Category Archives: choirs

two commemorations I missed

In the summer present and past members of the Chandos Singers met to commemorate their recently departed conductor, Malcolm Hill. Although I hadn’t sung with them for a decade, I was invited back, but wasn’t able to sing because I … Continue reading

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It was my birthday earlier this week and in the evening I went to choir. Every few weeks on average this particular choir sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to one of its members, and I wondered whether this happened for any choir … Continue reading

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a review of 2021

For obvious reasons most of my musical activity in 2021 was concentrated in the latter part of the year, and in the autumn I became almost ridiculously active (at one point I had 4 rehearsals on successive days in 4 … Continue reading

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RIP Malcolm

I was sorry to hear of the death of Malcolm Hill for whom I used to sing in the Chandos Singers. In the half-dozen years I was in the choir I sang a huge number of different pieces from outside … Continue reading

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Vote for us!

It is an autumn of awards seasons, and Bristol Choral Society covered itself with glory at the Making Music awards, winning Best Project with a Focus on New Music for our carol competition in December 2020. Our conductor Hilary Campbell … Continue reading

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Sign the petition!

Following the DCMS announcement that no more than 6 amateurs may sing indoors together, a petition has been launched here. I was about the 850th to sign (polishes halo); it’s now at almost exactly 20,000 signatures and I’d expect it … Continue reading

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slipping through my fingers

This week I was all primed to go to two choir practices: over to Gloucester on Thursday for Gloucester Choral Society, and then the return of my church choir on Friday. Next week I was expecting to go to a … Continue reading

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what has survived?

As choirs begin to poke their head above the parapet again and prepare for live performance, I find myself reviewing the differences between what is returning and what there was in spring last year. As far as I know only … Continue reading

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in praise of … Cathedral choral societies

I was sorry to hear this week of the death of Lucian Nethsingha. One of the tributes I read mentioned that while director of music at Exeter Cathedral he had also conducted a choral society based there. And this set … Continue reading

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in praise of … the pieces that swallow rehearsal time

I’m not sure I’m really praising these, as in fact they are a nuisance. We have all encountered them – the pieces which seem innocuous and straightforward, yet which consume the lion’s share of rehearsal, possibly leaving others unprepared. How … Continue reading

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