Here's some information from David Tugwell about 2 Georgian workshops taking place this coming week. 

Dear all,

Apologies if you receive this information twice, but I would like to let you know about two singing workshops next week by the wonderful Georgian singer and teacher Nana Mzhavanadze on Weds 24th and Thurs 25th April both 7pm - 9.30pm. The Wednesday workshop is at 25 (1F2) Haddington Place (top of Leith Walk), Edinburgh EH7 4AF and the Thursday workshop at 18/9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh EH9 1NX. Each evening costs £15/£12 concessions and different songs will be taught on each evening.

These workshops now have Facebook pages with further details - http://www.facebook.com/events/636363046380146/ andhttp://www.facebook.com/events/644579075557521/ . You can either sign up on Facebook or let me know directly if you would like a place. 

I'm sure these will be very enjoyable events for those new to or familiar with Georgian singing and please feel free to pass on the information to other people who might be interested, either through inviting friends on Facebook, sharing the event, or sending the details to any singing groups/lists you may be on. Thankyou!

David Tugwell


Please email Sally (Harmonise) if you want David's phone number e.g.  for further details.

Hello friends

Our summer term begins a week on Monday (15th April). 

This means fees are due. Please pay your fees, preferably by Bank Transfer or cheque, as soon as possible and definitely before the end of 2nd week of term.

Our AGM will be on Monday 6th May, the Stroove weekend is 17 -19th May and our concert is on Friday 7th June. 

Graeme will say more about arrangements for Stroove at the beginning of term. 

This is a very adminny sort of Blog! My apologies!!

Looking forward to being back and singing together again. 

Sally 

  

Dear Harmonise,

Thank you sincerely for an invigorating and enjoyable term of music making! I hope you feel that the hard work is starting to pay off, I certainly do.

Here are some links to help you in your practising (these are three tracks that did not fit on the CD - two are performances of the pieces rather than the individual parts. Enjoy!)

My Paddle

Amani Utupe

Wai Bamba Wai

When practicing with CDs or recordings focus on the timing as much as the notes. When you feel confident with your part you can test yourself by singing with one of the other parts and keeping in time... Also, meeting up in small groups to practise is always good.

Finally, many of you will be aware that I have decided to leave my Choral Scholar position at Paisley Abbey in a bid to get my life back! I will be very sad to leave a place that I have served for so long but I will have a great send off as the Easter service is being televised live on BBC 1 at 10.00am on Easter Sunday. If you want to see me in a Cassock and Surplice for the last time - tune in!

All the very best, and have a great Easter,

Matthew

Dear friends 
As I mentioned on Monday evening Ali Burns has been in touch re. some research about Community Choirs which she is doing for Scotland Sings. 

There is a short questionnaire for choir members and if you have time and the inclination it would be great if you  could complete it and email your answers as soon as possible to Ali at:  ali@littleegg.demon.co.uk. The best method (I think...) would be to copy the questions onto an email  

The questions for members are :

What is the name of the choir you attend?

How do you pay your membership and workshops fees

Do you have a separate membership?

How much do you pay?

How many terms run?

How many weeks per term

What do you enjoy?

What keeps you attending?

How would you describe the song material you work on?

Do you sing harmonies and arrangements in your choir? Please specify

What hot tips would you give to a choir leader to develop your enjoyment of the workshops?

Hope this works!!  

xxSally 

Dear friends


There is information below from Graeme about the Stroove weekend (17th-19th May)

Next week, 18^th Feb, there will be sheet for people to sign up for Stroove.  The cost is likely to be around £40, depending on numbers, and it would be helpful if we could collect deposits from next week. £10 will secure your place – cash, or cheques made to Graeme Thomas please.

Stroove May 17-19 2013

Going to Stroove  for the weekend is a way to put some good things together - walking or cycling in wild places or pottering about in a slow holiday kind of way, eating delicious food in convivial company, singing in a place where you don’t have to rush off to get the bus home, and getting acquainted with some new people. We self cater but more of that later.

