DorSet For Singing

26 January 2012

2012-01-27T08:28:00.004Z

The one with the Dance routine!

I didn't come to choir last week, me and the fuzzy-kittens were off jet-setting, but I did go to Ed's house a few days later hoping to catch the latest choir gossip. I also wondered if Ed would get his Organ out and try to impress me, but instead he gave us a puppet show and a cup of tea so I didn't complain. My epic solo was also confirmed - there will not be a dry seat in the house!

But this week here we was (doing that on purpose to annoy the teacher part of Ed), all warmed up and ready to sing, and sing we did as we rattled through many of our songs, not all of them embolded here. It seems that 'life on Mars' is still with us even though nobody really likes it, but that all bodes well for a good opening night next week when it will sound awesome, for some odd reason! I am not sure of some of the notes, so I will be on you tube after bedtime most nights this week, ingraining my poor brain.

Well folks, it the big night next week, seems an age since we trod the boards at All Saints again, watching jenny handing out beer and crisps, and trying to peer round the Christmas tree until some one aligned all the words on the right hand side! Don't forget your polo shirt, and to warm up on the bus on the way over! It's going to be a riot!

12 january 2012

2012-01-13T08:39:00.004Z

With-or-withow-CHOOOOOO!

Happy new year and get read yo to rock and roll with our first concert on the 2nd February! EEEP! It's at All Saints school, where we don't seem to have performed for an age, being as we are so popular and always get asked back to other local events ...

I brought my kittens last night, and happily they did not climb the curtains or cat-call Ed like so many of us grown ups do, like Ron putting in his order for full philharmonic backing, with extra strings! I was actually tempted to wear pyjamas since I got such lovely ones for Christmas, but I might as well leave that to Ruth.

A bit scarey learning new songs last when when all our old ones have gained litle post-mince-pie errors that have crept in, even 'breaking up is hard to do' which had the most beautiful singing and dancing just for Mr Husband at last years music festival, had got a few wobblies in it!

WEll its time for your homework now which is
1 - watching you tube to get the songs all learned in your head
2 - singing while doing everything
3 - warm p first, dot forget, do a few EEEEE-OOOOOOORs while on the bus/queue as ASDA
(I am allowed to mention ASDA now since; a - our Dave works there, and; b - they did eventually put some money in our charity pot!)
Love you lots, be good ... and try not to miss me next week when I am not here!

8 December 2011

2011-12-09T07:12:00.000Z

The One Where Linda Mary Marshall posted on your Wall.

"Hi Cat, Update on our `Sparkle` We did ! But the rain and wind tried to stop our wonderful voices! It didn`t ! Just before we went on stage the heavens opened.... and some more! Our mighty leader Ed escorted us ( in our masses) onto a stage fit for only a hand full of healthly built humans. We busied ourselves into an order of... `can you fit this microphone into the space next to your face`? After a bit of jiggling about we all managed to move into a space one can only describe as `personal`

As we got going with the repertoire, Ed was conducting us with the great professional enthusiasm as he always gives, but getting a little bit wet under the nasty Weymouth rain! He`s a trouper ! (We were dry, Oh Yes !) As I was stood next to the side awnning of the `stage`tent the wind kept trying to hit me off kilter, thus making my concentration a little `off key` I don`t think anyone noticed!

I think the onlookers enjoyed our concert, and everyone I spoke to (choir too ) had a good time despite of the awful weather conditions. To end our evening we all gathered in the pub for a `swift `alf`! We thanked Ed and made some new friends too, which is what it`s all about, isn`t it ? As Big Ron shouted out `ITS CHRISTMASSSS`Happy Christmas Everyone. "

24 November 2011

2011-11-25T08:39:00.003Z

The one where we went back to our old room!

WELL I didn't have to bring my fuzzy-kids tonight as an amazing friend sent a text, asking if she could babysit, and I bit her hand off! This was especially helpful as Daisy was on the Calpol, and retired early, leaving me to jump into Jigsaw-Jenny's car and try and find out practice room for the night.

Ed had another go at making out tummies sore, with a bit of 'UGH UGH UGH', and other lovely sounds, and we worked on a couple of niggly-bits of songs and then a full run through, including the extra special and wonderfully Christmassy Slade number, which is Big-Rons favourite, and as a treat he gets to shout 'IT'S CHRIIIIIIIIST-MAAAAAAAASSSS!' at the end!

Mrs Big-Ron handed out some handmade puddings, and everyone had to sit a little closer than usual which is good news of you are a cold virus looking to make friends, but bad news for lovers of personal space! And we also enjoyed computers that wouldn't talk to screens, no internets for listening to 'walking on sunshine' via you-tube, and memory sticks that would not divulge their files!

And so we next meet again on the streets just before 7.30pm and I have my baby sitter booked already so that will be nice. Dress code - thermal underwear in-case it snows, but not worn onthe outside please! Now dont forget everything we did tonight and remember i love you, no matter how grumpy you are! Cat XXXX

17 November 2011

2011-11-18T08:42:00.003Z

The one where Catherine turned 30 - Happy Birthday!

And we learned that 'happy birthday' can sort out the real singers at any audition, so why don't they do that one on X-Factor? That would get the thing over and done with! And i dont know about you but my belly hurt after all that jolly laughter, who knew that Ed would find fresh material to amuse us all! Bless him!

Our tone was praised tonight as we tackled 3 songs in great depth, and then were frightened by the fact that we have only one more rehearsal until out street concert on the 8th, so next week is a practice performance, and I might bring my little Fuzzies to watch so make sure you smile :-)And even if out tone was superb, some of out rhythms were shamballick, and it looks like the spell checker can't cope with that one so maybe Ed would like to chose another word?

