Sheep, frogs and a bunch of tenors.

Hallelujah! with my dear laptop now successfully upgraded from the nightmarish Windows 8 to Windows 10, I can now set about writing another blog. Finding time to do this has become increasingly important as 'my public', (well, Norman H actually), have become increasingly demanding.

 

Any road, as we say in Bolton, I have been reflecting lately about why I persist with this singing lark and what I actually gain from it. Regular readers will be aware of the pain and torture I endured just to get to the point of being able to stand in front of the audience and produce a vaguely acceptable noise. Several years on and the torture pre-performance hasn't really got any easier but the standard of performance has improved. At least I think so. But, the increased self-confidence that being able to do this has given me has been immense. I think I've changed as a human being as a consequence - less the shy retiring introvert and more able to speak up and fight for myself and my family.

 

But overall, I sing for fun. As I've often said, if it stops being fun, what is the point? Caroline has pointed out to all the Caroline Sharpe Singers in an email recently, the importance of just enjoying a concert and how forgetting a few words ain't no disaster! "If you forget the words, just sing la-la-la with conviction". Absolutely.

 

Before my first ever public performance in November 2011 when I was at the point of bottling out, Chris Hill said to me "what's the worst that can happen - you just feel a little foolish"? It has taken me about five years to see he was absolutely right. Messing up the words has always seemed to me to be the most humiliating catastrophe and if you take that attitude with you onto the 'stage', you are almost guaranteed a nervous, stilted performance.

 

Last month during my Fat Bottomed Girls performance at the Purple Angels. Dementia UK gig, I got something horribly wrong and starting singing 'Oh....' on my own. As I described in an earlier blog, Ruth laughed, causing me to laugh and that was that. It mattered nowt. Nobody remembers the minor faux pas, just the overall light hearted performance.

 

As well as the concert performances, rehearsals need to be fun too. The role of the MD is obviously important in this respect and I've sung under two fabulous MDs in Chris Hill (LMVC) and Caroline (CSS).  For CSS, Caroline is happy for pretty much anyone to come along and contribute whatever they can contribute as often as they are able to. And we have some fun. Oh boy, do we have some fun! We tenors have had, let me say, one or two difficulties recently, of which everyone in CSS will be aware. Ave Verum Corpus was for us, err, challenging? Let All the World in Every Corner Sing is bordering on tenor abuse in my book, but we are getting there. Slowly?

But, we have one hell of a laugh in doing so. Norman Hockley, Mark Astil, Shaun Oldale, Sid and myself have a cracking rapport and we kind of bounce off each other, helping each other through the tricky bits.

 

Norman however, seems to have sussed out my sense of humour and maybe this isn't a good thing. During last Saturday's rehearsal, he and Mark made me crack up to the point where I could barely sing! Mark, who hasn't been able to come in recent weeks due I think to it being the lambing season (he be a farmer you see!) heard his phone go off soon after the start, and Norman said something like "I think it was one of his sheep, I could hear it going 'baaaah'"!

When he came back, Norman asked " who was that Mark"?

"Baaaaaaaaa-bra" replied Mark, quick as a flash!

 

Well, it cracked me up, but I guess I'm easily amused. Mad as a bucket of frogs, but we ain't alone in CSS. The ladies have their share of crazy frogs, mentioning no names of course! ;-)

 

So yes, 'fun' is the key behind my singing and which if I'm honest, I wasn't getting in the Loughborough Male Voice Choir anymore, so was the natural choice to finish when I realised I had to give up something in my life to reduce my load. The Belvoir Wassailers are a choir that clearly have  fun when they sing. While being nowhere near to the standard of the LMVC, they clearly enjoy their singing as it comes across in their performance. The LMVC perform very professionally and sing beautifully, but the fun and enjoyment of singing doesn't often come across in their performances. I would love them to do more 'Amarillo' type pieces and really let themselves go, but that's just my personal wish for them as a choir.

 

For me, I will continue as long as it is F. U. N !

 

Cheers for now,

Alyn.

Let's rewind a little....

It always surprises me when I find that folk actually read the inane waffle on the pages of this blog, but to find that some actually miss it when I don't write for a while is even more of a surprise. I guess I need to think more about my dear audience and not let them down quite so badly in the future. So thanks to Norman Hockley for the recent prods to get writing again.

 

My last post, on November 22nd covered the Trinity Choirs Festival and was meant to be followed by a write up on the Caroline Sharpe Pupils Concert the following week, but 'stuff' got in the way. From here on however, Ruth and I pledge to earmark time in our week for writing and other such pastimes (with good company?), so expect some more regular contributions to this humble blog as 2016 progresses. Hopefully!

 

Time now to press the rewind button and take us back to Saturday 28th November 2015, and remember what a fantastic evening it was. Ruth pointed out that this year I was one of the more experienced singers on the bill, as there were to be quite a lot of new faces. It was fabulous to see them all conquer their fears and to 'just do it'! I know how you all felt before you got up and I also know just how fabulous you all felt afterwards, just knowing that you really did actually get up there and sing. I won't list everyone, but I must say one performer brought a tear to my eye and that was Geoff Hickling.

 

Geoff you see, was inspired to have a go at singing, purely as a result of reading this very blog! He has read the lot, right from the very beginning and as a consequence plucked up the courage to have lessons with Caroline, join the LMVC and Caroline Sharpe Singers. This was after all the main reason for starting this blog- if one person reads this stuff and is inspired have a go themselves, then it will all have been worthwhile. Well Geoff did just that and when he got up and sang Silent Worship I could barely hold myself together! I was as proud as punch! Just see how much you'll progress this year Geoff! Caroline will have you singing crazy things like 'Fat Bottomed Girls' in no time at all.

 

The great thing about this annual showcase is the audience. Everyone who comes along knows that they are not going to hear musical perfection, but realise that there are nervous newcomers performing in front of an audience for the very first time and are wonderfully supportive. I remember several years ago, a guy called Neal Chantrill needed three attempts at the song he was singing. After messing up twice he finally got through it to tremendous applause. And that's the point - it doesn't matter if things go awry - it is all valuable experience.

