2010 ends for Choir

The last rehearsal for 2010 at City of Dunedin Choir went something like this:

First we worked really really hard at mastering some of the notes in Bach's B Minor Mass. I love the music, but as with composers like Bach and Handel, their works usually have 'too many' notes! One has to concentrate all the time - if you miss a note or a beat you are lost! Mmm... and after a long day at the office powers of concentration are not what they could be. Anyhow, we did well and David said it sounded all angelic, just as it is supposed to! Great.

It being the last rehearsal of the year a sumptious supper was laid on - thanks to those members who contributed the scrumdiddlyumptious nibblies!

After the singing we grabbed a quick cup of tea and it was over to Rosi, the Fun Quiz Master, to put us throught our paces. Well done to the 'February' team - first to get to the right answers and unscramble the letters to arrive at:  I LOVE BACH

Having earned it, we socialised and tucked into those wonderful nibblies, YUM!

AND... the winners of the annual Christmas hampers were drawn. Don't they look gorgeous? Thanks to everyone for your contributions, selling tickets, and Rebecca for organising the fund-raiser.

Next it was Deborah's turn to thanks the special people: Michael (Assistant Conductor), Roland (Accompanist) and David (Director) and wish everybody well for the festive season. The evening was wrapping up fast, but then came the big surprise: everyone was still milling about socialising when David and Roland got us going singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah - unprepared, from memory!

What a wonderful way to end a very busy year of choral singing. Don't forget, we start rehearsing again on Tuesday 1 February 2011 and first up on the programme we'll join the Southern Sinfonia in two performances of The Last Night of the Proms, and then our Bach B Minor Mass concert is in April.

Are you a singer looking for a choir to join? We'd love to welcome you to the City of Dunedin Choir - contact us today!

Merry Christmas!

A few days ago, a whole stack of my friends were involved in a Hallelujah Chorus flash mob in Melbourne.

I thought people might enjoy the Youtube of the event. For me, it's a bit like watching a "who's who" among my Melbourne friends :-) The flashmob was conducted by old time mate Trevor Jones, who is awesome.



So - next year in the Meridien for City Choir, maybe?

Have a lovely Christmas, everyone, and see you in 2011!

Bach you should know

A nineteenth century depiction of the Bach family at morning
music practice. Bach is at the keyboard.

I came across this interesting article I'd like to share with you:
Five Bach Pieces You Need To Know by Ben Beers

One of the 5 must-know works is of course:

BWV 232 – B Minor Mass, 'Agnus Dei'

Ben says: "Much of Bach's music was written for the church. The B Minor Mass is one of his more famous ecclesiastical pieces. Although it's in minor key, it certainly isn't depressing or downtrodden - in fact, it's almost therapeutic. The whole piece carries an atmosphere of gentle resignation. A word of warning, however: if you're not experienced with erudite music, it may bore you the first time around. But don't give up. Pay attention to it and listen a few times through, and you'll understand what makes it so important."

That's really interesting. Not being overly experienced with erudite music, that's exactly what I felt when I first listened to the whole of the mass: I was bored. Now that we have started rehearsing this work, I'm discovering Bach's usual genius and I revel in the glorious soaring lines, fugal bits and other bobs. (You can also see I'm not a musicologist - who would ever talk of the 'bits and bobs' of music!?)

Read more at Suite101: Five Bach Pieces You Need To Know
http://www.suite101.com/content/five-bach-pieces-you-must-know-a316271#ixzz17e7dNy1G

Have you listened to the whole of the B Minor Mass? How did you like it? We love feedback on this blog, so let us know what you think!

Rare Byrds in the Choir

Have you seen the article on the Rare Byrds in the ODT this morning? I was surprised to see no less than FOUR of our choir members in this group: Helen (alto) and Alan (tenor) Edwards, Colin Campbell-Hunt (bass) and Christine Ogilvie (alto)!

This article again brought home to me the fact that Dunedin is a little big city with an abundance of talented residents.

Here is some Bach being played on the nyckelharpa, an instrument also used by the Rare Byrds.



Back to the Rare Byrds - this group loves playing, singing and dancing to early renaissance and medieval music. They are celebrating their annual Christmas Revel and Ball at St John's Church hall, 373 Highgate, Roslyn tomorrow, with feasting, dancing, fire performers and, of course, music.

A dance class will be held at 6pm to which beginners are welcome, the feast starts at 7.30pm and the Renaissance ball at 9pm.

To book contact Jonathan Cweorth at ignatius@dunedinblog.co.nz or phone 453-1947. $20 adults and $10 children.

Read more about it in the ODT at http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/138784/early-byrds-catch-mood