Brahms Requiem Concert Instructions (click on link)

From Alan

Hi folks

Next week we will endeavour to get through as much of the following as possible

Movts 1, 17, 23, 25, 42, 44, 48, 54, 67

Chorales 21, 27, 52, 56, 65, 68

Bits : 3, 5, 29, 46

Thanks

From Carol

If you have not done this already:

Please indicate if you are intending to sing St John Passion on April 1st.

You can do this by ticking in the yellow column on your Register.

15th February 2023

7.30 Chrissy Webb

7.40 Jacky Stallard

7.50 Anna Johnson

8.00 Clare Gardner

8.10 Carol Atherton

8.20 Terry Caine

8.50 Kaye Horsfield

9.00 Alan North

9.10 Maureen Cave

22nd February 2023

7.30 (voice check) Michelle Roberts

7.45

8.00 Clare Lynch

8.10 Janet Smith

8.20 Hilary Fawcett

8.50 Jane Litherland

9.00 Marion Tattersall

9.10 Jim Tattersall

From Alan

Hi folks

Next week we will endeavour to get through as much of the following as possible :

Movts 17, 23, 25, 34, 48, 50, 54, 60, 67, and Chorales 15, 20, 21, 27

From Bill Clarke

Chorus members might be interested in this on-line workshop on the St John Passion with the Bach Choir and David Hill

https://www.thebachchoir.org.uk/concerts/david-hill-choral-workshop-bachs-st-john-passion/

From Carol

Please, all Members.....If you have recently (or not so recently) changed any of your contact details, can you let me know.

I am trying my hardest to fix the problem of members not receiving the SOC emails from me because for some reason their email address has dropped off my list. Thank you.

Handbell ringing.

Please see attached:

We are looking to recruit new members to our Handbell group. More info from Janet Smith. (Secretary)

Thanks!

From Hilary

Vocal Coaching Clinics

Following on last week’s message, please see below the schedule for this Wednesday , 8th February and next week, 15thFebruary. Thanks to those who let me know about dates they wouldn’t be available. Any problems with allocated ‘slots’ please let me know asap.

Thank you

Hilary

Hilary.fawcett@virginmedia.com

8th February 2023

7.30 (voice check) Michelle Roberts.

7.50 Claire Lynch

8.00 Kirsten Thorley

8.10 Helen Jackson

8.20 Averil Fleetwood

8.50 Laura Willis

9.00 Lydia Fielder-Lord

9.10 Jean Kealey

15th February 2023

7.30 Chrissy Webb

7.40 Jacky Stallard

7.50 Anna Johnson

8.00 Clare Gardner

8.10 Carol Atherton

8.20 Terry Caine

8.50 Kaye Horsfield

9.00 Alan North

9.10 Paul Jordan

From Alan

Hi folks

Next week we will endeavour to get through as much of the following as possible

Nos 1, 36, 38, 42, 44, 48, 60, 67, Chorales nos 7, 9, 15, and the minimovements 3, 5, 29, 46

Thanks

From Phil Hirst

Subject: Come and Sing event

Message: I wonder whether any of your members would be interested in this event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/come-and-sing-faure-requiem-tickets-528561079417

COME AND SING! - Fauré Requiem

A wonderful afternoon of music-making and cake featuring Fauré's Requiem.

www.eventbrite.com

From Sue Blaby

A Friendly Stop

See attached for details

The occasions are led by the Vicar, The Revd Canon Mark Brown, with some of the organists team from All Saints.

Vocal Coaching Clinics

Those of you attending before Christmas will be aware that Vivien carried out another series of individual coaching sessions last term. A number of people were unable to attend, plus many SOC members have returned this term, therefore I’ve been asked to schedule some more clinics .

These will take place over February only – so on 8th, 15th and 22nd February. So if you did not have a session with Vivien last term and are a SOC member (guest singers please disregard this message!) please note the following:

Please let me know if you will not be at rehearsal on one of these dates

If anyone wants to book their session during the break this Wednesday that would be helpful. (I sit with A2)

I will send the schedules out with notices via Carol

There is a possible option for small group sessions of 2 or 3 people – let me know asap if you would prefer this

Many thanks

Hilary

NB Any outstanding Voice Tests will take place during these dates...Carol

From Alan

Hi folks

Next week we will endeavour to get through nos. 17, 23, 25, 54, 60, 56

Thanks

Choral Bangers 2 with Cantores Feriatum, conducted by Philip Collin.