So happy that we wont be doing carols this year, well maybe a Shakin' Stevens' Christmas number, so I just hope the punters don't throw hot chestnuts at us! Just remember if they do - i love you lots! keep singing, Cat XXXXXXXXXXXX

10 November 2011

2011-11-11T08:25:00.002Z

The one were Ruth stayed in her pyjamas all day ...

The good news was, our concert may be held in the Pavvy this year, in January. The Bad news is there is no concert on the 1st December after all, nor is there any practice that night as Ed has to be at Parents Evening again.

In Other News, no one picked up Ed's keys, which could be either good or bad, depending on where you stand on that sort of thing! And as unlikely as it sounds while hanging out in the common room with soggy acoustics, some lovely singing got done, my favourite being the erasure song which was rather well done by our own Ed at my 40th :-) It makes us all sound very young and bouncy!

There were some lovely auditions at the end, for the Solo parts in Seasons of love (known in my house as 500 minutes) but I don't know who won yet, as Ed wont text me back, but I'll post it later after pony riding!

Advice from Ed again included, 'if you are not tired, you are doing it wrong', and, 'If it hurts Jenny, you are doing it wrong' - so don't forget that all important deep-down support, and remember to bring it with you. Keep singing, songsters, and see you back in the hall next week. Maybe. Cat XXXX

3 November 2011

2011-11-04T08:24:00.003Z

Gap (Gap) Year ...

And so, Gathering momentum for our maybe Christmas-concert-come-Christmas-market, its time to pin down the songs we will be singing and tackle them in a big way, just like we did tonight with 'seasons of love'. Soon the full list of those will be on the web site so come back later to find out what's in your DFS stocking!

The timings in Seasons of Love is all very crucial, so do work on those so that Ed will not be cross next time. I do it by playing the song on you-tube a few times while ironing my big pants, but you might have other, preferred ways of learning!

Sorry for being on the 'winning' side again last night, can't be helped I am afraid, being so amazing, and talented as we are. Oh dear, I appear to be turning into Ed. Good advice again from the big man, on looking after one's throat, because we only have one of those each. If it hurts, stop (and I had to last night), and the same goes for singing too of course...

Next week, back in the common room again, unless there is a sign in the car park places to be knocked over and advising otherwise! LOVE you all, keep singing and don't forget to read this blog! xxx

20 October 2011

2011-10-21T08:34:00.004+01:00

SOFT KARAOKE

Lovely, swanky new surroundings for tonight's practice, Purple carpet wall-to-wall (so no re-verb to be had)shiny aqua coloured wall beams and chairs that can't be slouched in. Must buy a handbag just so I can 'plant' my feet firmly! But not till 2 weeks time anyway, as of course next week is half term! Don't turn up then, but the week after, back in the common room again.

We have fun today with the karaoke machine that is Ed's Tyros 3, and some awesome songs, all picked from our requests and some well known songs for a good sing-a-long. When we arrived at choir, Jack played that old carpenters number, 'sing a song', and I warned him, saying I would tell his Dad! Imagine my surprised when Jack told me it was on our play list! It has only taken me three and a bit years to wear Ed down then!

A date has been set for our end-of-term-concert, singing carols in the cold streets, and having a drink together after, just for fun! Shall I dig out that mangy old rat again? He does know all the words of course! Have a lovely half term folks, and don't forget to sing 'dum-dum-diddley' in a mysterious way, while pushing your trolleys around ASDA XXX

13 October 2011

2011-10-14T08:36:00.003+01:00

We ARE the Champions ...

This week we rattled some of the 'best-ofs' from year three, and that was good fun. Amazing how well we can sing things we haven't sung for a while, and we even got some lovely X-factor style feedback, and it wasn't a rejection! YAY!

No further updates on coastal voices yet, it all seems a bit surreal and far away, but I know some people couldn't make the password work for them! The songs on the web site are 'interesting'...

Good news for all Bryan Husband fans, as he will be making an appearance again at this years Music festival, and on that day, I am sure we will all know our words! We remembered him as we sang 'breaking up is hard to do', and we have him to thank for our awesome choreography! Sorry Ed, I will stop there!

Get off your sofa on Tuesday and come to the pub, its time for a meeting and a bit of drinking, while we plan what to do next and complain about the song choices! And a week on Firday go and see Ed at The Spice Ship, where he will be half elton john and half some other bloke who sings ... keep singing your selves and remember to read this blog xxxxxxx

6th october 2011

2011-10-07T21:12:00.002+01:00

Back to the Future - Year two!

Following on from last weeks re-sing of 'year one' ditties, this week we tackled hot numbers from our second year of wowing local audiences (That was when we really started to get popular, I believe! I BELIEVE!).

Anyway, such a lot of hard work was done trying to remember the gaps, harmonies and funny bits, that I was so tired this morning and overslept, leaving no time to blog before rushing off into my day, when I found out my GP was pleased with my 3Kg weight gain and I got a gold star. 2Kg I stole from Ed, but I don't think he noticed so don't tell him...

So here we are, with a blog to read at last, although I know some of you save it'e delights for the weekend, and if you are 'new' you may not even know it is here, as it's got a tab under a tab these days! Talking of new, nice to see some new men, I do hope they do not run away frightened so fast, this time! Of course you have all read too about COASTAL VOICES by clicking on that tab, and we know that is on Ed's 'to-do' list before his next kebab, and it's on mine too, as I want to be on telly singing in 20-12 while some one runs around with a torch.