 

Another amazing thing about these concerts is seeing the improvements in those that have been around for a few years, like dare I suggest, myself for instance. Looking back at my 'rabbit caught in the headlights' performance of Where e're You Walk back in 2011, I like to think I've come on leaps and bounds since then, though I'll let you be the judge of that. Certainly this year it was amazing to see the progress of Liz Jenkinson and Gail Morgan particularly who were outstanding! Liz has even gone on to pass her ABRSM Grade 8 singing with Distinction! And she ain't alone - a certain Ruth Coward passed her Trinity Grade 6 with Distinction too. Congratulations to Yasmin Wilbram, Mirren Mecathum, Shirley Godber, Gillian Smith, Katie Muller, Jill Perry, Maisie Ramsey, Harriet Taylor, Honor Neale and Jane Giddings, who all passed singing exams in 2015. Bravo!

 

"But what of Alyn Paul Coward" I hear you cry. Well, during an 'eventful' year (for want of a better description) singing lessons had not been in my diary much until the end of the summer. Then Caroline threw the Chicago songbook at me and we opened the page at All I Care About.  A nice little song which rather suited my voice I reckon. There's a video on Youtube of Richard Gere singing the song from the film of the musical which I used to guide me and I think on the night it was probably the nearest I have come to actually enjoying a performance. What's that you say? Tell that to my face? Well, at least there was a bit of expression there. I think!?!

 

I mustn't forget the Caroline Sharpe Singers' input to the evening. We opened with Dry Your Tears Afrika and the challenging (for us tenors at east!) Ave Verum Corpus, the latter going really quite well on this occasion. And we wrapped up proceedings with Blue Moon, featuring a solo from 'A Nightingale Sang's number one fan, Norman Hockley, and lastly the thoroughly delightful May it Be.

 

So that was it for another year. Who knows what November 2016 will bring? Watch this space......

 

Meanwhile, I was handed a mini DVD of that  rendition of All I Care About by Trinity's sound maestro David Concannon, but I've not yet had the guts to watch it. I can just about bare to listen to a sound recording of myself but watching myself is just a step too far. Maybe I'll have a large scotch later and put it on. Or maybe not?

 

See y'all soon,

Alyn.

What a difference a week makes

Well about time, I hear you say!

 

After recent conversations with Norman Hockley and Geoff Hickling about this humble blog I've been inspired to set fingers to keyboard once more.  And there's so much to tell it's difficult to know where  start. Perhaps with a brief update...

 

Shockingly, it is a whole year since my last post. That in itself tells its own story. 'Life' has been, let me say, difficult for the Coward/Sharpe/Gray family throughout 2015 and things came to a head over the summer when I realised that of all the things I was trying to cram into my life, I was doing nothing well and not really enjoying stuff. So, a bit of rationalisation was called for and something simply had to give. After much thought, I reluctantly decided to call time on my association with the Loughborough Male Voice Choir.

 

Any of you guys who have followed this from the beginnings, will know how much the LMVC has meant to me over the last, approaching five years. I was welcomed with open arms as a desperately nervous novice who didn't even know if he could sing at all, never mind what voice I was. After settling in with the second tenors despite, as Caroline Sharpe will no doubt confirm, I am more baritone, my confidence has grown over the years to the point where I've even contributed a solo verse in the folk song Pleasant & Delightful. But somehow, singing with the LMVC had rather lost its spark and I knew during the summer that it was time to 'move on'. I will reflect further on my time with the LMVC in another post soon.

 

I would now devote my singing energies to Caroline Sharpe Singers for the foreseeable future. Time now then to get up to date with the events of the last week and two dramatically contrasting experiences for the choir. Saturday 14th November saw the choir compete in  an ambitious three classes at the Leicester Festival. The  first class, for 'sacred music' meant kicking off with the piece that continues to give us tenors recurring nightmares, Ave Verum Corpus. Sigh. On the face of it, it is not a difficult piece. We chaps even had a 'men only' rehearsal early in the year to try and crack it and had no real problems. However things seem to go horribly wrong when attempting to sing with the rest of the choir. Anyway, the first choir in this class was Friday Singers who proved to be rather polished and impressive if a little pompous in their delivery. Now, I'm not sure what happened from here on but when we took to the stage there was a tension in the air that was almost palpable. 

 

We started so badly Caroline called a halt to Ave Verum with the words "Let's start that again shall we"? Oh dear! Well, we re-started and we got through it. Moving swiftly on, our second piece was Make me a Channel of Your Peace and to be honest it was a bit of a blur. We all sat down knowing that it was not our finest hour. Hey-ho, such is live performance I guess.  The third and final choir in this class was a group called Voices Aloud who were the kind of choir that frankly make me cringe. Let's just say if Caroline ever decides to make her choir go all 'happy clappy' and bop about, I will quit! I am though safe in the knowledge that she loathes such stuff as much as I do. Anyway, despite their embarrassing gyrations they made a good sound. Suffice to say we finished third. Let's move on eh?

 

The second class we had entered featured the same 3 choirs with much the same result, but at least there were no major disasters. Blue Moon went okay-ish, but Dry Your Tears seemed a little ragged to me. As for the other two choirs, we had more pompous delivery and more embarrassing gyrations. Net result, third place. But hey, in our third class we were the only participants and took home the silver disc trophy after acceptable renditions of Do You Hear the People Sing and the delightful May it Be from Lord of the Rings.

 

So, what to make of Leicester Festival 2015? A  few factors I think contributed to the somewhat less than satisfactory day. Maybe the quality of the opening act proved a bit intimidating, leading to the nervous start to Ave Verum? That mishap seemed to just set the tone for the day. We never really recovered from that bad start.

 

Never mind, the day wasn't all bad, we did manage to see some other choirs - some good, some okay and one quite hilarious. If our opening cock-up was bad it was nowt compared to the WI choir later on whose opening song restarted three, yes THREE times and degenerated into something resembling a rehearsal with the beleagured MD seemingly telling each singer what opening note to sing. T'was utterly bizarre! And then there was the adjudicator. I haven't got a copy of the programme and don't recall her name, but she was, err interesting!

 

Straight after the festival, Ruth had to shoot off to Kegworth Methodist Church for a Music in Me concert, in which she was to perform a hastily learnt solo of Oh Foolish Fay from Iolanthe. I was sad to miss this, but I had heard the song several (hundred?) times during the preceding week so felt I knew it myself! By the way, Peter Gallagher, I think you recorded my wife's solo so look forward to a viewing some time soon?