WHERE?

Stroove is in the small town of Skelmorlie, on the Ayrshire coast between Greenock and Largs, less than two hour’s drive from Edinburgh. Regular buses and trains run in the immediate area, and neighbouring Wemyss Bay has a ferry service to Bute.  It's not hard to get there by public transport, and there will always be people to pick you up at Largs or Wemyss Bay Station.

The wooded gardens at Stroove surround the house on all sides giving privacy and plenty of scope to relax outside.  The lawn has a BBQ area near the house and there are lovely views over the Clyde Estuary and the Isle of Bute. For people who don't want to be energetic, reading or snoozing in the garden is an attractive option.

BEDROOMS AND THINGS

The house is spacious and warm, and there are real beds and no bunk beds!!  Although there is no hanging space, there is plenty of room for your bits and pieces. There will be a few single rooms for “noisy sleepers”, and no-one will have to share with more than two people.  There are six shower rooms, possibly as many of 30 of us, and therefore, morning cups of tea in dressing gowns is a nice option while waiting.  The singing/sitting room is large with loads of comfy chairs.

WHEN DO WE SING?

The singing is organised for the early part of both evenings, after supper.  Matthew,has agreed to lead the singing with some simple to learn new songs plus any favourites   which come to mind!

THE USUAL ROUTINE

Our routine has been a Friday evening meal together around 7.30, some singing afterwards and usually getting to bed earlyish, since a lot of us have been at work all week.  We get up late on Saturday, have one (or two) breakfasts and lots of cups of coffee, decide what we want to do, then spend most of Saturday hill-walking, window-shopping, snoozing, cycling - whatever people feel inclined to do.

After our Saturday out and another delicious meal, and what with a bit more wine than usual, we often stay up singing quite late.  But you're allowed to go to bed!!  Stroove is a substantial old house with good, thick walls, so disturbance from the (possibly somewhat uninhibited) singers shouldn't be a problem for people who want to sleep.

On Sundays most of us get up late again ... have a very leisurely breakfast, then decide whether to meet up on the way home for another walk, or lunch or whatever.  Once we’ve tidied up we usually leave around 12.00.

More details of what to bring, lifts, and how we organise the food will be sent out nearer the time.

Do come!!

Thanks for the information, Graeme.  So inviting ! 

Sally 

Dear friends,

Here is the link to the Track List for the CD which Colin is kindly dealing with:

CD Text

All the best,

Matthew

link

OK, correction! Copy and paste the link in the last message or click this one:

Meguru SATB

Technology and I have a complex relationship!

Matt

Recordings and experiment!

Dear friends,

I have been working flat out on the CD and am about 2/3 of the way there (and yes, Shenandoah is done!)

You should be getting, or may already have, an email from Sally with two pieces to photocopy. The good news is that, with these pieces printed, we will have all the music we need for the our concert. The programme stands as follows:

Harmonise Concert - Friday 7 June 2013

•  Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

•  Amani Utupe Na Ustawe

•  Wai Bamba Wai (with AP*)

•  Wayfarin' Stranger

•  Lonesome Road

•  Shenandoah

•  Bridge Over Troubled Water

INTERVAL

•  Meguru

•  My Paddle (with AP)

•  Jordan Train

•  Lean on Me

Guest Spot

•  Siyahamba

•  [encore] Wai Bamba Wai (with AP)

* = audience participation

Please keep persevering with the huge and insanely difficult pieces - I promise that conquering the mountain will be worth the climb!

Finally, could some folk try clicking on the link below and let me know if it works? It should be a link to an SATB version of Meguru (to prove I really have been recording!)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/76675440/Meguru%20SATB.wav

All the very best,

Matthew

Dear all 

Here is quite a lot of information about singing opportunities - from David Burbridge, Jean and then Brendan Taffe. Just keep on scrolling down!! 