There's just one thing I would like to know, with all this reminiscing going on, after our dive into 'year two' - whatever happened to BLOG READER? I always reckoned he was very attractive, and male :-) Keep singing DFS, BIG HUGS XXXXXX

29 September 2011

2011-09-30T09:01:00.003+01:00

Boagies ...

Why on earth would one turn up at choir with a head full of snot, and watery eyes? Would it be to share it with everyone else? Quite possibly, but in my case it is because I is the very faithful Blogger! I did tackle some of last nights GREAT songs, but very soon felt my throat getting scratchy and so I listened to everyone else and picked up on a few pertinent points - sorry about that!

It is important to look after those vocal folds, so if you find your self with a share of my lurgey next week, Make sure you stop singing when it hurts, as our dear old Ed always tells us!

Last night we were treated to some delicious nostalgia, all the hits from our first three years together! I still can't believe we made it to year 4, I thought someone would have broken it by now! Ah, so much we remember, and so much we have forgotten, and yet again so much Ed has decided to change (because it's his choir)!

Thanks to everyone who has offered to come early and be door men. Which reminds me, we do need more men, so if you see any spare ones, bring 'em along. And i am going to pick up my GOLD card soon if it kills me. Hugs to all!

22 September 2011

2011-09-23T08:37:00.002+01:00

WOO!

Is't it great to be with all the old choir members again, ready to sing out hearts out for DFS's 4th year! We look forward to adding our voices to the Olympic hoo-har this coming year, as well as pretending to laugh at Ed's jokes every Thursday night that we meet!

Considering the choir has been mostly sitting around in cafes drinking hot chocolate and grumbling about how much polo-shirts don't flatter the female form, We sounded really good and the blogger was extremely impressed! Lots of new songs thrown our way, mixed response to those, but lots of enthusiasm for one of our favourites, 'chasing cars', and the bouncy erasure number we did last! Just to show how much we really enjoy a good sing along, for its own sake really!

For revision purposes, don't forget to pop to 'Dorset for Singing' on you tube (link in the side bar) and look up this terms song videos, which apparently Ed has put in a lovely folder all tidy. Isn't that a pip? and if you can get here early, why not help out on the door. If everyone is on the door and nobody comes in, that would be really funny. Remember I love you, and keep singing, Cat XXX

Re-Launch...TIME ADDED!

2011-07-29T09:02:00.003+01:00

We have been asked to perform at Weymouth Asda's relaunch day on Monday 15th August in the morning (time to be finalised).

It will be our Beach Live set. If you can spread the word and let Ed know if you can make it, We will be most grateful! Use the Forum, HERE!

ASDA time comfirmed as 10-10:30, arrive 9:45!

14 July 2011

2011-07-15T08:27:00.003+01:00

The Last Post ...

And so, all sorts of concerts under out belt for our third year, Dorset for Singing met under the watchful eye of The Dinner Ladies, Slurped down Ed's barely legal punch, and sang, oh how those people sang! I think even late comers settled in fast and had a good time, and when you tube gave up for the night, they still kept singing. In fact, some of them may still be there!

Some of the events of the night must remain unblogged, at least until i have taken legal advice, and the words of Rachel's last song will not be published at all!

Have a good summer dear choir, remember I love you, and try to be good. Might see some of you at the oasis, for a frothy one XXX

10 July 2011

2011-07-11T09:09:00.005+01:00

Beach Live, Spirit of the sea 2011

Nice stage this year, nice bouncy walls, but we didn't mess about bouncing off them, indeed we were very professional and well behaved at all times, esp when our bottom was poked, isn't that right Ed? I am sure it's the intimacy of such a tiny stage that gets those ladies of the front row all excited and cheeky!

This was the first time I had seen all the 'colours' and that was very cheerful indeed, must have looked brilliant coupled with our clever choreography. The audience were very kind to us, except those that shuffled off before the end, mind you, at least they waved goodbye. Perhaps they needed some paella!

Choir social next week folks, get practising for some karaoke, bagsy all the Fleetwood Mac numbers ... just kidding! Hugs and kisses, THE CAT XXXX

9 July 2011

2011-07-11T09:08:00.000+01:00

St Edmund's concert ...

7 July 2011

2011-07-08T10:20:00.003+01:00

The Day Ed Said Something Was Perfect ...

Slipping into the music room again was fun, with Ed warming up on the jangly piano, and Michael back in the hot seat pressing buttons. Nice to have Ed up close and personal, conducting with great passion and energy, new pointy fingers to tell us to keep going, and covering the front row in copious amounts of sweat.

Still a few bum-notes faithfully remembered and rendered, so looking forward to hearing those as we brave the storms on the beach on Sunday ... If some one would like to send me a blog about Saturday that would be lovely. I really can't be spreading myself too thinly these days. And I need to spend time on Saturday dressed as a creature in support of Artwey again!

Some polo shirts have not arrived so Ed said we could wear some other kind of polo shirt, but both of mine are really rather striped and wearing my husband's will just make me look silly! I might just wear the animal costume I think ... See you at the Weekend folks, have fun! Cat XXX

1st July 2011

2011-07-01T07:44:00.004+01:00

Rainbow Bright...

And so the DFS members were treated to a rainbow of colours as they arrived at choir, to form an orderly queue at Michael' and Carol's Polo Shirt stall. Ed's is not a colour at all, but slimming black, as he is Da Choir Master...

And because he is so masterful, back came the axed songs (booted out last week) for our beach live set, but because we are so rebellious and fear to be criticised for singing all flatly and scrunched up, we began to stand for every song, whether HE said we could or not. And we sounded good. If a bit strained during parts of What I Did For Love which is much too high, and causes muttering and mumblings in the ranks...