 

Oh  and one final thing:- Note to Leicester Festival organisers. Please don't close the gates until at least half an hour after the final class at your festival. It made for a very stressful end to the day. Thankyou!

 

 

They say a week is a long time in politics, Well I think maybe the phrase could equally be applied to singing. I think we all knew we could do a whole lot better than we produced at Leicester. Thankfully we got the opportunity to do just that seven days later at Trinity Methodist Church, performing as one of  four choirs as part of a celebratory concert marking 50 years since the opening of the church.

 

The difference on this occasion was that we were to open the concert. And what an opening it was. Anyone watching the two performances would not believe it was the same choir. We kicked things off with Chris Higgins strolling down the aisle as narrator for Be Our Guest. Every time he's performed this he arrives on the stage at exactly the right time. How he does this I don't know but I wouldn't be surprised if he's practised it a thousand times to get it perfect, such is the man's dedication!

 

What followed was without doubt Caroline Sharpe Singers finest performance yet. Eric Whitacre's Seal Lullaby was beautiful I reckon, and Dry Your Tears was certainly the best we have ever sung it. The last two pieces, May it Be and One were pretty much spot on. Comments were received soon after regarding the excellent choice of pieces that some had never heard before. And, (take note Loughborough Male Voice Choir!) singing without copies made a HUGE difference to our performance and to our engagement with the audience.

 

The three other choirs that contributed to a fabulous evening were the Loughborough Free Churches Choir (featuring CSS's Jeff Buckley); Viva La Musica and the Loughborough Male Voice Choir (featuring CSS's Jeff Buckley!) I really enjoyed all four choirs performances and the evening was rounded off nicely when we all joined together onstage for a massed choir rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. I was amazed at how quickly this came together and despite zero rehearsal from yours truly, it all went rather well.

 

So there you have it - a rather overlong blog, but long overdue. Hopefully, there will be more to come after next weeks Caroline Sharpe Pupil's Concert back at Trinity. See you there!

cheers,

Alyn.

The Caroline Sharpe Annual Pupils Concert 2014

Some years ago the Queen in her Christmas broadcast described her 'Annus Horriblis' after a particularly turbulent year for the Royal family. Well, that bit of Latin could definitely be used to describe 2014 for my family. There has been little, if anything to commend this year to be perfectly honest, but thank God for singing!

 

If anything has kept us all going it is this innocent pastime (with good company?). Most of the year has got lost within the endless battles we have had to fight, staggering from one crisis to another.  Singing lessons with Caroline rather fell by the wayside, but Saturday morning rehearsals with Caroline Sharpe Singers were largely maintained.  It hardly seems 12 months since I stepped up to sing Ich Grolle Nicht with a throat full of phlegm, and yet it seems like 2014 has been endless - strange how the perception of time can be so contradictory. But last night saw the 2014 Annual Pupil Concert at Trinity Methodist Church Centre and it proved to be perhaps the best yet - certainly of the ones I've been involved with.

 

With a lack of lessons, my contribution in terms of solo singing would just be a light hearted song with CSS. More of that later. Firstly, let's look back at the programme as it played out last night. I hesitate to go through everyone, but feel I simply must as literally everyone needs a special mention. So hang in there with me - this could be a long one.....

 

Okay, kicking off the night was Caroline Sharpe Singers accompanied on the organ by Chris Hill with the dramatic Let All the World In Every Corner Sing. Now this piece has been labelled 'tenor abuse' by us tenors because of its brutal abundance of top 'A's. In truth true tenors should cope with 'A's okay and we chaps CAN get up there, but when you are working at the very top of your range it becomes a confidence thing. I think I hit the first few of them but it all started to crumble thereafter. But hey, any bum notes will have been hidden by the sopranos and that fabulous organ!

 

Next, in stark contrast to the opener, came the beautiful Seal Lullaby,  an Eric Whitacre composition that won us an award at the recent Leicester Festival. I think this piece has become my favourite and one I would love to listen to in the audience to see if we really do sing it as beautifully as I think we do. Fabulous - more of this kinda stuff please Caz!

 

The first solo section was four songs from Films & Musicals, featuring Katie Cooper with Colours of the Wind; Rebekah Kirkwood with Where is Love; Mirren Mecathum with When You Believe and my wife Ruth Coward with Someone to Watch Over Me. It was Katie's third pupil concert I think, but it was the first for Rebekah and Mirren and they were all excellent. In fact, Rebekah is a pupil of Wendy Burns, so it is worth noting that this was the first time that this annual showcase  has featured a 'pupil of a pupil!

While my wife has done a fair bit of singing in these concerts as part of choirs, she has always declined the opportunity to sing solo.  Her inclusion here was very much a late, late decision. So impressed was Nest Harris with Ruth's singing when accompanying her at her Grade 6 exam two days before, she said that she MUST sing one of her exam pieces at the pupil concert. To say I was familiar with the piece would be an understatement. On our weekly trips up to Bury these last few months it has become traditional for Ruth to rehearse her pieces on the return home. As many times as I have heard this song, I've never heard her sing it better than she did last night. Brought a tear to the eye, I have to admit!

 

Time for some Handel next with Liz Jenkinson and O thou that tellest followed by Judith Sismey with How Beautiful are the Feet. Liz has sung at several pupil concerts now and seems to take them in her stride brilliantly. I know Liz is Ruth's personal favourite singer and the piece she sang was technically very difficult, but she 'nailed it'. Judith was making her debut and I believe was feeling the nerves somewhat beforehand. Well she conquered them superbly as did all of the debutants on the night.

 

Next up were a selection of Italian songs. First was Maisie Ramsey with Donizetti's La Conocchia, then another debutant and the youngest performer of the night, Yasmin Wilbram with Santa Lucia. Then we had Honor Neale with Handel's Non lo diro col lobro and then Olivia Thornber wrapping up this slot with Verdi's La Seduzione. It was good to see Maisie - it's been a while since Enchanted! Yasmin gave a performance that was way in advance of her years and brought a tear to the eye of at least one audience member. Honor showed how much she has progressed with a confident performance (though she will probably say otherwise!). Olivia showed in her performance how much she has gained already from her time at Birmingham Conservatoire. Who knows how far she can go with that talent.

