Forgotten carols with Ali Burns
Saturday was spent enjoying a day-long singing workshop - “Forgotten Carols”, lead by the inspiring and hugely talented Ali Burns. Many of my fellow singers were there, but it was quite different to our usual Thursday evening sessions.
Ali worked us very hard. We were learning our parts by ear, with Ali singing them briefly before getting us started with a barked: “Go!” By the time we’d learned one song, we’d mostly forgotten the previous one.
We peaked early, before lunch. We were still full-voiced and able to absorb new information. After a break and some sandwiches and endless gallons of tea, we all started to under-perform; the basses lost their way with one particularly complicated song, and our final sing-through felt laboured compared to the gusto we’d managed in the morning.
None of that made it a bad thing. We had a fabulous time, and Ali is a genuine person, someone who loves the music more than anything. You can tell; when she’s leading the singers, and we’re doing well (as we were in the morning session), her eyes close and she dances on the spot, joyfully smiling.
Labels: singing
Amazing bass, how sweet the sound
The Boyan Ensemble of Kiev came to sing in our town last night, and Kate and I went along to listen to them.
The programme started with the most spine-tingling moment I’ve witnessed on stage for some time; a falsetto soloist’s voice pierced the semi-darkness (at this point the stage was lit by little more than a few candles) while the ear-poppingly deep basses boomed and haroomed in the background. I’ve never heard a true falsetto live on stage before, quite an experience.
The rest of the first half was sombre, classical pieces, full of atmosphere. The audience was almost too hypnotised to applaud; no-one wanted to disturb the mood.
After a break, the choir returned to the stage in Ukrainian national costume and zipped through a series of folk songs. This was much more jaunty, more informal and relaxed. The conductors and singers were really getting into it and having fun. One highlight was the short instrumental piece played entirely by hitting three sword-shaped percussion things with metal sticks. One moment it was tribal rhythm; then next it was not far off from hip-hop beats. Astounding.
The Ensemble is touring the UK for most of November. Go see them if you have the chance.
Labels: singing
Barney singing "Land of the silver birch"
Land of the silver birch (Odeo browser stream thing, or MP3 download)
His nursery class did a project about North America, and they were taught this song.
The wonderful song
Northern Harmony, an extraordinary vocal group based in New England are touring the UK right now.
I attended a workshop of theirs last night, and a concert this evening. Wonderful, uplifting, inspiring singing in many different styles and traditions. You know these guys are good when they tackle some of that insanely complicated Balkan singing with its unusual (to English ears) rhythms and tones.
The Northern Harmony concept is simple yet remarkable. Just a few weeks ago, this group got together for the first time. There were no auditions - the group is self-selecting. Then they spend a couple of weeks singing all day, every day, rehearsing themselves into something incredible. Then they go on tour.
After last night's workshop I spent the whole day today singing a simple South African song that has such harmonic and rhythmic delights nestling within it that it makes my spine tingle. When the group performed it again this evening, it took every ounce of willpower not to stand up from my front-row seat and sing it aloud at the top of my voice.
Between now and the end of November, Northern Harmony will be performing or doing workshops in Oakhampton, Stroud, Stourbridge, Bangor, Dent, York, Derby, Lincoln, Cambridge, Colchester, and Canterbury. Then there's a few gigs in Ireland too. If you're within striking distance of any of these places and like quality vocal music, make an effort to go see them. You won't be disappointed.
Labels: singing
Barney's song
bella-babab.mp3 (250KB mp3 file, about 14 seconds)
I recorded Barney singing as he sat on the toilet. Then I remixed the song in Audacity. It's great when he's in a singsong mood.
Labels: singing
Singing Round the Town
Tomorrow (Saturday 18th) is Singing Round the Town day in Bradford on Avon.
It's a day to celebrate the community with song, dance, a bit of samba drumming, and loads of other musical activities. In the evening there's a great lineup of local bands doing a gig at the best venue in town. If you're in spitting distance of Wiltshire, and like live music, you should come down and join in. The weather's going to be fantastic.
I'm planning to take lots of pictures during the day, and shall also be doing an experimental audio diary which I might post on these interpages some time next week.
Labels: singing
