Checking in...

Dear all,

Just checking to see if this works.

Try clicking on the CD cover above...

Have a great day!

Matthew

Dear friends 

There are lots of singing opportunities coming up. The details of one of these are below.

I'll email the others to out to you to-day 

Sally 





Hello everyone,

On the invitation of the Adult Learning Project, Edinburgh's very own Georgian singing group Skotebi are running a free one-day workshop on Saturday 8th December, see details below.

It is suitable for everyone who wants to spend the day exploring their voices and singing with others instead of doing their Christmas shopping..

It will be possible just to turn up on the day, but it would be helpful for calculating numbers if you could let us know in advance if you would like to come - you can also sign up on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/events/462036163838730/

Also please feel free to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested - a flyer is attached - so-called "non-singers" especially welcome!

Best
David Tugwell

Find your voice through Georgian singing
A free workshop with Edinburgh Georgian vocal group Skotebi 

Saturday December 8th 2012

10 am to 4 pm.
Come for the whole day, or just for the morning 10:00 to 12:30
Tollcross Community Centre
117 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9QG
Explore the natural sound of your singing voice and experience how your voice can join together and harmonise with others.

We start with simple exercises to explore the natural resonance of our body and how it relates to the sounds we produce.
We will then learn by ear some simple traditional songs from the Republic of Georgia. Georgian folk songs are nearly always in 3 parts and their folk harmonies have an elemental power.

No singing experience necessary Everyone can sing!
For more information, contact:
David at georgiansong@gmail.com or Mike on 07786280891

With the Adult Learning Project (http:/alpedinburgh.btck.co.uk/

)

Dear friends 

As you'll have noticed, the plan to send out music files of the Lonesome Road parts has not been achieved. Really sorry!  We will get them to you in due course, though. 

The committee and Matthew met last night and we fixed a date for carol singing in Rose Street. The date is Saturday 15th December and we'll sing in aid of Shelter Scotland again.  More details to follow. 

Also we'll have a Christmas party, possibly on the evening of Monday 17th December. Again details to follow. 

Dear friends  

Last Monday we heard about the possibility of having a singing weekend at Stroove, Skelmorlie, Ayrshire in the summer term. There was lots of interest so we've booked - for the weekend of 17th - 19th May 2013. There'll be more information about it very soon. 

And - here are the words of the 4 part round, Jordan Train,  which we began last week: 

1.    See that ol' railroad engine

       Is driving its way to the promised land

2.    It's coming, it's coming rolling along the track

       It's coming 'long the Jordan way

3.    It whistles its message

       To all who pass by that way

4.    And stops every station

       To spread forth the Lord's good word

See you Monday

Sally  

Ali Burn's Songs for the dark turn of the year Workshop

Here is some information from Ali Burns about workshops she is running in November. One in Edinburgh, the other in Glasgow  

Songs for the dark turn of the year

From Cornwall to Orkney and Northumberland to the West coast of Ireland, Britain has a hugh legacy of virtually unknown folk carols and songs to celebrate winter customs.

Inspired by the metaphors of light, song and celebration of community in the middle of winter, I have updated this legacy for our times.  Through my research I have restored, re-invented and arranged a new body of stunning and entirely singable songs for winter.

Join me for a day of great singing, beautiful songs and transcendent harmonies.

EDINBURGH

Sunday 18th November at the Columcille Centre, Newbattle Terrace

10.30 - 4.30 (10.30 coffee for 11.00 start), £25 - coffee and cake included, bring lunch to share

Bookings: 01556 503 646, or through my website www.aliburns.co.uk

GLASGOW

Sunday 25th November at the Mackintosh Church, 870 Garscube Road, G20

10.30 - 4.30 (10.30 coffee for 11.00 start), £20 - includes a sandwich lunch

Bookings and enquiries: tickets@themackintoshchoir.org

Best wishes

Alison Burns

01556 503 646

07801 244 867

www.aliburns.co.uk

Soon we'll be back

Hello friends 

The beginning of term - wonderfully - is now very close - Monday 8th. 

As well as welcoming Matthew on 8th. We'll be welcoming 3, possibly a few more, new members. As you know, we always make sure that 2-3 members meet and greet newcomers and spend a little while with them explaining 'what happens', where the different parts stand/sit etc (And, this time, that we'll be having the AGM).  Olive will be there to meet & greet and we need one or two other members to join her. Please let Olive or me (Sally) know if you're happy to do this. Many thanks. 

Re. The AGM, the Chair's report has been circulated. However if you haven't received this please contact me. The Treasurer's Report will be emailed to you before 8th. 