 

To draw the first half to a close we had a bit of humour. Jane Giddings delivered an hilarious piece called Poisoning Pigeons which was about, err, poisoning pigeons and was really well done by Jane. Finally,  dressed in appropriate costume were Sid Perry and Dorothy Murray performing I Remember it Well. What a wonderful couple they make - almost had me in tears - again!

 

So, that was half time. No time for a brew alas as it was time for a costume change for moi. Goodbye Alyn Coward, hello Freddie Mercury. Regular attendees of these annual showcases may recall four years ago, a bloke standing up front, looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, legs shaking in terror, nervously delivering Where e're You Walk and almost collapsing with relief when it was all over. Well that frightened rabbit was me and this year I had allowed myself to get roped into taking on that icon of pop music Freddie Mercury. Not only that, but singing the highly risqué classic Queen song Fat Bottomed Girls. In a church? Wearing leather trousers and Freddie T-shirt?

 

I must admit I initially had grave misgivings about the whole idea. It was originally supposed to be shared between three Freddies, but as two likely 'volunteers' mysteriously left the choir, it was down to yours truly to grasp the baton and keep hold of it. The key here was to 'perform' the song not just stand there and sing it, as I would just look a complete prat. I'll leave others to judge as to whether I came anywhere close to doing that, (performing it, not looking like a prat!) but it was a right laugh. Unbeknown to Caroline, Vic had acquired a load of stick-on moustaches for my backing singers - the Caroline Sharpe Singers to wear! That was inspired Vic, though I believe it was Gilly Higgins who first mooted the idea! David Concannon thought the song would work best with a microphone and made the suggestion a few weeks before and this allowed me on the night to introduce it with "ARE YOU READY TO ROCK"? followed by "LET'S DO IT"! There followed 3 minutes of madness that will live long in the memory. Not sure I've got the stomach to watch the video to be honest, but we'll see!

 

Pity the poor beggar that had to follow that craziness but that role befell another newbie Nick Munns with the first of three Musical Theatre numbers, Bring Him Home. This is a particular fave of mine having sung it a couple of years ago. Nick did a particularly fine rendition of it and was then followed by Katie Muller with I'll Know and then Harrie Taylor with When Will Someone Hear. Both of these girls have come on leaps and bounds and it was great to see and hear. That is the wonderful thing about these annual showcases - to see how people improve in confidence and in technique with each passing year.

 

Sacred songs next with Caroline Jones (who now studies under Bridget Budge), singing O Rest in the Lord and then Gillian Smith with Panis Angelicus. These were both fine performances with Caroline clearly having gained a lot of confidence from her September recital in Sileby.

 

Opera was next on the menu and a very lively and expressive performance by Lynn Stainsby of Habanera from Carmen.  Lynn was followed by Anna-Ruth Gray. I'm sure  you will all forgive a little family bias here, but Anna was without any doubt, the class act of the night. If she doesn't go on to have a major career as an operatic singer then it will have been a travesty. Anna has recently started having lessons with acclaimed opera star Johnny Graham-Hall. Johnny sings regularly with all the major British opera companies and has a huge reputation. For someone like him to be wanting to teach her says everything about Anna's potential. Her performance of  Sophia's Waltz Song was simply breathtaking.

 

The final solo section of the evening was a set of Popular Songs. Another singer making her first appearance was Caroline Hartshorn singing Cry Me a River, which was a very assured performance I thought, followed by my ol' CSS tenor colleague Sid Perry with You Raise Me Up. Nice one Sid!

Wendy Burns followed with a performance of Brown Eyes Blue that made pianist Chris Hill blush a little I think. Finally, Nick and Lynn returned to do a splendid duet of  How do you Like Your Eggs in the Morning. Great stuff and that was that!

 

To round off the evening it was the turn of Music In Me to sing Rhythm of Life and the Barlow/Lloyd Webber song Sing. It was  'lump in the throat time again as Amy Sharpe took to the stage with the girls again. After the year she's had it was an emotional moment for us all just to see her up there and enjoying it! The girls certainly made a better job of Rhythm of Life than the Loughborough Male Voice Choir did at the Christmas Tree Festival concert the previous night. Excellent stuff from the gals!

 

So there you have it! Special thanks must be sent the way of the 'living legend' that is Caroline Sharpe, without whom obviously, none of this would've happened. The amount of time she devotes to us all is way beyond the call and the obvious improvement of her pupils year on year is testament to her undoubted skills. Much gratitude to Chris Hill whose ivory tinkling skills are well documented but his organ playing is something else. And despite his best efforts I still managed to mess up the start of verse three of Fat Bottomed Girls. Sorry Chris, my fault, not yours!

 

Finally, a word to the late great Freddie Mercury. One of the biggest regrets in my life was felt on that sad day in 1991 when I learnt of the death of the single greatest pop vocalist that ever walked this earth. I had never taken the opportunity (and there were many) to go to see the man 'live' in the great band Queen and his loss to the music world was and still is immense.

Well Freddie, if you were looking down on Trinity Methodist Church last night, I hope you approved.

 

See you all next year!

 

Cheers,

Alyn.

 

Caroline Sharpe Pupil Concert - 2013

Oh my word. Where do I start this time? There's so much to talk about since my last post I couldn't possibly cover it all now. There's the LMVC trip to Merthyr Tydfil, which Ruth was hoping to cover for y'all, but 'life' threw the proverbial spanner in the works to scupper that idea. Then there was an LMVC concert that I couldn't actually make, so nothing to add on that one. But there was then a small matter of the Leicester Festival performances, a concert at Kegworth Methodist Church by Enchanted and Friends and latterly a return for the LMVC to the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Parish Church.

I will maybe do a retrospective blog shortly, catching up with all those, but for now I will concentrate purely on last night - the 2013 Caroline Sharpe Pupil Concert, because it deserves it. Maybe it was the circumstances; the deluge of crap dumped on Chateau Knightthorpe in recent months; Ruth's continuing battle against the debilitating effects of chronic fatigue; the abysmally timed and unwelcome arrival of cold/flu viruses striking Amy and I at just the wrong time. The odds were stacked against all of us getting through it, but as the saying goes, the show must go on and it damn well did.