And when my extra-extra-specially-made-micro-polo-shirt has finally arrives, Michael can sleep at long last! See you next week in the music room, bring pop and crisps. One more thing - you know how much I love you right? Would you please vote for my circus horse? I made it myself and its up against a plush ring-master. No need to register just click inside the DOT! Big hugs and thank yous, till next time, Cat XXXX

23 June 2011

2011-06-24T08:09:00.002+01:00

Lost notes, Sutton Poyntz Area...

Happy last night we rediscovered some lost notes, as we worked very hard singing the songs for our next concert and St Oswald's, where we only have 15 minutes to make a good impression. Rosé was dropped from the set, as the people at these open air concerts want songs they can sing along to, but Falling in Love was dropped too, so some of us are a bit puzzled.

No Polo shirts yet, apparently the silk worms can't spin them fast enough, but hopefully by next week ... apart from mine which is extra very small, so I will just have to use a bigger folder. Or keep my furry animal costume on ...

We did work very hard last night, and Keeping the Dream Alive was a bit flat - perhaps we were just tired, but some arrows in the text would help, like we used to have in the olden days when Michael sat at the PC! See you next week and try not to lose those rediscovered notes again ... Cat XXX

18 june 2011 - Guest Blogger Again!

2011-06-20T19:15:00.003+01:00

Hello The Cat,

I noticed that the Saturday concert hasn't had a blog so will write a brief one as I do like briefs.

Preston Garden Party Concert

'I'm with the Choir' I said proudly, as I got into the Rectory gardens without paying. The lovely lady who was in charge of security smiled at me. It was a smile of knowing adoration. Indeed, the look on her excited face clearly showed that she had experienced one of her main aims in life, to have a brief acknowledgment from one of Weymouth's largest musicians.

Once inside the grounds, I walked around each stall, teasing the holders with my 50p. Yes, someone was going to take this life-changing amount from me, almost like a non-secret millionaire, I held the coin tightly, aware that at any moment Lady-in-charge-of-security may be called if a scuffle occurred. Eventually, the tombola got my investment, and my goodness, what an invenstment! Three ladies handerchiefs, some handwash, some more handwash, two gottles of geer, a Maeve Binchy audio CD and some sweeties. Yes, it is obvious that I spent a lot more than 50p on this stall, but that's me, generous and handsome all in one.

After indulging in a lovely cup of Pimms, I staggered (half-jokingly) into the limelight, and the crowd fell silent. In front of me were 60 odd people, some more odd than others. The concert began. Then stopped, while we adjusted the sound levels. Then started again, this time with less gain on the microphones as the wind was playing havoc with them. 'I Can't Help Falling in Love with You' sang the Choir and the audience warmed, as the breezes blew. If you closed your eyes, it was just like a group of singers singing in a garden. If you opened your eyes, it was just the same sort of thing, only in colour.

We then sang 'Keeping' (showbiz people always shorten names of songs so they sound cool), which sounded splendid, followed by 'What' which made my hairy back tingle (hold that image), then 'Rose' (in the correct key rather than the crazy one we did in rehearsals), 'Build' was next which was a lovely mix of great singing with appaulingly uncoordinated dance moves. Finally, 'Sloop', which came together rather well. The crowd were not happy. Not happy that we had finished and we were quite literally forced to perform another. Plucked out of the hat, we nailed 'I' and He saw that it was good.

So, another show, another shed load of pleasure given to the 1000 strong audience(*).

* actual figures may vary

Thank you DFS, you are comfortable and easy to recline upon, and I love you all.

Ed x

Photo by Linda Marshall.

16 June 2011

2011-06-17T08:44:00.002+01:00

Let's Play Squares...

Tonight's practice, the blogger, who sadly will not make it on Saturday, had a rare treat - 'Being On The Other Side' and hearing the choir sing their hearts out as they ran through the garden party set, with song held back for and encore (we can only hope). I shouted more, and I got my reward, Dorset for Singing does belt out a rather good hymn, and i am not just saying that because I love you!

BTW, I was looking for big smiles and i got a few, in fact I think one choir member was flirting with me, but I'll have a word with her later..!

I will be looking for a guest blogger next for saturday's concert, so if you fancy your name in lights drop me a line with your efforts, otherwise we may have to suffer the results of the surrealist wofflings of Ed, again. Many grave apologies for crying off, but I need to look after those three pixies (see last week). I do hope it is only a temporary set back, with love, cathy@raggyrat.co.uk XXX

9 June 2011

2011-06-10T08:05:00.004+01:00

We are going to need Considerably Bigger Folders!

Although the last practices before half term seem very far away, we do remember that they were filled with pixies-in-tutus, drugs from asda, and a very grumpy Ed who could not sing! So he appologised for that tonight. Especially the pixies!

We worked hard tonight and sung lots of songs - it will soon be time to chose the ones for our next concert, Preston Garden Party - and just hoping that these polo shirts turn up in time! Otherwise, turn up naked, and hold your folder sideways! This will raise a record amount of funds and get us all as internationally famous as Ed! To discuss naked singing, and song choices, turn up at the PUB MEETING on Tuesday.

And because I miss the Pixies, here are three of my little Imps bouncing along on the 'land train', enjoying the potholes as we go! Daisy almost bounced out of the frame!

26 may 2011

2011-05-27T07:10:00.002+01:00

Little Pixies, in Tutus!

Or what romps through the head of Ed as he leads another choir practice from the depths of his terrible cold! Little pixes danced mockingly through my head, as we tried to sing 'Sumer Is Icumen In' but instead sounded like the mice in bagpuss, cleaning a broken ship in a bottle.

Madrigals over, we tackled Sloop John B, which was great fun, and is perfect to add to our repertoire.

