comments, ideas, suggestions (about Harmonise!) and bring them along to post, in the box, on Monday. 

The Committee and Matthew are meeting the following week and it would be really helpful to have your thoughts etc for this. 

Many thanks,

Sally 

Dear friends,

YOU WERE AWESOME!!!

Everyone worked so hard and we had a brilliant concert to show for it. If you had a fraction of the fun that I had then it must have been a great night for you too! Special thanks to all those who prepared the introductions, the organising committee and especially to Jane for comparing.

Please bring your books (red, blue and purple) as we will be looking at lots of these in the last few weeks.

All the best,

Matt

 

Dear friends 

Here is the definitive running order for the concert 

Amani Utupe Na Ustawe

 

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

 

Wayfarin Stranger

 

Lonesome Road

 

Shenandoah

 

Bridge Over Trouble Water

 

INTERVAL

 

Megaru

 

Lean on me

My Paddle (with AP)

         Jordan Train

Guest Spot

          Siyahamba

[encore] Malagache Alleluia

Happy practicing!  :-) 

Sally 

     

Hello dear Harmonisers 

Just a couple of things regarding the concert... 

One is that - we can get access to St Peter's well before 6.30 on the evening of the concert - so we will have plenty of time to set up. We'll let you know when the doors will be open for set up (probably around 5.30)

The other thing is - please please please sign up to volunteer for the various jobs that are absolutely essential if we are going to have another excellent concert. There are a number of jobs to be done - none of them hugely demanding. The sign up sheets will be one of the tables at the back (or side) of the hall. This concert needs really YOU!! 


And - re. a  future opportunity : Tony Backhouse will be running a workshop in Edinburgh in September (possibly 21st September). Details will be available soon. 

Meanwhile he has a request: 
It's possible our usual accommodation will not be available. If so, do you know anyone who could billet Marianne and me for a few nights? We will arrive in Edinburgh on Friday September 20, and plan to depart on Monday 23 or Tuesday 24. 

Please contact Irene Railley if you can help with this: 
irene.railley@blueyonder.co.uk

Sally 

Dear Harmonisers

Our annual concert is now very close! The concert is on Friday 7^th June 7-9pm at St Peter’s, Lutton Place. On Monday 3^rd June we will also be at St Peters – this is for our rehearsal (7-9pm).  So please remember to go to St Peter's and not Columcille on Monday 3rd!!

There’ll be tickets for sale from Monday. Ros Parsons is our ticket person and will be selling tickets then and on subsequent Mondays. Tickets must be paid for at the time of buying or booking so please remember to bring cash or a cheque book with you. There’ll be 120 tickets available - price £8/£5(concession).

The charity we’re collecting for is The Redwoods Caring Foundation. You can see a short video about their work at   www.redwoods.org.uk

There will also be a sign up sheet for volunteers on Monday. Evelyn is our co-ordinator. Things to be done include: getting to St Peter’s early on 7^th to set up chairs and tables, taking tickets at the door, bringing food, bringing flowers (to decorate the hall with), staffing the bar/drinks table. Please remember to sign up for these vital tasks.

As always, we’ll all help clear up at the end of the evening.

Our dress code is ‘sparkle’ this year… a little wide as descriptions go  – but leaves lots of room for creativity!!

And, most of all - we’ll sing fabulously, give a great concert and have a very happy audience

Sally 

Some information from Laura Simpson, Programme Manager

Hospitalfield, Arbroath about a weekend course (Jazz) taking place at Hospitalfield House in May. 

Follow the links in the text for more info.

Weekend Courses: May

In partnership with Jazz @ Hospitalfield

10 – 12 May

Tutors: Jeanne Gies and Howard Alden

Jazz Voice : Host to Arbroath’s celebrated Jazz programme, organised by Alan Steadman and renowned for its award winning capture of world famous Jazz musician performances; Hospitalfield House invites singing enthusiasts to participate in a weekend, progressive workshop designed to assist aspiring and professional vocalist to develop jazz vocal technique and singing style. Coupled with a Saturday night performance by Jeanne with Howard Alden this promises to be a truly unique opportunity.

Course information :   Jazz Voice course content Jeanne Gies

Jazz Guitar : World renowned Jazz guitarist, Howard Alden, has worked with an impressive number of musical legends such as Bucky Pizzarelli, George Van Eps, Mel Powell, Johnny Smith and John Lewis. As well as performing, Howard has been a guitar instructor since the seventies and will be visiting Hospitalfield this April, when guitar enthusiasts are invited to experience a weekend masterclass. This progressive workshop is designed to assist aspiring and professional guitarists to develop their jazz technique and playing style. It will conclude with a vocal accompaniment with jazz singer Jeanne Gies and her masterclass students.

Course information: Jazz Guitar course content Howard Alden

More information and booking procedure available here :

http://hospitalfield.org.uk/programme/classes-courses/

--

Jeanne has given very clear and comprehensive schedule for the course content which is available to download from the webpage.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like any further info.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Laura

Laura Simpson

Programme Manager

Hospitalfield

Arbroath

DD11 2NH

http://hospitalfield.org.uk/

And....information from David Burbridge about a Slovenian Choir performing in Edinburgh on Sunday: 

Could you please let your singers know about the visit of the Slovenian choir Zbor Jurij Vodovnik to Edinburgh next Sunday April 28. The choir is from Zrece near Celje, the twin town of Sedbergh in the Yorkshire Dales where I live. They are doing a concert in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on York Place at 2.30pm. Entrance is free. 

The choir will be singing a selection of Slovenian songs and will be joined by a family of singers Pevke iz Brinjeve Gore - 5 sisters who sing Slovenian folk songs together in harmony.

After the concert the singers are having a tour of the city and a drink at the Captains Bar on College Street if you wanted to join us for the whole afternoon in Edinburgh.

The choir are staying in Sedbergh where they are also performing on Saturday night, and on Monday are having a tour of the Lake District with a concert in Ambleside at 7.30pm. 

It'd be good to see you if you can join us. 

Best wishes,  

David

 

Here's some information from David Tugwell about 2 Georgian workshops taking place this coming week. 

Dear all,

Apologies if you receive this information twice, but I would like to let you know about two singing workshops next week by the wonderful Georgian singer and teacher Nana Mzhavanadze on Weds 24th and Thurs 25th April both 7pm - 9.30pm. The Wednesday workshop is at 25 (1F2) Haddington Place (top of Leith Walk), Edinburgh EH7 4AF and the Thursday workshop at 18/9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh EH9 1NX. Each evening costs £15/£12 concessions and different songs will be taught on each evening.

These workshops now have Facebook pages with further details - http://www.facebook.com/events/636363046380146/ andhttp://www.facebook.com/events/644579075557521/ . You can either sign up on Facebook or let me know directly if you would like a place. 

I'm sure these will be very enjoyable events for those new to or familiar with Georgian singing and please feel free to pass on the information to other people who might be interested, either through inviting friends on Facebook, sharing the event, or sending the details to any singing groups/lists you may be on. Thankyou!

David Tugwell


Please email Sally (Harmonise) if you want David's phone number e.g.  for further details.