This was to be my third such pupil concert. Regular readers will no doubt recall tales of my mental torture just getting up to sing Where e'er You Walk at all in 2011. Last year's rendition of Bring Him Home was pretty torturous too, but a vast improvement on the debut. Almost immediately after that performance Caroline said "next year, you are going to sing a 'proper' song, with 'proper' singing." The 'proper' song in question was soon earmarked as Schumann's Dichterleibe Opus 48: Ich Grolle Nicht. Now this is a song that would sound utterly pathetic if I persisted in singing, in Caroline's words 'like a girl'. Time then Al, to man up and let loose the beast!

Okay, Schumann it is then. We dipped into the song at intervals during the 12 months but it wasn't until fairly late that we decided definitely to go with it. The big problem was the penultimate line which includes a top 'A', which is pretty much the top of my range. I do believe I've hit a B flat in a lesson or two but they've been pretty ugly. With practice and I hasten to add a few verbal clips around the ear from Caroline, I was managing the 'A' but the voice tightened up and remained tight for the last line, leaving the end sounding like a strangled cat! 

Breathing my friends, that is so often the key in this singing lark. Take a huge great breath before the top A line and more importantly, straight after it to enable the voice to open up again for the last line. Easy? With that sorted out in my mind, confidence in the song soared sufficiently for me to actually approach the performance with yes, actual confidence. That was until Tuesday 19th when the cold virus tapped me on the shoulder and said 'GOTCHA'! Not now, please not now? Hey-ho, all I could do was to rest the vocal chords as much as possible and just cross my fingers. 

Rehearsal went very well, top 'A' was nailed, but I knew that my voice was delicate and had no idea what state it would be in come 9 pm. So, alas my contributions to the Caroline Sharpe Singers numbers (more on them later) were minimal, well non-existent in the case of Masquerade. Sorry folks, but needs must, and Caroline did agree that it was the best thing to do. So, the very last solo performer of the night was 'yours truly'. As Ruth pointed out afterwards, another personal landmark was achieved in that I actually spoke in front of lots of people, for the first time in decades. As I was singing a German song I had to briefly announce it and give a hint as to what it was about. Okay, it was indeed brief - very, but it was something at least.

There is something scary about getting up on a stage and singing at the best of times, but when you have no idea if your vocal chords are actually going to cooperate and produce any sort of acceptable noise at all, is scarier still. Thankfully, there was enough there to do a decent job. It started a bit tentatively but got better and hit the 'A' again with relative ease. Phew! Anna thought my 'angry' performance fitted in well with the unrequited love theme of the song. To be honest, the anger came from my frustration at the virus and a determination to overcome it. Other feedback suggests that for once I didn't look like a rabbit caught in the headlights. And Caroline was pleased that I sang like a man and said "more of that please".

So that's me, but this was a triumphant night for so many and also came with a bit of pain thrown in as well. As is usual for these pupil concerts it was a pretty big programme, kicking off with Be Our Guest, starring the male voice choir's Chairman, Chris Higgins and Vanessa as soloists. With the rest of Caroline Sharpe Singers assembled on stage, Chris delivered his spoken intro while strolling up the aisle, timing it perfectly to arrive onstage for the singing bit. Brilliant! The chaps in the choir are still struggling with this one, but it went fairly well and the audience clearly enjoyed it. 

Then it was the job of Katie Muller to start the solo spots with Home. Not easy being first on, but Katie sang beautifully! Then we had a section of  'songs from the shows' with a duet of I know Him So Well by Jean and Wendy. After a 'difficult' rehearsal, they got it together on the night. Lynn then superbly sang  Til There Was You,  overcoming a few nerves in the process and was followed by Gail Morgan who confidently sang I Could've Danced and despite her reservations got those high notes. That slot was wrapped up by Kate Foster with Wouldn't it be Lovely which was great. Well done girls!

Anna-Ruth and Caroline Jones came next, not a duet but singing two English songs. With maybe a hint of bias, Anna's was again I think the classiest performance of the night. Flawless, composed and delivered My Heart is Like a Singing Bird with a style most of us can only dream of. Awesome. Caz Jones sang the extraordinary piece The Enchantress by Hatton which demanding a great deal from Caz, also required an impressive performance by accompanist Chris Hill, who I think needed a lie-down afterwards!

Opera next and some fabulous performances from Honor, Liz, Olivia and Holly singing some, Mozart, Gluck, Mozart and Gounod respectively. Very impressive stuff from all these gals I thought, and felt a bit sorry for Jana who had to follow them. She was to sing a completely contrasting song by The Carpenters, On Top of the World. Then the first half was wrapped up by Enchanted and Chatanooga Choo Choo.

With phlegm accumulating at a worryingly rapid rate I avoided anything but water at the break and before I knew it CSS were back on stage for the Part 2 opener Masquerade complete with masks. This move necessitated removal of my glasses, which was no handicap, particularly as we were singing without copies and I wasn't going to sing it anyway! It went well though and I think the audience loved the masks!

Alice followed that with a nice piece called You Must Love Me and was followed by Folk songs from Jean and Amy. Poor Amy! Like me, she was feeling a bit rough and struggled in rehearsal, but on the night, despite her reservations was singing beautifully up until the point when the nausea that was lurking got the better of her. Exit Stage left was the best option and she took it. What a shame, but such are the hazards of live performance.

More English songs next - Wendy sang Gibbons' The Silver Swan followed by Liz and Vic dueting Sound the Trumpet. The later pair delivered with humour when things went a little awry, but no-one cared. More fab musical theatre followed from Jane, Katie Cooper and Vanessa, with some nerves conquered triumphantly! Some Les Mis followed from Harriet with Castle on a Cloud and Stars from the FIRST male soloist of the night, Paul Widdowson. I find it hard to believe that only two of Caroline's pupils are male!?! Or perhaps it's just that only two of them are prepared to try a solo? Whatever, Caz definitely needs some more male pupils and perhaps some guys in the LMVC could benefit from some Caroline's wisdom? Come on guys, you know you want to!

So to wrap up the evening's pupil performances was a section of German songs, reduced to just two after Rose had succumbed to the lurgy. Michelle and Ruth sang their Schumann duet Mailied. Now, I have obviously heard this countless times but this was far and away the best they have ever sung it. Well done ladies. Then, last but by no means least was li'l ol' me with Ich Grolle Nicht, leaving Enchanted accompanied by Chris Hill and his impressive organ  ;-) to draw the curtain on proceedings with the stunning Hallelujah.