What we all did for love was a bit flat, until Ed helped us spice it up, using the Bryan Husband™ method, placing a 'person' in mind, that you are singing to or about. So I stared at the cross on the curtains and felt a bit silly, but the second time we sang it, Ed was very happy, and we had put so much real feeling into the song that we drove away the cheeky pixies in tutus (that always go too far). So that's the answer DFS, make like a soloist, everytime! Well, maybe apart from madrigals, which always sound a bit bonkers!

Have a lovely half term, keep singing, and don't forget my Mam is coming down from Lancashire on the 9th June, Pub meeting on the 14th June and Preston garden party concert on the 18th. No madrigals will be sung. Love You! XXX

19 May 2011

2011-05-20T07:09:00.002+01:00

And there was pie...

Poor old Ed wore a radio mic tonight, and wasn't singing at all, as he had the worst man-cold EVER and we had to hear about it repeatedly in between songs. Adrian had a special request for choir, but he made poor croaky Ed ask, and so a willing and generous contingency are going to the church on Saturday to see Adrian's mum wedded (and will sing beautifully). Take some pictures, for the blog, folks!

A bit of a relaxed practice tonight, what with Ed running at half mast, or some other better metaphor, and some choices at the end of songs from our recent back list. Which is always fun, finding out how much we have forgotten!

It wasn't a very tasty pie though, but one composed of the colours of polo-shirts requested thus far. Not enough yellow and orange, it would seem. See you next week, DFS, for the last practice before half term. Cat XXX

A Fish Supper with Ed and Elton - gig review! (and blatant plug)

2011-05-15T09:43:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I had a really enjoyable night out, Talking, giggling, dancing and eating fish and chips, down in the hall at Wey Valley School...It was probably the tail end of my 40th Birthday celebrations, but what a lovely ending it was too!

The school hall has a really good stage, and at just the right moment Ed's son Jack tugged on the curtains to reveal Mr Hintze in his signature red jacket and straw hat. All held their breath at the curtains momentarily paused, then squeaked the rest of the way open. Ed played the grand piano, alongside his trusty TYROS3, perched on top,and did what he always does so well, entertained his varied audience with top performing and a smattering of tasteful jokes ...Ed chose real audience pleasers from his HUGE repertoire of Elton songs and the atmosphere was brilliant.

Then the awesome school dinner lady brought out chip-suppers for all, you could have a sausage or a veggie burger, if you wanted, and some tartare sauce was dug out for the birthday girl too. With lights up, there was an opportunity to chat with friends and family, and some thing nice and comforting to soak up the rosé drank by members of Dorset for Singing.

In the second half, fuelled with fishies and encouraged by Ed's lovely wife Jenny, the dancing began, as Ed appeared on stage in Gold Lamé and rocked the school hall. I simply cant say enough how impressed I am with the size of Mr Hinze's repertoire, although his enthusiasm for playing got the better of him when his G-string snapped, mid song! After that he let it hang out so it wouldn't make funny noises.

Ed thanked his supporters, and us for being fab fans, and we knew he really meant it. And we really were happy we came, especially some of us! The last encore was an Elton track, to dance to, and so we did! And I got my poster signed at half time, too!

12 May 2011

2011-05-13T18:42:00.001+01:00

Breezes will blow endlessly...

To being with the hall was all set up wrongly, and in addition there was Michael selling polo-shirts off the stage, Dave fiddling with speakers and mics, and me giving out ARTWEY art-trail maps again. Our Warm up was also a sound check, as it was time to record our Choir Anthem competition entry, and then there was an especially nice warm up song, just to celebrate 40 years of me getting on peoples nerves a lot! Have to say, having heard it a few times now of course, that’s the best Happy Birthday chorus EVER so thank you all! Unlike some parties I have been to, Ed will always start it in a sensible key!

And then it was time to try a couple of takes, and Ed very carefully explained that there must be absolute silence for a few seconds before and after the actual song, as EVERY sound we made would be captured and sent off for the judges to frown at! Suddenly, there was a loud ‘parp’ sound from the direction of the stage and we had to wait for all the giggles to subside before trying to play/sing! Ed said it was just a chair. Of course it was.

We sang a few of our recent new songs, including the one about love, chosen by Adrian, and my choice – Heart, Alone ... I used to have big hair like those babes! A few things The Cat was asked tonight were, ‘these tops, are they compulsory, was there a vote?’, ‘aren’t we on the harmony side?’ and finally, ‘will you tell Ed it sounds like a dirge?’! Big hugs everyone, well done for making a good recording in two takes, and sorry you missed it Fulvia XXX

5 May 2011

2011-05-06T06:21:00.002+01:00

Alone!

A colourful evening was had, ignoring Jenny's language of course - I was referring to the options for polo shirts, and the impromptu trying on session at the end. But which green did you prefer? Wishy-washy; or the colour of healthy grass? Michael set up his lap top as the overhead screen didn't show them off very well!

Everyone whipped out their diaries as Jenny read out details of our three next events, including a return to Preston rectory garden party. We are going to look very nice if our new polo shirts arrive in time. There is a lot of interest in purple!

So How do I get you alone? A blast from the past has been firmly stuck in my head since last night, I just the right age to have enjoyed this song very much when it was fresh, watching the video with a young boyfriend and playing on my 'personal stereo'. How old am I? I will tell you next week, and I hope to see lots of you with your chips on the 14th May, too!

28 April 2011

2011-04-29T06:31:00.003+01:00

Love, Love, Love...

Back in the saddle again, with news of a glorious 5 weeks of rehearsing, nope, not a single concert until after half term! There will be a double-what-sit on the 9th and 10th of July, but that's fine - DFS can handle it! One of those is Beach live, where we all have to squeeze up under eds armpits to fit on the tiny sea-side stage!