At St John’s Ranmoor, 7.30pm on Saturday 11th February

Free admission with a retiring collection in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind

After the success of last year’s Choral Bangers, once again a talented group of singers from all around the country will come together in Sheffield to perform some of the greatest pieces of choral music.

Programme is:

Os Justi – Anton Bruckner

Laudibus in Sanctis - William Byrd

Jesu, meine Freude – J S Bach

Rejoice in the Lamb - Benjamin Britten

4 Motets on Gregorian Themes – Maurice Durufle

Lord, thou hast been our refuge – Ralph Vaughan Williams

DAVID CLOVER FESTIVAL OF SINGING

This coming weekend and the following one are the times when the David Clover Festival of Singing takes place. The SOC sponsors and strongly supports the David Clover. All the essential details are in the attached flyer – please download and circulate.

We particularly recommend the Finals evening for each weekend when selected performers sing again. This Saturday (28th) the performances are here at St Andrew’s. Sunday 5th they are at Tapton Hall. More details from Tony: 07896107137 a.m.trippett@sheffield.ac.uk

From Alan

Hi Folks

Next week we will endeavour to get through the following

No. 1 Lord, Lord

No 17 Art thou not

No 23 If this man

No 25 It is not lawful

No 50 Write thou not

No 54 Let us not divide

No 60 My Lord and Saviour

Chorales 15, 52, 56, 68

Thanks

From Munha Lee (Sop)

Please find below three sites of St John's Passion learning tracks.

https://www.cyberbass.org/Major_Works/Bach_J_S/bach_js_st_john_passion.htm

https://www.choralia.net/bh03mp3/bh03mp3en.htm

http://www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk/Bach/St-John/stjohn.html

From Janet Smith

See updated AGM Agenda attached

From Carol

I have printed off some of the slips Janet Smith has circulated re the committee posts that will be vacant after the AGM.

I will bring them on Wednesday. She wants them back by 25th Jan.

More Attached.

Please if you have a cough or cold take into consideration anyone in the Chorus who may have less immunity to these Respiratory Viruses that are around at the moment.

Either wear a mask when socialising or do not attend rehearsal.

And: Please could everyone sign in as you arrive at rehearsal.

That means Members and Guests. Thank you.

Good to see lots of folk old and new back at rehearsal on Wednesday evening.

From Alan

Next week we will focus on the following choruses

No. 1 Lord, Lord, Lord

No. 17 Art thou not

No. 36 Crucify

No. 54 Let us not divide

Thanks

From Janet

Dear fellow SOC member

Please find attached the Notice of SOC 2022 AGM, together with nomination forms and the Annual Report and Accounts.

As the Notice states, the Agenda will be sent at a later date, but prior to the meeting. This is to allow time for nominations to be received from members. Please note that, as stated in the Constitution, completed nomination forms, including the candidate's agreement to stand, must be received by me no later than the end of rehearsal on 25th January 2023.

Best wishes

Janet Smith

Secretary, SOC

Repeat Notice:

From Kath

Library matters:

For those who wish to hire a St. John score, they’ll be available on Wednesday evening, price £3.00.

Please could members return the three photocopied carols if they are in a decent state – we may wish to use them again. Also, if you hired a folder and/or a copy of 100 CfC please could you return those.

Thanks. The Library Team

News from SOC Committee December 2022

Our Summer Concert in 2023 is set to be a showstopper. We join with Robert’s Chamber Choir and sing works with a distinct Jazz flavour including Will Todd’s Mass in Blue.

This concert is going to cost a bomb to put on and we need to raise £5000 to make it happen. Members will be encouraged to do some fundraising, sell tickets and publicise the concert.

Following on from our discussions on Singing in a Cold Climate the Committee has made overtures to other Sheffield choirs about singing together more. In Summer 2024 we will join with the Sheffield Bach Choir to perform Brahms A German Requiem with Elizabeth Watts as soloist. Sheffield Cathedral is not available so we are looking for another sizeable venue – suggestions welcome.

Our AGM is set for Wednesday 1st Feb 2023. There will be big changes in the Committee as both Bill and Janet are stepping down as Chair and Secretary. Please consider whether you could help with the running of SOC. We may need a couple of Voice Reps – always a good way to see how the choir works. Speak to any of the Committee, whose photos are on cards in the foyer.

2023 will see the launch of the SOC Patrons Scheme which will involve our regular audience more closely and bring in revenue. Patrons pay £50 annually or £100 for a Season ticket. We will be looking for a volunteer to run this scheme. More in the new year.

Finally remember that there are rehearsals on both the 14th and 15th December, the latter at 6pm.

