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THE 2010 highlight for us was singing in the Three Choirs Plus Community Choir in Gloucester Cathedral on the 15th August. This is a video capture of a few of the 184 singers from all over the country. Can you spot us? Charmian is on the far right and I am on second left. Named “Jazz Psalm Sunday”, the concert was in two halves. The first comprised of:
The second comprised of Jazz Psalms composed by Scott Stroman and specially commissioned for the Three Choirs Plus concert.
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It was a real treat to have the London Jazz Chamber Ensemble playing at the concert. My knowledge of Jazz is limited but it is growing on me. Since the concert I have listened to the audio broadcast and watched the DVD several times. The Ensemble consisted of: Scott Stroman (director and vocals), Zóltan Lantos (violin), Cennet Jönsson (soprano, tenor saxophones and bass clarinet), Pete Hurt (alto saxophone and clarinet) Henry Lowther (trumpet and flugelhorn), Jeremy Price (trombone), Justin Quinn (guitar), Ronan Guilfoyle (bass guitar), and Paul Clarvis (drums and percussion). During each item there was an improvisation played by one or more of the musician which interpreted the word into music. Gradually I am beginning to understand how the musical interludes take the words, especially the Jazz Psalms to new heights! |
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I am very grateful to the several people who made it possible to sing in the concert. These include Charmian who amongst other things organised attendance at the Caravan Club Singers rallies and Gathering Days, Brian and Alison Ley, musical directors of the Caravan Club Singers, and Scott Stroman who let me use a music stand and arrange a chair at the front. Also to Anna, who runs “Steady Steps” exercises and Nulla who teaches “Aqua Fit” at our local leisure centre. Amazingly I was able to stand albeit with the aid of my walking stick, throughout the performance. And many others, not the least those who carried my stand and Jim Muggeridge who exercised our dogs whilst Charmian and I were at rehearsals and during the concert itself. |
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My Love Of Psalms and Anglican Chants IF you have visited my website you will know that my favourite psalm is 133:- 1. Behold, how good and joyful a | thing it| is : brethren to | dwell to- | gether in unity! 2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down | unto the |’ beard : even unto Aaron's beard, and went | down to the skirts | of his |’ clothing. 3. Like as the | dew of | Hermon : which fell up | on the | hill of | Sion. 4. For there the Lord | promised his | blessing : and | life for | ever | more. This version is from “The Parish Psalter” pointed for chanting by Sydney H. Nicholson arranged according to the Book of Common Prayer. The symbol | correspond to the chant’s bar lines. Anglican chant is a way of singing un-metrical texts, such as prose translations of the psalms and canticles by matching the natural speech-rhythm of the words in each verse to a short piece of metrical music. It may be fairly described as "harmonized recitative". It is said to have the twofold purpose of enhancing the words of the sacred text and serving as an aid for both the singer and listener to attain a meditative state. Most of you know I have a stammer. As a boy and despite the efforts of several speech therapists I blocked badly. It was only in my teens (early 1960s) that I was introduced to syllabic speech, namely each syllable being enunciated separately. Whilst this technique greatly loosened my block, most people found it monotonous to listen to and preferred my old way of stammering! I joined the choir of St Mary’s, Speenhamland in April 1958. There I learnt singing psalms to Anglican chants. Often people don’t have the patience to learn and to practice regularly. I was highly motivated to persevere so that I could modify the monosyllabic to something more like how those who don’t stammer speak.
Sadly psalms and canticles at our church are sung infrequently,
less than once a month. I dread them being dropped altogether and no
doubt, having to revert to the monosyllabic speech
again that is so boring to listeners! |
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THIS year we have been on 16 caravan rallies. Here is a picture of my sister, Bettine and Charmian walking the dogs at Caen Locks, Devizes. |
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Newbury
and District Organists’ Association lunch at “The
Blackbird”, Bagnor. Back row l-to-r, Charmian & Robert Willis,
Peter Greenwood, Alistair Davis, |
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Charmian and I have been members of the National Trust for over 35 years. Whenever we go caravanning we like to visit National Trust properties. This year we managed to visit 12 properties. May: Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Wolverhampton, West Midlands June: Alfriston Clergy House, The Tye, Alfriston, East Sussex Baddesley Clinton, Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire Coughton Court, Nr. Alcester, Warwickshire August: Cliveden, Taplow, Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire Croome Park, Croome D’Abbot, Worcestershire Hanbury Hall, Hanbury, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire September: The Workhouse, Southwell, Nottinghamshire October: Ilam Park & South Peak Estate, Derbyshire Kedleston Hall, Nr Quarndon, Derbyshire Sudbury Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire Little Moreton Hall, Congleton, Cheshire |
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All of the above properties were well worth a visit, but the one which I remember most is The Workhouse at Southwell. It is billed as “the most complete workhouse in existence”. The founder of The Workhouse was the Reverend Becher. Sadly we did not have time to watch the introductory film, although we able to listen to the audio guide. Based on real archive records, the audio guide helped us bring the 19th-century inhabitants back to life and discover how society dealt with poverty through the centuries. We were able to explore the segregated work yards, day rooms, dormitories, master's quarters and cellars, and then see the recreated working 19th-century garden and find out what food the paupers would have eaten. Built in 1824, it was the prototype of the 19th century workhouse, and was cited by the Royal Commission on the poor law as the best example among the existing workhouses, before the resulting New Poor Law of 1834 led to the construction of workhouses across the country. The Workhouse was used as temporary homeless accommodation until 1976. The acquisition of The Workhouse reflected the National Trust's wish to broaden its interests and to ensure the continued existence of a Grade II* listed building that was potentially to be turned into residential flats. Restoration work began with roof repairs in 2000 and is ongoing. Many rooms have been redecorated as they would have looked in the 19th century and buildings, walls and privies, which had been demolished in the 20th century, have been reinstated. All of the above properties were well worth a visit, but the one which I remember most is The Workhouse at Southwell. It is billed as “the most complete workhouse in existence”. The founder of The Workhouse was the Reverend Becher. Sadly we did not have time to watch the introductory film, although we able to listen to the audio guide. Based on real archive records, the audio guide helped us bring the 19th-century inhabitants back to life and discover how society dealt with poverty through the centuries. We were able to explore the segregated work yards, day rooms, dormitories, master's quarters and cellars, and then see the recreated working 19th-century garden and find out what food the paupers would have eaten. The acquisition of The Workhouse reflected the National Trust's wish to broaden its interests and to ensure the continued existence of a Grade II* listed building that was potentially to be turned into residential flats. Restoration work began with roof repairs in 2000 and is ongoing. Many rooms have been redecorated as they would have looked in the 19th century and buildings, walls and privies, which had been demolished in the 20th century, have been reinstated. |
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