In news, Michael showed us a sample of the embroidered logo, for our new 'uniform', Ed invited us for fish and chips, and I gave out some ARTWEY art-trail maps (I will bring more next week).

Tonight's theme was love, including Elvis singing 'Can't Help Falling In Love' followed by a beat-up version, so have a think readers, about which one you would really like to perform to the masses, before next week. I was pleased to see Freiheit back, after we sung it at Preston Garden Party in our first year, I used to have theor whole album, on 'tape'...

31 March 2011

2011-04-01T08:55:00.002+01:00

Karaoke, Crisps, and Coke ...

Yes we at DFS know how to party and so that's what we did, raising a good £100 for our chosen charities in the process and hearing from a few new talented singers who took a turn at grabbing our mike. And that's about it really. Things are much quieter for us when Ed has his mouth around his nosh!

If you are very good, I'll get you an Easter egg, otherwise have a lovely break and I will see you on the 28th!

Sunday 27th March, 2011 ...

2011-03-28T08:25:00.003+01:00

Dors or Singing?

We are looking good as usual, through the lens of our very own Dave-the-sound man, who gets time off from mixing when we sing at the Pavilion, and points his camera at us instead! And of course we sing at the Pavilion every year, because we are of course, The Best of Dorset! And we had our lovely banner in place too, to hide all the brown trousers and any comedy duck-feet.

Well done again 'Dors or Singing', it was lovely to see folk rushing in to catch our songs as we were on stage, instead of leaving to watch big guns being fired like they did last year. We did very well with fame, and I even remembered to more my hands, Bryan Husband would be so proud!

I brought two up-and-coming reviewers with me this time, who also minded handbags and ate the free stuff the Dorset Echo were giving out, and didn't booh once. Asked when they really thought of the performance, they stated Fields of Gold as the best song, and added, 'We would come again, if it was in town.'

See you in the music room for a knees-up next Thursday, lots of love, The Cat XXX

24 March 2011

2011-03-25T08:35:00.003Z

The Chilli on my kebab!

I prefer cherries on cakes myself, but when Ed Throws us a complement like that, well, ya better not knock it! For most of the night our Big man was out in front, where he should be, not sitting behind his keyboard hiding his hands!

The were times tonight when the collective Dorset for Singing sounded very small and tired, and moments of sheer grandness, when we sang the roof off of the humble school hall! I am with Ed in that the practice before a concert is never without worries, I am sure it hits us with a kind of, 'yikes! last practice!' wobble, and if you think about it, the moment we open out mouths to please Weymouth, Portland and Dorset at large, we always make our Ed dead proud.

Don't be an hour late on Sunday, make sure you change your clocks and are at the stage door for about 1.15pm. For an extra treat, pop down and visit the Artwey stand and see a topical piece of soft sculpture created by me. It's not a seagull on a stick this time, although I suspect it should be. It's a bit of light relief, related to the relief road! (I get to be two-times the best of Dorset - and so does our lovely Carol!)

See you Sunday in Blue and Black, with smart folders, clean hankies and FAME hands, and remember I love ya! Especially Today! XXXX

17 March 2011

2011-03-18T07:53:00.004Z

Ed may be very well behaved when being the compare of a very nice music festival final concert, but is very naughty indeed when let out from behind his piano, as witnessed last night, when he kept making jenny sing at the wrong time, and caught me once too!

Never mind. It will all come out in the wash, and we shall sound superb again at the Pavilion, and anyway we had some very grown up minutes from Michael in the key of F. Look out for chaos, polo shirts that don't fit your moobs very flatteringly, and a row of Nintendo DS thingies on the back row. Whatever they are. Michael's minutes don't have any made up stuff in them either, unlike my blogs!

We had a good go at 6 lovely songs tonight, and got a better grasp on most of those, with some careful harmony work too, that had me losing the melody in words, so good they were! And I loved the public toilet stories that choir members shared, too. Thanks DFS, i do love you lots xxxx

11 march 2011

2011-03-12T18:10:00.008Z

Weymouth Music Festival, Proper!

And so DFS returned to Wey Valley School to raise the roof with our winning song - not that it was a competition. It was a very interesting night, my first time in the audience as well as DFS's first appearance at the Festival.

You will read this blog as soon as you possibly can, but with my broadband coming and going as it is, who knows when that would be! It's not late because I spent a long time trying to make it really witty. Just so you know.

I think we did really well, and our lessons in bott-rock stood us in very good stead, mind you I can't help feeling naughty after our flash-mob type behaviour during Wey Valley's lovely rendition of RUN. Adrian saw the audience turn their heads away from the stage in a wave! Sorry Wey Valley - it was Ed's idea!

Two Weeks until The Best of Dorset - don't forget to go to the pub on Tuesday, if you have ideas, hopes and dreams for Dorset for Singing. I would still like a lift, and I'll see the rest of you, Thursday! XXX

10 March 2011

2011-03-11T06:12:00.006Z

A Bit of Bott-Rock!

At DFS we never hit rock bottom, well almost never. The problem - multitasking, the advice - awesome! The result? Quite a lot better!

So tonight songsters, after receiving the seal of approval from the Judges at the Music Festival (mentioning no other names here), we return, panting and excited, and with a surprise up our sleeve, to sing Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, at tonight's Music Festival Concert, where there will be joyous singing, high cheek bones, eye contact and what's more, a little bit of bott-rock!