From Kath ( Library Team )

Outstanding music returns:

Many thanks to those of you who returned their music (via a variety of means!) last week. If you still have music from the last concert please could you return it on Wednesday. It’s due back at the library shortly and some of it is booked by another choir. If by any chance you can’t get it back please would you let me know (kathmilner@live.co.uk). Thanks.

From Phil Hirst

URGENT - Supplies for Christmas Hamper Raffle

We urgently need supplies for the Christmas hamper raffle and would be grateful for whatever you can bring in terms of festive food/drink offerings in tins, jars, bottles and boxes.

THESE HAVE TO BE BROUGHT ON WEDNESDAY 7th (THIS WEEK!).

Susan Page will be making up the hampers and will be collecting the donations early next week when she returns from Hong Kong.

Thanks in anticipation of your support.

From Helen Smith

Learning your part

You can download for free midi files from 100 Carols for Choirs at https://www.royalfreemusicsociety.org.uk/Archive00a.htm

This may be useful especially for newer members of the choir who are less familiar with the carols.

SOC – Hodie (semichorus – separate sheet) B. Britten

CAROL (Everybody) ONCE IN ROYAL (vs. 1, 2, 5, 6) p 260

SOC –Deck the Hall (p 72) Welsh trad. arr. D. Willcocks

Child in a manger (p 68) Celtic trad arr. J. Rutter

LODGE MOOR CHILDREN’S CHOIR

CAROL (Everybody) SEE AMID THE WINTER’s SNOW (vs. 1, 2, 5, 6) p 283

SOC – How sweet is Love (sep sheet) M. Paget

There is no Rose (sep sheet) J. Joubert

Sussex Carol (p 242) English trad. arr. D. Willcocks

CAROL.(Everybody) HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING p 107

INTERVAL

CAROL (Everybody) O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (p 234)

SOC – I saw a maiden (p 137) Basque Noel arr E. Pettman

Sans Day Carol (p 219) Cornish trad. arr J. Rutter

A babe is born (p 6) W. Mathias

CAROL (Everybody) –UNTO US IS BORN A SON p 357

LODGE MOOR CHILDREN’S CHOIR

SOC – O Holy Night (sep sheet) F. Wilson

In the Bleak Mid-Winter (p 174 H. Darke

Star Carol (p 293) J. Rutter

CAROL (Everybody) – O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (vs 1, 2, 5, 6) p 226

Conductor : Alan Eost

Organist : Peter Heginbotham

Hi folks

Thanks and well done for Saturday's concert.

Christmas programme is attached. Page nos are from 100 Carols for Choirs

Onwards and upwards

Alan

Return of scores and folders:

Please could everyone make every effort to return their hired scores no later than Wednesday, 7th December? It would be great to have as many as possible back this coming Wednesday but the following Wednesday will be in time if you’re not attending this week. Please erase all the markings you personally have made and if you hired a folder don’t forget to return that as well.

If you haven’t got your Christmas music yet, a reminder that the three photocopied carols are 50p for the set, to cover our costs, and if you need 100 Carols for Choirs they are £2.50 to hire.

Thanks. The Library Team

From Alan

PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THIS

Hi folks

Next week we will go through the complete programme including choreography. A late finish is very likely but worth it to ensure that we maintain the reputation that we rightly have for delivering quality Choral singing and to ensure that we rise above last night's disappointing show.

NB That the Rehearsal will still be at St Andrews Psalter Lane.

I am asking Carol to resend the email of 15 September showing who is doing what. Please note if you have not done so already. There is one small change in that the semichorus will now do the whole of the Benedictus ***

Notice Sept 15th 2022 below :

I would like the following members of the Chamber Choir please to form the semichorus sections of this term's programme

Sopranos - Sonia Mosley, Lydia Lord, Jackie Stallard, Caitlin Parkhouse, Lois McGrath, Kathryn Lockwood

Altos - Kath Milner, Janice Knibbs, Michaela Dietz, Emily Fowler, Claire Lynch, Alison White

Tenors - Robin Hughes, Geoffrey White, Bill Clarke

Basses - Phil Hirst, Bob Fowler, Bryan Robson, Tony Tippett, Richard Thompson.

Division of Labour as follows

MAIN CHORUS

Victoria Mass

Kyrie bars 1 - 11, 23 - end

Gloria bars 1 - 45, 61 - end

Credo bars 1 - 49, 101 - end

Sanctus - all

***Benedictus - bars 31 - end

Agnus Dei - all

Festival Te Deum - all - (solo covered by semichorus)

Hymn to St Cecilia - pp. 1 - 13, pp. 27 - end (solos covered by semichorus)

Chilcott - all (Upper voice choir covered by semichorus)

SEMICHORUS - with the main choir plus the following

Victoria Mass

Kyrie - bars 12 - 22

Gloria - bars 46 - 60

Credo - bars 50 - 100

Benedictus - bars 1 - 30 ***

Festival Te Deum - pp 16 - 17 sopranos take the treble solo.