Happy scrolling 

Sally 

Here are details about our singing events here in the Lake District and beyond. There are also weekly groups - the Brewery Harmony Singers on Mondays in Kendal, Lakeland Voices community choir in Kendal on Tuesdays, and the Penrith Community Choir on Thursdays - but if you would like something a bit longer than an evening - and enjoy being in stunning scenery, eating fabulous meals suitable for both vegetarians and meat eaters, and staying in wonderful accommodation - with mostly single, double and twin rooms - then please get in touch about our events.  

March 23 - Spring Sing Thing day at Howtown, by Ullswater, in the northern Lake District with Lakeland Voices and the Penrith Community choir. Start the day with a workshop in the village hall and then in the afternoon join us on a walk to the stunning valley of Martindale through the woods, by the lake and along quiet country lanes. 

March 22-23 Spring Sing Thing weekend at Howtown by Ullswater in the Lake District. Staying in an old farmhouse overlooking the lake with singing workshops, meeting local community choirs, and singing in the woods, by the lake, in an ancient chapel in Martindale, in the pub....and maybe a dance or two too! Double or twin rooms - possibly single rooms too. Includes all meals, refreshments and music and recordings of parts sent in advance. Shared lifts arranged. £119 whole weekend. 

May 23-30 Singing Slovenia - join our expedition to Slovenia to sing at the Wild Flower festival in Bohinj, meet local choirs, and see other parts of Slovenia including the stunning city of Ljubljana, the stunning lake Bled, the Vanishing Lake at Cerknica and the warm welcome we always receive at Zrece, our twin town, near Celje. Includes half board accommodation, basic instruction in the Slovenia language, some songs sent in advance which we can sing with Slovenian choirs we will meet, plus all transport in Slovenia. Shared lifts to (and parking at) Luton Airport for the cheap Wizzair flight to Ljubljana. £360

July 20-26 - The Singing Cyclists ride again across the north of England from Whitehaven through the Lake District to the Pennines, the Tyne valley and on to Newcastle and Tynemouth - meeting singers and community choirs along the way. A van will carry our heavy bags. Music sent in advance. Meals cooked. Shared bicycle maintenance and basic repairs, shared lifts to start (both beginning and end have railway stations.) Camaraderie and good singing together guaranteed. £295. 

October 4-6  Singing Settle Carlisle - on the trains, in the stations, over the wild Pennine Hills...and in country inns experiencing all the exuberance of a real Yorkshire pub sing. Staying in the Old School near Ribblehead station on the Settle Carlisle line (and not too far from Ingleton which at the same time hosts its wonderful folk festival) - meals cooked by the fabulous Lucia Marquart. Accommodation is in shared bunk rooms - but in the past this has often meant just 2 people in each room. £115 including train tickets. 

December 4-6  Dent Folk Carols Festival - concerts, workshops, walks, pub carols, ceilidh dance, cosy Dent cottage accommodation with double and twin bedrooms, Lucia's fabulous festive feasts....and more. £115-145 - plus option of a third night's accommodation extra. Single occupany of bedrooms need a supplement. 

January 2-5 2014  Black Sail singing retreat (Thursday to Sunday) - staying in this fabulous YHA hostel high in the Lakeland Mountains which can't be approached by car - only by walking 5 miles over the mountains from Buttermere. Only suitable for those who have had some experience of hillwalking and harmony singing - for whom this will represent a very special weekend with singing on top of some of the most dramatic Lake District mountains which could include Haystacks, Great Gable, High Stile, Red Pike and Pillar. Weekend starts with a workshop in Buttermere village hall at 10am on Thursday. All meals cooked by Lucia - cosy bunk beds with warm duvets, radiators in the bedrooms, wood burning stove etc. Three nights this year (last year was 2) - £140. Shared lifts can be arranged. Music sent in advance - or send in your own to share with the group. We are hoping to arrange a concert at the end of the weekend in Buttermere. Limited to only 16 places - so book early to avoid disappointment!