What a fabulous night again. So many triumphs, so many demons overcome and another happy audience. Everyone without exception did amazingly well and that is thanks to one person in particular. I won't mention her name again as she will start to get big-headed. Many thanks anyway!

What will the next twelve months bring?

Cheers, Alyn.

March and September Gigs

Well another cracking night was had by all as the Loughborough Male Voice Choir performed for a good sized audience at St. Andrew's Church, Kegworth on Saturday night. But, before I give you all the run-down on that fine evening's entertainment, I'd better bring you up to date on the Caroline Sharpe Singers. I'll spare you the feeble excuses for the delay and just get on with it okay?

Yes indeed, after the triumphant Enchanted Tour of 2012 a return trip to the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire region was always a possibility and a date in March was secured by Caroline for Saturday 31st August. That's March the village as opposed to March the month. Ha-ha! This 'away' gig would naturally necessitate a coach trip and late return but hey, we were up for it! The concert would involve Caroline Sharpe Singers and Enchanted plus the music of a newly formed foursome called Cantabile Brass, comprising Paul, Nick, Emily and Jo.

Waiting for the coach...

So, despite the words of 'Masquerade' stubbornly refusing to adhere to my brain-cells (and I wasn't alone there!) we assembled at Trinity in good time to board the Ausden Clark coach. Now anyone who has watched the hysterically funny sitcom '2012' about the Olympic Games Deliverance Committee, may remember a fantastic episode where the committee were to take a bunch of foreign dignitaries to the Olympic Park, but never quite got there after a farcical coach trip around London. Well, our journey to March took on bizarre similarities to that trip. The route we took I am yet to fully fathom, but there was a point when I felt like shouting out to the driver "whatever you do, don't go through the Dartford Tunnel, cos that would be like, madness"!

But we got there. Eventually! I spotted a Fossil Shop as we drove through March, but was cruelly denied the opportunity to have a 'butchers'. No matter, singing was afoot, and a quick rehearsal, before a pre-gig bite to eat. Between us, the Kings and the Oldales, we had assembled a banquet fit for a multitude. I would estimate there was enough left over to fill twelve baskets at least!

Preparations for the concert were, how shall I put it, interesting? Such was the size of the audience, there was woefully inadequate seating left for us artists, so we had to hastily arrange a few rows of seats along the sides to accommodate us all. 

Caroline Sharpe Singers getting organised 

before the concert in March, Cambs.

On to the concert and it started well with I Will Sing with the Spirit followed by Locus Iste which itself did start well, but the 'dreaded note' got to the tenors again! 'Irreprehensibilisest' began with a quiet horrible clash. I was confident I was hitting the right note, so increased my volume and prayed. Thankfully the whole thing didn't fall apart and Locus rescued itself. Phew!

Enchanted were great yet again performing seven songs in the first half including Hallelujah and my personal fave, Fever. It was nice to see the 'college girls' back in the line-up too! In between the girls songs we were treated to three tunes from Cantabile Brass. The one musician that stood out for me was the Euphonium player. The quality of tone he produced from his instrument was truly breathtaking and I felt compelled to tell him so after the concert. In the second half they rounded off their set with an ambitious rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which they had only thrown together days before apparently! Well, it was brilliant guys!

Other highlights were Enchanted's Chatanooga Choo Choo and the ol' fave, Oklahoma Medley which was the gals at their best. Then of course there was Masquerade. Strangely, the issue of singing without copies became pretty much academic as we didn't use copies for anything. And it showed in the performances. There's something a bit naff about standing in front of an audience with your folder of music I think. It would've been impossible to read any music anyway as the splendid Masquerade mask prevents spectacle wearing anyway. Despite a few rough edges, Masquerade went pretty well and the soloists did a great job just when they needed to. After a bit of a mess first time in rehearsal, they did great on the night. Special mention must be made of the staggering versatility of my wife Ruth. Standing in for the Alto Masquerade solo in the Sileby gig, this time she took the Soprano solo. Look out Jeff and Terry - you could be next.  Bravo all!

It seemed the audience really loved this concert, with the compere talking about wanting to make it an annual event. I have to say, there really is something special about singing in front of such an enthusiastic and receptive audience. Sometimes an audience can be a bit flat leaving you unsure as to whether they've enjoyed what they've heard. No such doubt with the March audience and it would be a pleasure to return.

The return coach trip was marginally less random than the outward trip and was highlighted by a music-less 'pass-the-parcel' game won by I know not who. There was also a rendition of an alternative Almost Like Being in Tune (love).

Well, I will leave you with that for now and return in a day or two with a round-up of the Male Voice Choir's concert at Kegworth.

Cheers for now,

Alyn

March in August and ladies with large posteriors?

So summer is here and singing takes something of a back seat. Loughborough Male Voice Choir rehearsals are on hold until early September but recent emails from the MD Chris Hill reminds us all to do a bit of work on a few parts in readiness for 'hitting the ground running' when we return as concerts in Kegworth, Trinity MCC and Merthyr Tydfil come thick and fast.

Caroline Sharpe Singers though aren't quite so idle, with regular Saturday morning rehearsals continuing throughout the summer, albeit interrupted by the occasional holiday. A concert in the town of March in the county of (I think) Cambridgeshire is focusing our minds at present and the aim of singing Masquerade without copies seems to have induced a state of panic in one or two.

Admittedly, yours truly needs to get his 'finger out' and learn his lines. As with most pieces this isn't usually too much of a problem when singing in a choir. Solo singing is a different kettle of frogs all together, but in a choir and with a conductor mouthing the words a bit, it will be fine. The trip to March will be great, with the choir plus fans and groupies taking the trip by coach. Should be fun!

With eyes on future gigs, Caroline introduced a new piece at this morning's rehearsal. Arranged by a certain Chris Hill, we are to attempt the Freddie Mercury and Queen classic Fat Bottomed Girls. This requires one or more male singers to take on the main verses as solos. The chorus provided by the rest of the choir seems quite tricky in parts, particularly the tenor part which is higher than the soprano part. Hmm, must have words with Mr Hill! Anyway, I am destined to take on one of the solo verses, probably the first verse which contains those immortal words "left alone with big fat fanny".