Ed stayed centre-stage tonight, we never lost our Fat-Controller once, although we did make him sea-sick with some over swaying, and after that we worked on some of our recent songs, tried to express passion and a bit of raunchiness, and uncovered some new bum notes. Hope we get those ironed out by tonight. I am off to raise my chickens and sing in the shower. I will see you later at Wey Valley School, and at the pub
next Tuesday if someone can give me a lift? I promise to take good minutes if so. Bring your botts XXXXX

5 March 2011

2011-03-06T08:25:00.006Z

Weymouth Music Festival 2011

The one where Bryan Husband came along and made us feel guilty for not doing all the things Ed tries to get us to do! The one where Jenny wore a dress and heels and looked very lovely all day. The one where we listened to a bunch of very talented other choirs, and managed without The Fat Controller at the front!

A very different experience for Dorset for Singing then, causing much more nerves than usual as we realised that we would have to sing two new songs, facing only an unknown audience, and something really scary called adjudicators! Members who have got used to performing as part of our friendly choir were feeling a few butterflies this time!

But all went went well, and most people waited nicely for all the right gaps in the songs, and then we got some lovely feedback from Mr Husband, who had us moving and smiling and generally feeling better about the whole thing. We didn't see very much of Ed at all, who nipped off for a kebab as soon as Bryan had finished with our critique, and didn't see the solo session that we had, when four soloists came forward from our own DFS, Me (egged on by many), Big Ron, Adrian and our expressive Alex, and got some very useful direction, and I am at this very moment sticking my bottom out, just a little!

I thought it a very enjoyable afternoon,and hope we can return next week, but we shall have to wait and see, thanks everyone for coming even if you were worried. We upheld Dorset for Singing's good name and very good sense of humour XXX

PS - Update - We got through! See News & Events ...

3rd March 2011

2011-03-04T06:32:00.005Z

It's not a Competition!

Ed Promised us a lovely break tonight, as we were going to have to work very hard on only two songs. I was really looking forward to my kit-kat, but it didn't happen in the end because Ed spent too much time going up and down the stairs and doing ballet...

So for Saturday, when we sing at Weymouth Music Festival, we will perform two songs and Ed will be nowhere in view, tucked in the corner behind the piano. I just hope before he leaps off into Rosé that he remembers to do it in E ... and that we remember to go 'Raaaaaaaaaaw-zey!'(Think Geordie lions or something).

A very different experience it was, to work on only a couple of songs and really take them to bits. Not as different though as piling up in front of the stage and singing to the rest of choir (making up the audience). I am going to bring a mirror on a stick, so that I can see Ed, nodding his head and opening his mouth! More practical than seagull-on-a-stick, but much less cute!

See you 1.30 Saturday folks, at Wey Valley School Hall, and why not stay for the Master-class afterwords? That's like a vocal workshop but run by a famous person. BIG HUGS, Cat xxx

25 February 2011

2011-02-26T10:01:00.001Z

This one’s for you...

Last night a nervous but extremely good Dorset for Singing played to a half-church packed with eager choir fans. I say only half a church, as we needed the other half to include choir members, a screen for the words, and a quiet corner for jack to eat chocolate brownies and for Jenny to play solitaire.

Our choir’s third year and good name means that we get asked back to venues, and so we are busy as ever, cramming new songs into our choir practices and honing our crowd pleasers to perfection. And churches may not have been built with acoustics in mind, but we really sang the roof off and made our audience smile, and sounded great. My favourite bit was Ed’s Cat-got-the-cream smile at the end of one of our brand new songs, when he looked genuinely pleased with our performance, and said, for his choir only, ‘perfect!’

Not so many soloists this time, just enough to break up the songs a bit. Someone asked me how i choose my solos and I couldn’t think of an easy answer, but then it hit me – I have to feel good singing it and prefer to have Ed play live for me too! I was a bit worried this time that he wouldn’t let me sing one of ‘his’ songs!

Thanks Dorset for Singing, yet again, I am filled with enormous love for you, and dead proud to be a small part of you, I love it when we get asked to do an encore, I am sure that didn’t happen in the old days! Thanks also to All Saints tea makers, who fuelled us at half time with drinks and biccies galore! See you Thursday xXXx

17 February 2011

2011-02-18T06:45:00.004Z

The DFS VLE ...

Our attention was called, at the start of choir, to the huge screen, where our man Ed, dressed for school, loomed large and brought tears to our eyes! There was much less messing about during the warm ups, and some useful feedback from the video, proving that, despite the enormous ego that gets in the way at times, Ed really does know his choir, right down to who always turns up late!

I am not sure though, that he really knows the songs, after we had such a giggle trying to match up the words and the backing track. I am not sure Hannah wants to come again now. Never mind waiting for the little twiddle! So we gave up and did one of 'her' songs, I mean, who needs FAME anyway?

So sorry that you didn't get to see Cat' and Michael's comedy routine, only I am rather relieved as his costume was better than mine, much more thought gone into that one. I was only going to improvise in lederhosen and a Donald-duck head...

See you Friday at Seven DFS, those of you that will still come (please do), and be glad that Blog Reader is back among us, in the form of Fulvia's 'him-indoors'. He might start leaving comments next, like the good old days! Enjoy half term and remember I love you XXX

10 February 2011

2011-02-11T06:55:00.004Z

Normal service has been removed. The cat is back, with most of her faculties and sincere apologies, from myself and from blogger-dot-com, for the self appraising, biblical waffle that you were forced to consume last week (Mmmm, waffles). That wont happen again.

How nice to be back at Dorset for singing, even if, as i realised at teatime, i hadn't sung in over a week. Thanks for the welcome, you sang beautifully and brought tears to my eyes, or perhaps that was because i was trying not to laugh so much!

