Friday, September 23, 2016

ESK TOURING CHOIR'S 'FAREWELL CONCERT' - A GIFT OF SONG







Unseasonal falls of rain made Sunday, September 18th seem fairly ordinary though many country folk would not agree.  However, there was nothing ordinary, nor was the wet weather a deterrent to a whole host of Esk Community Choir friends and supporters who came to the Somerset Civic Centre to enjoy a 'Farewell Concert'; a snapshot of the songs their Esk Touring Choir will be taking to audiences in some of Europe's beautiful cities, towns and villages in October.





Sue, Ruth, Di

From the outset when members of the Choir, regaled in their brand new performance outfits, welcomed in song the capacity audience, through songs both sacred and secular including the rollicking sounds of Australian Folk Songs to some audience collaboration in the singing of Peter Allen's emotive 'I Still Call Australia Home', the music created a language of its own which somehow, managed to wash away any woes of the weather and, in a musical sense, just make life taste better.


Finlay Rose and Alexis


 During the proceedings it was with great pleasure that the Esk Community Choir $1000 Bursary was presented to a very worthy recipient, Finlay Rose. Well done Finlay. We wish you every success in your musical pursuits.









The delicious afternoon tea served around tables following the performance was a place where members of the Choir and concert goers alike could share their appreciation for the joy of this music on a Sunday afternoon, shower warm wishes for a successful tour and the Choir in turn, treasure the gifts of friends and the support of a Community.
Thank you for your support.
 
Our very competent accompanist, Margaret Philp.





Bon Voyage  !!




Monday, September 12, 2016

TAKING THEIR MUSIC FROM ST AGNES TO SALZBURG...WITH A LITTLE HELP (?) FROM SOME FRIENDS!


That is, of course, Esk's 'T16 Choir' which will be taking off in October to places very far away in Europe.  And so it was, by way of a keepsake, a reminder of a glorious repertoire almost two years in the making, that a recording session took place at St Agnes Anglican Hall on Saturday September 10th.




"Good Gracious Brian, This choir sounds amazing".
 Mr Bernie Snep, still spirited at 89 and who has been broaching his retirement for ages, is a long time treasured friend of the Choir and recording exponent extraordinaire who has over many years enabled the sound of the Choir to be shared with everyone through his CD recordings.  Bernie jumped at the opportunity to once more favour the Choir with his skills behind his recording equipment.
For many who are unfamiliar with the protocols required at a recording session, or more precisely, a recording session with Bernie Snep, a picture must first be painted.  The microphone must be positioned precisely, ideally by himself, for the optimum balance of sound from both Choir and piano;
The sound recordist must:-
 * have a chair with arm rests by which he is able to hoist himself upright should this be     
    necessary
*  be situated behind a table
*  have a list of order of songs and Song Titles,
*  have the recording device situated exactly at his discretion   
*  sustenance -  sandwiches and tea cup. 

At his explicit instruction of, "Stand By!"  followed by a 5 second pause both before and following the singing, there must be unmitigated silence...not the squeak of a chair nor an explosion from any bodily orifice whatsoever,  for to do so would provoke the wrath and irritation of a perfectionist at his craft. 
On this occasion, however, 'Louie' the blow fly was not to be intimidated and from the outset, the sound of silence was filled with his irritating buzz. 'Well it is a somewhat Aussie touch' was the comment by Roger from the Basses to dispel the tension.
No sooner had 'Louie' been dispensed with when it was from the ceiling that a watery fluid of questionable origin began spilling onto the Soprano 2 section.  However, it didn't take the skill of David Attenborough to recognize that the distastefully smelling drips originated from an errant possum, possibly disturbed by the singing and decided to take a trip to her bathroom. Then, giving new meaning to the Lionel Ritchie song 'Dancing on the Ceiling',  possum number 2 let it be known that a disturbed sleep does not go down well in
Possum-land and both began their own discordant dance within the roof cavity.  It took an unscheduled tea break and a few swift blows to the ceiling with the elaborately carved and decorated largerphone to dispel and dispatch the disorderly duo.
Between droning flies, pesky possums, sporadic groups of weekend warriors on motor bikes igniting Ipswich Street, some re-takes of bloopers...but not too many...  and the exertions of a large portion of the Choir still suffering the effects of coughs and colds, the recording session completed.  It was to the utter satisfaction of the T16 Choir's patiently unflagging Choir Director, Alexis, their consummate accompanist, Margaret, ably assisted at times by Suzanne on flute, a Choir now getting jiggy with excitement at the prospect of their upcoming tour and above all, Mr Bernie Snep who couldn't help but join in the euphoria and anticipation of a successful outcome.
For those who miss the opportunity to purchase this sublime CD of your own Choir's Choral singing at their 'Farewell Concert' , copies will be available for purchase at the Choir's Christmas Variety Concert at the Somerset Civic Centre, 2.30pm on December 4th details of which can be found on the Choir's wonderful website  http://eskchoir.webs.com/

Farewell Concert  - Sunday 18th September at 2.30pm - Somerset Civic Centre Esk .