SINGING TOURS - we have over 15 years experience of arranging choir tours for visiting choirs to England and Scotland involving meeting local choirs, performing concerts in stunning locations, learning local songs, sightseeing, communal meals and dances with local singers, walks and much more. Whether your choir is from outside of the UK, or is more homegrown, we can arrange a tour in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Scotland and in Slovenia to suit your pockets and your needs with a variety of accommodation options. Get in touch to find out more. Because of our extensive knowledge of arranging budget choir tours in these areas, using us is often cheaper than doing yourself!

A £50 deposit secures a place on all our events. Further details and booking policy on our websitewww.lakelandvoice.co.uk 

best wishes to you all, 

David Burbidge
David Burbidge, Lakeland Voice, Smithy Cottage, Farfield, Sedergh, Cumbria LA10 5LW  Tel. 015396.21166   www.lakelandvoice.co.uk 

***************************************************************

From our Jean 

 

This is the message sent to me by Helen and has a link to a recording of the music.

 

Main Details:    Sat 9th March        10-4 learn music

                                                       7.30pm concert with A Moment of Eternity first half

 

                         Venue: St Columbas Free church opposite Hub (not St. Col by castle Episcopalian)

 

                          Need singers for chorus: SATB

                         

                           listen to recording at:

http://tapesfromscotland.org/momentofeternity/Moment%20of%20Eternity.mp3

 

              score is £5 if you want to keep it

 

Please let Helen know if you can  make it helen.rongong@virgin.net

*********************************************

From  Brendan 

I wanted to let you know about my upcoming trip to the UK. In March I'll be traveling through a big chunk of the country leading singing workshops and I hope you can join me at one of them. I"ve just finished recording a new album with The Bright Wings Chorus and I'm excited to share those songs with all of you. 

There are still a few spaces open for the Turtle Dove Summer Singing Week with Kathy Bullock, Ali Burns, and myself in Ashfield, Massachusetts (about 2 hours west of Boston, in the Berkshires). The week will run from June 29—July 7, 2013 and promises to be a pretty fantastic time. More info at http://turtledoveharmony.org/programs.html#summer_mass 

Sat. March 2  Martham   10:30-4:30 at Cornerstone Baptist Church: £15. Details: Stephanie Anderson at stephanie_anderson@hotmail.co.uk

Sun. March 3 Norwich  10:30-4:30 at The Old Chapel: £15. Stephanie Anderson at stephanie_anderson@hotmail.co.uk

Tue. March 5 Castle Acre  7:15-9:15, £10. Details: Linda Roast at linda.roast@btopenworld.com

Thurs. March 7 Wolferton Performance at Wolf Folk Club. www.norfolkfolk.co.uk

Sat. March 9 Bath  10—3:30 at St Lukes Church. £25/ £20 concession. Details: Jane Harris at jane@songways.co.uk

Sun. March 10 York Steiner School. Details: Ruth Dance at ruthdance@btinternet.com

Thur. March 14 Dunbar  Details: Karen Dietz at kdietzmusic@gmail.com

Sat. March 16 Bury  10—4 at Blackburne Hall, the Wylde. £20/ £18 concessions. Details: Angela Gracey at amma63.gracey@tesco.net

Sun. March 17 Stroud   10:30—4. Bisley Village Hall, Bisley. £20/ £18 concession. Details: Nick Mills at fiona@circleofsong.co.uk

Mon. March 18 Stoke on Trent   Part of the Penkhull Folk Week. Details: Greg at boatband@yahoo.co.uk

Tues. March 19 Sheffield  Details: Mac Millard at macmillard@gmail.com

Thur. March 21 Hay on Wye  Details: Catherine Hughes at catherine@thebridgehay.co.uk

March 22—24 Big Sky Whitwell Weekend with Sian Croose. E-mail marianfox20@gmail.com to book your place

Mon. March 25 Hoxne  Details: Janet Koralambe at janet.koralambe@gmail.com

Meguru

Dear Harmonise,

Apologies for being on another planet (or rather another period of history!) for the last couple of weeks. Such is the Kingdom was a huge success, more about that later.