Also, of much interest -  Matthew is a soloist (Gerontius) in a performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius in Glasgow on Saturday 13th October. The details are: 7.30 pm, 13th October, Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow. Tickets £10 (children free) tickets@agap.org.uk or 0141 554 1333 (www.agap.org.uk)

See you soon.... 

Singing opportunities

Dear all 

Here's some information about singing opportunities with  David Burbridge 

Sally 


Dear Singers and friends, 

I hope you had a good summer. This is to let you know that booking is now open for our singing events through the autumn - and into next year.  

Due to popular demand, we've got some extra accommodation so now have some more space on our  Folk Carols festival in Dent over the first weekend of December - and also on our Singing Settle Carlisle railway weekend over the first weekend of October. Please let me know if you would like to join us on a week-long Tour of Slovenia learning and singing Slovenian and English songs over the half term holiday in late October. And then next year we have our traditional Lakeland Songline four days hill walking and singing through the Lake District, and a week on Jura over Easter back at Ardlussa House at the northern end of the island. 

And finally, if you would like a tailor made choir visit to the Lake District or Slovenia meeting other choirs - we can arrange it for you. Please forward this email to those who might be interested. 

Tuesdays from September 11 - Lakeland Voices. Community choir in the Castle Street Community choir - warm ups, songs taught by ear, interesting folk harmony from the UK and around the world - including a bonanza of folk carols which we'll sing in the pubs nearer Christmas. And cracking good company. 

October 5-7 - Singing Settle Carlisle Railway. Learn and sing songs to sing in harmony on this magnificent mountain railway. Accommodation in the Old School opposite the Hill Inn, Ribblehead near Ingleton. Workshops, railway walks, concerts, ceilidh, singarounds, meals, train tickets, and accommodation - £115 all inclusive.

October 27-November 3 - Slovenia - join a group of singers touring Slovenia meeting local choirs, learning Slovenian songs, with concerts, walks, sightseeing, meals, accommodation, transport etc. - £360 - plus cheap Easyjet flights from Stanstead to Ljubljana.  

November 30 - December 3 - Dent Folk Carols festival - join us in this ancient Yorkshire Dales village for a feast of carol singing - from old to new and from near and far - with workshops, concerts, singing walks, Christmas market, festive meals, pub singing, Slovenian carols, and single/twin/double rooms in village cottages from £12 per session - or whole weekend with accommodation and meals: £115-£140 - this year with a Sunday evening event and three nights accommodation if wanted. 

2013 - Choir visits to the Lake District and Slovenia. If you lead or sing in a choir and would be interested in your choir meeting local and visiting choirs here in the Lake District or in Slovenia - please get in touch. With enough notice we can usually arrange visits to suit your needs which can include songs swaps, workshops, concerts, meeting local and visiting choirs and singers, walks to sing in places of extraordinary beauty....even singing on Lakeland steamers and in vast caverns. Depending on your budget we can arrange meals and accommodation ranging from camping, through youth hostels and bunk barns, to luxury accommodation with twin and double rooms - from just £95 each for the weekend. Or join our regular mid-June Choirs Meet in the central Lake District. 

We also continue with our regular singing events throughout 2013 including our Spring Sing Thing Lakeland walk and workshop March 23, a harmony singing week on The Scottish Isle of Jura - March 29-April 5 , our Lakeland Songline 4 day walk through the Lake District May 24-27.......and many other events detailed on our website. 

Best wishes to you all, 

David

David Burbidge , Lakeland Voice,
Smithy Cottage, Farfield, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5LW, England. Tel. 015396.21166  http://www.lakelandvoice.co.uk  

videos of singing groups at  http://www.youtube.com/Davidburbidge and videos to learn songs at  http://www.youtube.com/Lakelandvoices

"And this shall be for a bond between us: that we are of one blood you and I; that we have cried peace to all and claimed fellowship with every living thing; that we hate war and sloth and greed, and love fellowship....and that we shall go singing to the fashioning of a new world." William Morris

Dear friends 

This our first Newsflash since the beginning of July. It seems a very long time ago. 

Welcome back! 

The new term starts on Monday 8th October and we'll be welcoming Matthew, our new musical director.   

If you possibly can please arrive by 6.50 so that we can start promptly at 7p.m. 

and then there's money....  Please please pay your fees. The committee is introducing a small adjustment to the fees system. This how it goes: there's an early bird discount for everyone who pays before the end of the 2nd week of term - the fees are £45(full)/£25(conc). Fees paid after the end of the 2nd week are now £50(full)/£30(conc). We'll email you details for making bank transfer. 