Hymn to St Cecilia

pp 14 - 26

Figures 21 to 23 - sopranos take solo.

p 37 - altos take solo

p 38 - basses take solo

p 40 - sopranos take solo

p 42 - tenors take solo

Chilcott : Upper voice choir to be sung by Sonia, Lydia, Jackie, Michaela, Claire

There will also be some plainsong hymns - details in due course.

There may be some adjustments as we go on!

Thanks

From Lydia

Curry Evening

There is a pre Xmas SOC Curry Evening on Saturday 3rd December at 7.30 p.m. at the Kashmiri Aroma, Chesterfield Road, Woodseats. If you'd like to go please sign the list which Bill will put on the register table at rehearsal next week or email me on lydialord52@gmail.com saying how many places you want to book.

Thanks

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir

Dear singing friends,

One year more, I am delighted to announce our 24th Choral Day will take place on the 3rd of June 2023 at our usual venue: Central Methodist Church (Chesterfield). This year we will be doing Karl Jenkins' The Peace Markers. Karl Jenkins has been very popular in previous Choral Days and hence Steven has selected this wonderful work. This time you will have the option to pay by bank transfer or cheque. Attached are the registration forms with all the instructions. Hope they are self explanatory but please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. I have attached a pdf and word versions to enable you to complete them electronically and send them back to us should you prefer to use the e-mail option.

This year Angela Walker (Choir Secretary for the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir) will be helping with the registrations. Hence you may see some e-mails from her from this e-mail account responding to enquiries.

Please note the deadline for pre-registrations of the 31st of December (date we should have received your payment and registration form by). After that day registrations will go up from £16 to £20.

For those interested in practising beforehand, there are recordings of individual voice parts in Choraline.

Very much looking forward to seeing you all in June next year!!

Best wishes,

Miguel

Also

Congleton Choral Society to perform Carmina Burana

Please would you share details of Congleton Choral Society’s Autumn Concert with your members?

We apologise for the error in our previous post: the date of the concert was given incorrectly as 1 October: the correct date is 19 November 2022.

Full details below, including a link to the information and booking page on our website.

Congleton Choral Society will perform Carl Orff’s thrilling Carmina Burana, a favourite with audiences everywhere, in an exciting arrangement for two pianos and percussion. The programme also includes the lyrical Soleils de Septembreby Lily Boulanger and music from Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms.

Conducted by Tom Newall, with professional soloists and accompanists.

7:30pm, Saturday 19 November 2022

Congleton Town Hall, High Street, Congleton, CW12 1BN

See our website for more information and to book

Visit our website

From Alan

Next week we will endeavour to get through the following

Victoria : Kyrie, Credo, Agnus Dei
Chilcott : 3rd movement
Te Deum pp 9 - end
Hymn to St Cecilia : all if time

Thanks

Alan

From Helen Ledger

Hello everyone,

At our discussion evening last month, it was agreed that the post it notes comments collected would be shared with all choir members. The attached document includes all those notes (highlighted in blue) plus a few comments received separately by email. The committee have started to discuss the comments and are starting to pull together thoughts on the actions that we can or have already started to undertake, these will be shared as soon as we can. Please bear with us, we want to be able to discuss all these ideas and as you will see there are a lot. Thanks again for your fantastic support during that discussion evening.

If you don't feel you comment has been included or you have any additional thoughts you want to add please do send them to me via email - ledger10@hotmail.com.

Thanks.

Next week we will endeavour to get through the following

Festival Te Deum

Hymn to St Cecilia pp 1 - 13, 29 - 42

Victoria Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei

Also - semichorus at end of rehearsal including the plainsong

We are making progress - a member who was out of last night's rehearsal (for the vocal clinic) said how beautiful it sounded

Thanks

Alan

Vocal Coaching

Please see below the schedule for this Wednesday’s sessions with Vivien. The full list up to and including 2/11/22 is attached. Please have a look and let me know of any problems asap.

There are some amendments due to requests for changes so it is not exactly the same as last week, so please check.