For now, I am getting back on track and CDs are on the way. Here are the words for Meguru. N.B. we are only doing the first verse and chorus.

Nampili tuli ronge kapi

Nga tuka ji ghwanana

Nampili tuli ronge kapi

Nga tuka ji gawana

Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne

Meguru membo, ye tu yene ne 

Meguru membo yene ne

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!

This is a brief reminder about important things: 

Please do pay your term fees as soon as possible. The system is that there is an early bird discount for everyone who pays before the end of the 2nd week of term. 

Fees paid by the end of the 2nd week of term are £45(full)/£25(conc). Fees paid after the end of the 2nd week are £50(full)/£30(conc). 

We'll email you details for making a bank transfer. 


Also it would be great if members could arrive in time to be  seated by 7pm so that we start on time with everyone there.

It will be wonderful to be back together soon. Look forward to seeing you on 14th Jan. 

Sally 

Dear Harmonisers 

Our carol singing last Saturday made £330 for Shelter Scotland. This is a great result - particularly as there were less shoppers around than usual. As usual, In the Bleak Mid Winter and Jingle Bells were the biggest draw and attracted most donations. Our sudden burst of Climbing up the Mountain was much enjoyed! As was it all. 

Many thanks to all who could make it and especially to our team of (voluntary or was it conscripted..?) song leaders! You did a great job. 

Our first Harmonise in 2013 is on Monday 14th January. 

May Christmas be good for you and yours. 

xxSally 

Dear all,

A quick note:

1. To wish you all the very best for tomorrow. Do let me know how it goes and ENJOY yourselves! Look forward to hearing all about it at the party on Monday...

2. Final sales pitch of the year (I promise!). If any of you have children or grand-children who like to read and you are looking for a Christmas present for them, look no further than 'For the King' my historical novel for children. I wanted to pitch it to Harmonise especially as it does have many references to music and gives an ultimately positive and uplifting message. Children are bombarded with a lot of junk nowadays and my vision in writing the book was to give the brave minority an alternative which tries to capture the ethos and inspiration which is now sadly lacking in children's literature.

Find out more www.fortheking.co.uk or click on the book below.

All the very best to one and all,

Matthew

Dear all,

I am sure you will be delighted to know that next rehearsal will be dedicated to Christmas Carols! Sally has sent me a list as follows:

Come All Ye Faithful  - no music/words in the books but probably everyone knows it

Jingle Bells - I have this as a loose sheet and I'm sure some others will as well. 

In the Bleak Mid Winter - Red Bk p.42

While Shepherds Watched - Blue Bk p.56/7

Gaudete - words only Blue Bk p.54

Ding Dong Merrily  - Blue Bk p.49 

O Little Town of Bethlehem - Blue Bk p.50 

The Coventry Carol - Blue Bk p.48

(and Siyahamba - for warmth and our delight!) - Red Bk p.5

We also have words/music (not music for S's but all likely to know it) for Hark the Herald - Blue Bk 51-54

i.e. make sure you bring your RED book and definitely your BLUE book.

I want to apologise personally for not being able to lead the carol singing this year. This was due to Paisley Abbey giving me the wrong date for our annual tour to Culzean Castle. A very unfortunate clash as I had been keeping the date free and very much looking forward to it. Many thanks to those who are stepping into the breach.

Phil wanted to pass on how impressed he was with the choir on Monday and how touched he was by your warm welcome. He said to me afterwards: "I had not expected them to be so good." I cheekily asked him what he had expected, to which he replied "I did not know what to expect!" Anyway, I think you can all be assured that you made a great impression!

Merry Christmas ane an' a' (one and all)

Matthew 

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....