And just one more thing.... we haven't forgotten about the deferred AGM. We'll send information about it round by email next week 

See you soon 
Sally 

'Til we meet again ....

A Huge Thank You

to

All Harmonise Members

for

showing such generosity both to our community of singers and to one another.

You have turned up to sing in the street in all weathers – even once singing Xmas carols to no-one at all on a West End street corner one cold winter's night – you have offered cosy sitting rooms to practise or to party in – you've carried billboards and buckets full of cash all over Edinburgh – you've waited patiently – well, quite patiently – in the green room at the Queen's Hall to sing only 3 songs on stage at 11 o'clock at night – you've shopped for carloads of food - you've cooked any amount of chilli and pasta sauces – you've sung your parts over the phone to each other – but, best of all, you have sung the songs I have brought along with heart and soul on Monday evenings for well nigh on 19 years, lifting my spirit in a way I've appreciated more than I can say.

My gratitude is incalculable. Thank you, Harmonise. Jane xxxxxx

ps and thank you for your generous gifts and creativity last night ... the best ever party.

For Monday the 25th June 2012

Hello Harmonise,

A couple of notices.

 

 First, the concert of music by Brahms, Bruckner and Schubert that was to be performed at the Canongate Church on Saturday has been cancelled, as their conductor is unwell.   Nicola sends apologies and reassurance that they will be performing the same repertoire in November!

 

Secondly,  Both DVDs and CDs of our recent Friends and Family do will be available at Harmonise next week, both at a fiver each.  They will not be available to buy at the party on 1st July but can be got from Liz by contacting her during July.

 

Don't forget our end of year party on Sunday the 1st of July!

 

See you next Monday, Jane 

 

 

 

For Monday the 18th of June 2012

Hello Harmonise, since I'll be away from early tomorrow I'm posting this on Monday the 11th so apologies if I've missed something.

The DVDs of the concert are now ready and can be yours for the astonishing sum of £4.  If you haven't already bought one, bring your cash next Monday.  There will also be a CD with the songs on it and that should be ready for Monday the 18th.

For next week please print this.  (Please print two copies etc.).  It's the chorus for a song what I wrote which I hope you will help me to sing at the party on July the 1st.

The Cuban group, Musica Aurea, have a concert together with Songworks on 23rd of June. This should be a wonderful event.   Details are here.

Keep dry ... See you next Monday, Jane

Hello Harmonise,
Big thank you to all those who sang at and supported our singing at Loud and Proud's concert.  We acquitted ourselves well, despite being very small!!

Here's some sneak previews of the concert video for your edification ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qeUErnWoZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z6mL1RhIYY&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X89S8sUTUog&feature=relmfu

For next week, if you haven't got a copy, please print out Reconciliation here.  And look out your copies of Warm.  We'll start that for the whole choir next week, too.

For your diaries: 
David Burbidge has been in touch to say that 30 singers in the Cerknica Choir from Slovenia are doing a free concert in St Giles at 12.15 on Wednesday July 11.  They will sing a selection of songs from Slovenia - as well as some songs in English including the Irish Blessing, see   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhhGtmDE3MI 

David says "It would be lovely if you could join us. Could you let your fellow singers and contacts in Edinburgh know?"

Fee paying has been pretty painless for our treasured treasurer this term - just a few miscreants .. come on, pay up!!

If you want to know which songs were requested for this term, click here.

Sathanao are a terrific Georgian choir.  They are singing in Edinburgh this Wednesday the 16th, 7pm at St John's, West End of Princes St -- tickets are £12 on the door.

 See you on Monday, Jane

Thank you, Harriet, for this fabulous photograph.

gentle reminder

A  gentle reminder - for Monday - that it would be great if everyone can arrive in good time - and clutching cheques and cash for fees. 


Jane will be back from her travels and with us on Monday 7th 


Please let me know if you didn't get the email I sent round on 16th April. 


See you very soon 


Sally 

News about next term

Hello friends

I'm writing this to let you know about how we've got on with the interviews and the audition arrangements for the beginning of next term.

The interviews have taken place and two of the candidates were shortlisted to go through to the next stage i.e. the auditions.

These two candidates will each run one Harmonise session, one on the first Monday of term, 23rd April and the other on the following Monday, 30th April.

After this we will vote.

I' ll mail you with some more information about the auditions etc in the next day or so.

posted by Sally

Can you support this? (reposted)

Can you support this?
Originally Posted: 22 Sep 2011 03:14 AM PDT

Hello Harmonise, I've (Jane) been asked to tell you about this and it looks like a great thing to support.  It's only for 15 minutes, although could be longer if you go for a repeat in Glasgow.  I will certainly be at the Edinburgh one.  If you can make it, please scroll down and respond by (new) email to Joan Bree, not to me. Tell her you're from Harmonise.  It's a new venture for Joan and will lift her spirits if lots of us join this.  Look forward to seeing you on the 3rd, anyway!!  Jane


Flash Choir! 



