singing
The Royal Blackbird
As part of the assessment for my choral conducting diploma with ABCD I was tasked with arranging, typsetting and recording a folksong of my choice. I chose the Royal Blackbird (sometimes just known as The Blackbird) which is Irish in origin. The first stanza, which I set, is below and the full poem, with *a* version of the original melody …
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All the small sings
I’ve just watched the BBC’s new choir-soap All the Small Things on iPlayer. Fortunately I was sort of working at the same time so can’t claim that it’s an hour I’ll never get back… but goodness me. Predicated on an accurate-enough observation — that choirs are a breeding ground for temptation, hormones, infidelity and betrayal (though it’s not all fun) …
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High notes are low point for Les Mis lead
In an otherwise solid and ticket-worthy performance, David Shannon as Valjean in Les Mis marred a couple of his solo numbers with very insipid high notes, many of them falsetto when they are traditionally sung in full chest voice. I know it’s hard, night after night, 8 performances a week popping out top As and Bs so I wonder whether …
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Dublin Day 3
One of the things that struck me about Evensong on Saturday was the slick, no-nonsense approach of the liturgy. The prayers were about 3 minutes long which, heathen as it sounds, I think is ample. But even that aside, everything just generally flowed — no pregnant ‘reflective’ pauses (which have the effect of appearing that someone’s forgotten their lines) — …
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Dublin Day 2
What a strange feeling waking up on a choir trip with no hangover! I feel a bit like I’m cheating. Another glorious day; those of us of an optimistic disposition are thankful (smug?) we packed shorts and sandals. The coach takes us direct to the cathedral bright and early, in time to start rehearsing at 10. We’re singing music which …
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