Now, I remember a chap called Simon Cowell of X-Factor fame, saying to one deluded fool after attempting to cover a Michael Jackson song, "if you are going to take on an icon, you have GOT to do it well". Whatever you may think of Mr Cowell, he does know what he is talking about. Freddie Mercury is probably the dictionary definition of 'icon', so a great deal of Youtube study of Freddie and videos of this song will inevitably follow. This is no place for Alfie Boe type 'proper'singing, but an opportunity to 'let ones-self go'.

I just hope I have got the nerve for this. It will provide me with the chance to live my fantasy of being a rock star for the day and God willing I won't need to be too intoxicated to achieve it! Next Monday evening's singing lesson with Caroline will include my first stab at FBG and I'll let you know how it goes. 

Cheers for now,

Alyn.

Time to catch up.

This working for a living really does have its drawbacks. Okay, it pays the bills (almost) but it does get in the way of the interesting stuff.

Like keeping this l'il ol' blog up to date. What have I been up to over the last month? Well another splendid Caroline Sharpe Singers concert for a start. Back on Saturday 6th July we presented a great concert at St Mary's Church, Sileby. The choir made its performing debut in Sileby to an embarrassingly tiny audience before Christmas 2011, so fingers were crossed that this time a larger proportion of the population of Sileby would turn up this time. No worries mate - we did indeed have a creditable audience. Sighs of relief!

The concert featured six songs by the choir plus twelve from the new look Enchanted. Additionally there were two sets from our special gust soloist for the evening, Alan Speight. While Alan was new to me he is actually very well known in these parts and has a wonderful baritone voice.

Highlights of the evening for me were definitely Alan Speight's solo spots, in particular his rendition of Linden Lea. Oh how that little song brought back memories for me! Alan's singing was quite beautiful and he is now another singer to add to my list of voices to aspire to. Great stuff and I think it won't be the last time that he is asked to be a guest of Caroline Sharpe Singers. It was funny to hear him say at the interval how he struggles to remember words these days. It gets worse with age apparently, so there's no hope for me then.

Enchanted were excellent again and appear to have suffered no ill-effects of the recent personnel changes. If anything, the sound is more balanced than previously or is that just the beneficial effects of my lovely new hearing aids? However, the biggest highlight, for all the wrong reasons was The Rose, sung heroically by the girls, but featuring a solo bit by Rose Lucas at the beginning and end. Heroically? Well yes, because of a certain embarrassing but unintentional blunder by the oblivious Chris Hill. You see, prior to The Rose, Alan Speight had completed his first set of songs. Chris had adjusted the key of his final piece on the piano from that of the music he had, to a key more suitable one for Alan. Obviously the piano would need to be re-set back to normal afterwards and it was. Well was supposed to have been...

Sadly I was sat behind the girls with the choir, so missed out on the look of sheer blind panic in the eyes of the girls, Livvy particularly, as they realised something was horribly wrong. The Rose commenced, way, WAY too low. To be frank, Bryn Terfel would've struggled to sing this low, but somehow the girls heroically gave a splendid if somewhat butch rendition of this lovely song. If you ever fancy joining the LMVC's baritone section Rose, you'd be very welcome. Ho-ho!

Chris Hill meanwhile blundered on regardless, blissfully unaware of any problem. Live music eh? Don't ya just love it?

The other highlight on the night was Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera. The sight of Jeff Buckley in his mask (see photos below) is something not to be missed. In truth this piece was far from perfect and moves are afoot to get us singing it without copies in future. Let's face it, everything is so much better without copies as the male voice choir has found lately.

We rounded off the evening with the dramatic I Believe which I thought was grrrr-eat! It needs to be the last piece, simply because it takes so much lung power to deliver that I'm good for absolutely nowt after it! A cracking night was had by all I think.

I will leave you with some superb photographs ruthlessly stolen from the Caroline Sharpe Singers Facebook page. Posted by Kate Pemberton, so presumably taken by her 'other half? Nice work mate!

Enjoy!

Will return soon with news of exciting developments for both the LMVC and CSS who both have up-coming 'away fixtures'. Exciting stuff!

Cheers for now, 

Alyn.

 Enchanted's Rose,Alice and Livvy 

 Caroline introduces The Caroline Sharpe Singers as only she can.

 The Caroline Sharpe Singers perform Masquerade.

More Caroline Sharpe Singers performing Masquerade. 

 A typical Caroline Sharpe Singers photo with Chris Higgins, Anna-Ruth and Livvy Thornber

the only ones looking at the musical director!

 The Caroline Sharpe Singers perform at St Mary's Church, Sileby.

 The Lone Ranger and Tonto?

No, it's Jeff Buckley and Terry Jones performing Masquerade.

Enchanted perform Fever.

L-R Holly,Alice, Kate, Amy, Caroline, Livvy, Rose and Anna-Ruth.

Possibly the best birthday ever!

We are now in the midst of the peak singing season for both Caroline Sharpe Singers and the Loughborough Male Voice Choir. Last weekend was Coalville Festival and this Saturday it's LMVC's spring concert at Trinity Methodist Church. With my 53rd birthday (no, I really am 53!) falling on this day, celebrations would have to wait.

Well actually, they took place on the Friday night because I found out that I had been offered a job late on Friday afternoon. Such was the relief, wine was consumed to excess resulting in thumping headache upon awakening on Saturday morning. Nothing a couple of paracetamols couldn't sort out though, so on with the show!

First on the birthday agenda was a rehearsal with Caroline Sharpe Singers at Trinity. By now via the wonder that is Facebook, just about everyone knew it was my birthday. Well, I presume Gilly Higgins knew it was my birthday as she gave me a kiss on the cheek! Prior to kicking off the rehearsal, I was given a highly tuneful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' which was nice. Ta very much people! Right after the rehearsal we tucked into Al's Birthday 'Rocky Road' a scrumptious creation made up of chocolate, biscuit, chocolate, marshmallow and chocolate, and topped with err, chocolate. Mmmm, nice! Much thanks to Ruth for this gastronomic delight!

Okay, next we had a short break before a short drive to Wymeswold to sing in another wedding. Now I'm not the biggest fan of church weddings but this one was even more forgettable than most. I mean, honestly, All Things Bright and Beautiful for a wedding? Oh dear!