10th October 2011 

10.30 am at Castle Street, Edinburgh and 1.30 pm at Buchanan Street, Glasgow. 





‘see me’ launchs its week of activities for Scottish Mental Health Week with a Flash Choir! 



We have invited members of choirs from Edinburgh and Glasgow to join us to help raise awareness of ‘see me’s campaign to change public perceptions, attitudes and behaviour towards people with a mental health illness.



The Flash Choir! will last approx. 15 – 20 minutes in each site.  We have selected a couple of songs to sing on the day and are still seeking a rousing inspirational song to finish off with! 



The two songs we have so far are Lean on Me by Bill Withers and Bambalela, a South African song that translates to Never Give Up. 



Our plan is to start in Edinburgh at 10.30 am and then get the train through to Glasgow for a repeat performance.  ‘see me’ will of course cover travel expenses and provide refreshments. 



‘see me’ will video the event and we will get the footage up on our website, Facebook page and Utube as quickly as we can.   We will also be carrying out interviews to camera with some of our ‘see me’ media volunteers and handing out ‘see me’ information leaflets and wallet cards with tips on how to look after your own mental health.   



If you are available on Monday 10th October during the day and would like to be a part of this exciting and fun day out please let me know by emailing joan.bree@seemescotland.org   Let me know what choir you belong to and I will get back to you with full details.  



Finally, if you know of a good song to finish on please send me your suggestions!   

Nick's News!

Hi all! Various people were asking at the picnic that I let you know when we had news. So... we got there at last. Phew!

I took Adele into hospital for induction 5pm Tuesday and Amity's new little sister was finally timed at arriving 6.36pm last night (CM - email received 22nd so think 'last night refers to 21st?).

Weighs in at 3.27kg which I believe comes to 7lb 3oz in old money. Not much hair. But requisite no. of toes and stuff, and seems very alert and engaged again with lots of eye contact right from the off. Also reasonably placid, I'd say, considering the circumstances.

Here's a few pics: http://gallery.me.com/nickfiddes#100208&bgcolor=black&view=grid&sel=0 First is from approx 1hr after birth. Other two from this morning, when I sneaked Amity in for a visit, against the rules.  Amity is chuffed to bits, and coped admirably with mum missing for a couple of nights. We're going back in the afternoon to pick them up, touch wood.

Now we just have to think of a name….
See you all soon!
Nick (of the Basses)

Congratulations all round, Nick, from everyone in Harmonise!!

New - Email Updates Now Available

To make it even easier for you to keep in touch with what's going on, you can now subscribe to be able to get an email whenever a new post is published - just follow the link on the right.

Hi to all reading the Harmonise blog

SING EASTERLY - SING YOUR SOCKS OFF WORKSHOP WITH JENNY GOODMAN MARCH 27TH - PLEASE NOTE NEW BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS

SING TO THE EAST! SONGS OF EASTERN EUROPE AND GEORGIA

SING YOUR SOCKS OFF WORKSHOP WITH JENNY GOODMAN


SATURDAY MARCH 27TH

2 - 5PM

PILRIG PARISH CHURCH, CORNER OF LEITH WALK/PILRIG STREET

£22/£11 (if booked in advance) £24/£12 (if paying on the day)


Celebrate spring with the spine tingling harmonies and vocal
qualities of Eastern Europe (Bulgaria etc) and Georgia.
These ancient singing traditions combine heart and soul in
their music in unique and inspiring ways.


The workshop will be led by Jenny Goodman who has more than
15 years experience of leading workshops, choirs and singing
groups. Jenny is renowned for her encouraging, relaxed style
and her passion for acapella singing for all. All songs will
be taught by ear so this is genuinely a workshop for all.


PRE BOOKING NOW NECESSARY DUE TO LIMITED PLACES

Jenny is now requesting people to book in advance for
workshops as her previous workshop was full with
people turning up on the day.

To book initially contact Jenny on
singing.jennyg@googlemail.com
or 07984 584923 and then confirm booking with a cheque.

Cheques will not be cashed until after the workshop -
it simply confirms your place. If you book in advance there
is a reduction of cost (see above) Payment on the day will be
at a higher rate and there will be no guarantee of a place.
Refunds will apply if the workshop is cancelled by Jenny or if
you cannot attend due to an emergency.