Thank you

Hilary

Hilary.fawcett@virginmedia.com

05/10/22

Name

7.30 Heulwyn Evans

7.40 Jenny Elliott

7.50 Kath Milner

8.00 Ruth Crowley

8.10 Lizzie Mussell

8.20 Heather Oddy

8.50 Michael Parkinson

9.00 Bryan Robson

9.10 Margaret Thompson

From Carol

Please sign the Condolence Card for Laurence Coates.

I cannot be at rehearsal this week so please make sure it is posted... Thanks,

Next week we will look at the following

Victoria : Agnus Dei

Chilcott : all 3 movements if time

Hymn to St Cecilia : pp 29 - end

Semichorus at end please

Thanks

Alan

From Hilary Fawcett

Vocal Coaching

Individual coaching with Vivien starts this week and the schedule for Wednesday is below. Attached is a list of the weekly schedules up to 2nd November after which this will be paused until after the concert.

Thank you for all messages about availability – it is really helpful. Any issue with your allocated slot, let me know. It is fine to arrange a swap but please let me know so I can keep track and make sure Vivien has an accurate list.

Thank you

Hilary

Hilary.fawcett@virginmedia.com

28/09/22 Name

7.30 Christine Mills. Audition

7.45 Michelle Roberts. Audition

8.00 Helen Boyce

8.10 Emily Fowler

8.20 Alison White

8.50 Connie Chapman

9.00 Alex Martin

9.10 Helen Ledger

From Phil Hirst

Could you remind members that the rehearsal resources sent out in the notices last week are accessible from the SOC website in the Members Area under Resources.

https://www.sheffieldoratorio.org.uk/resources

From Carol

Sadly I have to pass on the news from Laurence Coates that his wife Liz died last week after a long illness.

Laurence retired as a Tenor a couple of years ago, he had been a massive part of the administration of the Society for many years.

Funeral arrangements will be passed on when I have them.

Please sign the card of condolence next to the registers.

Next week we will look again at the Hymn to St Cecilia pp 29 - 42 which we some good progress on yesterday. Also movements 1, 3 of the Canticles of Light and if time Credo and Sanctus of the Victoria mass.

Thanks

Alan

Some members have not been receiving weekly SOC Notices. There have been some very important ones this last 3 weeks.

Please let me know if you have not been getting SOC notices. I can send any you may have missed. Check with others too.

I apologise if you get 2 of this weeks.

Subscriptions for 2022/23

I’ve already been asked about subscriptions so here’s the current information:

The rate is £150 per year or £50 per term or £12.50 per month by standing order. If you pay monthly please update your standing order from £11 to £12.50 per month if you’ve not already done that.

Payments of full or termly amounts can be made by cheque at rehearsals or online to our bank.

Sheffield Oratorio Chorus Sort Code: 54-41-47 Account No: 02037165.

At rehearsals you can give cheques or cash to either Helen Ledger (Alto) or myself. We have become the finance team, as those of you with long memories will remember from some years ago when you usually gave your subs and any other money to Helen. She is once again taking on the receipt of money and I’m paying the bills.

Helen is also organising the provision of Cake at rehearsals so you may find her around the cake area in the interval. She’s hoping not to have to be the baker too often so if you would like to volunteer to go on the rota she’ll be delighted to see you. Cake is 50p and the proceeds go into the funds as well as providing a pleasant interlude and extra energy for singing.

Any queries please email me on margaret@thompson47a.plus.com

From Paul Clarke:

‘Come and Sing’ open rehearsal with Huddersfield Singers

Monday 3rd October 2022 19:30-21:30

Faure ‘Requiem in D Minor’
Bainton ‘And I Saw a New Heaven’
Warrell ‘A Merry Christmas’

Huddersfield Mission, 3-13 Lord Street, Huddersfield HD1 1QA

More info. secretary@huddersfieldsingers.org.uk

From Alan

Hi folks
Next week we will endeavour to get through as much of the following as possible

Victoria : Credo pp 12 - 15, 18 - end

Chilcott : 2nd movement

Hymn to St Cecilia pp 1 - 13, 27 - 32, 42 - end

Thanks

Alan

From

Congleton Choral Society:

Singing Day With Bob Chilcott: Saturday 1st Oct 2022 10am to 4.30pm

St Michael and All Angels Church, Macclesfield. SK10 1DY

Rehearsals for the 2022-23 Season recommence on Wednesday 7th September at St. Andrew’s Church, Psalter Lane S11 8YL

We will be rehearsing for the concert on 26th November when we will be singing

Victoria - Missa O Quam Gloriosum est Regnum
Britten - Festival Te Deum
Britten - Hymn to St Cecilia
Chilcott - Canticles of Light