Let's move swiftly on to the day's main event, The LMVC spring concert 'Sounds of Spring' with our special guests, The Enderby Band. We had met these gals and guys last summer at the outdoor concert in the sunshine at Beaumanor Hall and we were all very impressed with them then. With black shoes polished and gleaming white shirt ironed I arrived at the church to find Lyndon Gardner near the point of spontaneous combustion. It seemed getting about thirty men to sit where he wanted was proving beyond him, while he seemed reluctant to admit that three rows was never going to work. Chris Hill eventually had his way and two rows was the result. That seemed painfully obvious to me but hey, what do I know.

The Enderby Band assembled, complete with a very impressive percussion section. Just listening to them warm up was awesome. We joined them for a quick run through Rule Britannia and I stood directly behind the two E-flat basses, which brought back happy memories of my school brass band days, when I played that massive instrument. The band's musical director Jonathon Mott was a lively chap who has a wonderfully confident conducting style and something of a sense of humour too. Anyway, that was that until kick off.

Now after the choir's warm-up which included another rendition of 'Happy Birthday', (thanks chaps!) we rather oddly dispensed with the orderly procession to our seats in favour of a somewhat disorganised amble to our positions. This was to be honest, a bit of a mess and shouldn't be repeated. Instead of the audience clapping us to our seats they sat there waiting and wondering what the heck was happening. After what seemed like an eternity, Chris got things going with Stout Hearted Men, before Gerry did his humourous introductions. Gerry seems to be growing into the compere role in the absence of George and has got together some great one liners! We then followed that up with He Ain't Heavy and Speed your Journey. The latter has become a firm favourite of mine. I just love the changes in dynamics.

 LMVC with the Enderby Band

(Photo by Ruth using my i-phone)

A new piece followed that  which was a quartet arranged by our own Paul Blakemore, called Summer Scenes and included the voices of Paul himself, Gerry, Lyndon and Chris Hill. Yes folks, our MD can indeed actually sing! If ever the man wants to hang up his invisible baton there's a place awaiting alongside us second tenors! It was an interesting piece that needs a second listen. I'm sure we'll hear some more in the near future. Next Sunday perhaps?

Michael Dukes then took to the piano as part of the now legendary partnership with Gerry Brennan. Now I can't for the life of me remember what they did in the first half. It was funny tho and when I remember I will amend this blog. Bear with me chaps!

Chris Hill conducts LMVC with the Enderby Band at the front 

(Photo by Ruth using my i-phone)

After another set from the choir including The Way We Were, Lyndon Gardner followed with a couple of I think Tosti arias. Then Gerry introduced our guests the Enderby Band for their first set. Oh boy! Where the heck do I start? I've been trying to select the most appropriate superlatives to describe this band: Sensational; inspirational; awesome; spine-tingling etc, etc. I think the band is probably best described as simply A CLASS ACT. 

I have a bit of a background in Brass Band music, having played initially the Tenor Horn and latterly the E Flat Bass for my school's brass band. Having been to concerts by the Eagly Mills Band and the Black Dyke Mills Band in my youth, I think I know a good Brass Band when I hear one and Enderby Band are very, very good! It's a very long time since I've heard such a quality of sound. The purity of tone was simply magical and sent a shiver down the spine. Their second piece, Concert Etude featured a breathtaking solo from Nick Smith. What was obvious from the outset was that all members of this band are very talented musicians. 

The end of their set saw us through to the interval and a chance to draw breath and for Gilly Higgins to thrust promo flyers into the hands of eager punters to encourage an audience in the park next Sunday. Well done Gilly, you will be rewarded in heaven.

The second half began with the choir and the ever popular Amarillo, Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water and the welcome return of Let It Be Me. This then signalled a quick costume change for the Shanty Group, introduced by Terry Jones a.k.a. Captain Jack Sparrow! One song featured solos from several of the guys. Well done Terry Jones, Jim Hannam, Jim Lacey; Chris Higgins, Mike Godwin and young Peter Herbert. Bravo!

The Shanty Group featuring Chris Higgins on guitar and Mike Godwin on Harmonica

(Photo by Ruth using my i-phone)

The Shanty Group L-R Jim Hannam, Jim Lacey, Chris Higgins, Mike Godwin, Peter Herbert,

Gerald Morling and Terry Jones.

Next we had two pieces from West Side Story - Maria sung by Lyndon Gardner followed by Tonight by the choir and this was followed by another couple of songs from Mike and Gerry - the hilarious piece of political satire Hole in My Budget and finishing off with Slow Train.

Next up was the one we in the choir feared the most, the new Paul Blakemore arranged Moon River. This has proved something of a challenge from Day One. Hear the melody  is split between each part interspersed with lots of 'oohs' and 'doos'. Not easy but we were assured by Paul and Chris that we were doing okay and it would sound fine if only we sing it with a bit more confidence. Not easy when you're not feeling at all confident in what you're singing. When I'm singing my part it sounds a complete mess, but it's one of those pieces that needs to be heard in the audience to fully appreciate what's going on. I think I'll try that next time we sing it in rehearsal. Anyway, feedback suggests it sounded really good!

Okay, time for the Enderby Band again. What's this? Fat Bottomed Girls? Hmm! How was this, the Queen classic, going to sound from a brass band? Absolutely brilliant is the answer. It took all my will power to remain in my seat and not jump up and strut around the stage like Freddie Mercury. I made do with just singing "fat bottomed girls will be riding today" etc, etc. I wanted to scream "Get on your bikes and ride" at the appropriate time, but thankfully didn't. Then they performed Spanish Dance followed by the Tijuana classic A Taste of Honey and rounded things off with a Oklahoma medley. 

Stupendous, awe-inspiring and all the other superlatives used above. I can't remember enjoying a concert as much as this and it was an honour and a privilege to share the evening with such a classy set of musicians as this. I had a brief chat with their bass trombone player Tom Chinnery who said they do quite a few concerts and to keep my eye on their website for details. I also mentioned my E flat Bass playing past and he said "you can always start again"! They have a training band apparently. Very tempting if I wasn't already in two choirs and about to restart OU study. I'll definitely get to one of their concerts though and soon.

All that remained was for the band and choir to join together to round off the evening with Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia with the audience singing along. What a fantastic concert! I loved it and maybe we should think about more joint concerts with talented bands such as this.

I've got to personally thank all the Enderby Band for reawakening my love of brass band music and making it a birthday to remember for me. Cheers!

Well that's all folks until Sunday, 2pm in Queen's Park Bandstand for another sing-song in the sunshine! Fingers crossed and see you there.

Cheers for now,

Alyn.