Look forward then, to a concert two weeks from today, in the church on Portland again, and also, to the return of Hannah, who is much less scathing than Ed, and will take the session in the hall next week alongside the disco, which although advertised on posters apparently will not happen! Hannah gets to materialise after we watch a video warm up made by Ed, and possibly a video song as well. It could be interesting. Or just odd. Esp the big where he stops playing and tells us not to hang onto a note or 'ssss' too early! Tell everyone that didn't come this week that next week will be an extravaganza!

So I am off to listed to ROSE now, and get some of those timings in my head, and then eat my cereal. Thanks for working hard DFS, and thanks to Fulvia's Husband for blog feedback! Phew, it's good to be back, love you, Cat XXX

3 February 2011

2011-02-04T13:08:00.000Z

A Guest Blog!

Silence descended over the Room of Awe as The Great Man raised one of his mighty and talented arms to gain the flock's attention. One hundred butterflies danced in the hearts of every one in the room as He began to impart his words of unfaltering wisdom. And it came to pass that they did warm up their humble voices, and each follower became good for it. As if by some remarkable coincidence, they sang 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight', with a hint of beautiful irony, this mighty lion certainly wasn't sleeping. He was very much awake and able to command music, with a gentle roar of content when the believers listened, responded and were good.

At nineteen hundred hours past midnight, He began to ease songs into the souls of all around Him. 'Rosé' was the first chosen song, and the throng listened and sang the song. He raised one of his powerful eyebrows and the people saw that it was not good. Suddenly, with only a few jaw-dropping words from Him, the song became alive. It blossomed and became part of the very fabric of everyone's lives. 'Surely He uses magic' one person dared to whisper. 'No' came the booming, yet caring voice. 'My musical powers are not magic. They are delivered from deep down in a vast cave of inspiration. Some say it is an area so large that it contains a million unwritten songs, others say that it is filled with kebab (an ancient ingredient used by the great composers of our time), you do not need to know at this time, your work is far from finished. And with that firm line drawn by His might hand, the next song was lined up, almost begging to be transformed into another piece of wonderment..

By the end of the evening, the room was exhausted. The Great Man had given so much for so little, it was hard to believe that such a person could ever have existed. What entered earlier were raw ingredients, what exited was a combination of love, harmony and peace. The people were fulfilled. They were happy and so grateful to be considered part of His family. The all vowed to bring Him gifts of wine and chocolate, and will forever be armed with a response to 'can you sing far away?'. Indeed not, but they can certainly sing 'From a Distance'.

Thank you fo reading

The Mystery Blogger

27 January 2011

2011-01-28T07:07:00.002Z

8 out of 10, Dorset for Singing!

Last night we enjoyed the projectile experience that was the brains of the TYROS 3 coupled with a rather smart projector, just a pity about the basket ball net on the wall, and Ed's Big head. The TYROS 3 is so impressive Ed doesn't even have to play it ... I hope he has not been faking it all these years!

And so, as a reaction to the feedback on the DFS forum, and after a powerful warm up taking advantage of the acoustics in the gym, Ed read through a list of 10 brand new songs, and not a single one of them was an Elton or an Abba number!

So we had quite a fun evening charging through most of the songs Ed brought, squeezing in a bit of Michael Bubble before bedtime, instead of Keane which didn't get enough votes. you may remember me soloing that one as Jenny ran in and out of the hall with hot fresh burgers, at our BBQ concert last year, so if you sing it next week, when I am not here, please do it lovely, for me.

There might not be a blog next week, as I will be at home, post op (milking it), and Ed may or may not have time to create one. I might post something for a treat for you just because I love you, like a handmade video, or i might stalk the forum for a bit of cut and paste pleasure!

And so, without further ado, it's time to get out of my pyjamas and hit the send button, probably the other way round. I'll miss you, Cat XXX

20 January 2011

2011-01-21T06:51:00.004Z

Ahhhhh good to be back!

Happy new year Dorset for singing, 'slightly worn, but dignified, and not too old for sex!' No that's not you lot, but just one small part of the hot new songs we tackled last night, with our rusty voice boxes and enthusiasm! I am doubly happy to be back in the new year, as 2011 is easier to type then 2010, when blogging our adventures!

At first glance Ed looked a bit grubby, but then I realised it was a lush garden of facial hair, and that our man had only been clean shaven all this time as he was playing at being Elton John. Elton is not gigging at the moment due to all those night feeds, or something. Looks like I had better make a duck-suit for Brian Blessed, then ... Perhaps we should all get beards, so we can run our fingers through them when deciding whether to vote songs in or out?

Anyway, back to the singing, which was awesome, espcially when we had been hit with an interesting Abba B-side which no one knew, and the track hinted at above, 'When all is said and done', again ,not know to many of you. I didn't know the Michael Buble song either, I was only really with-it for 'uptown girl'!

Four concerts loom, the end of Feb for another slot back at All Saints church, and the 5th of march for Weymouth Music Festival and also back at the Pavvy on the 27th March for the Best of Dorset, this will be our third time on stage at this event, I was so surprised we were asked back after our shy first year, but we did a grand job last year and gave jenny goose pimples.

Just one more really important thing - we are in the gym next week so turn left when you go in through the front doors, and don't forget your kit. Knickers and vest if you do. Welcome back, Cat XXX

9 December 2010 ...

2010-12-10T06:38:00.004Z

Sparkles!

Last night the Choir gathered to take over the stage, hoping the act before them didn't sing all their songs or that they fingers would not be too numb to hold the carol sheets. The lovely compère called us 'The Ladies', then apologised to Ed, Ron, etc. and invited us to sing again at the pavilion next year (27th March) as part of the Best of Dorset. Awesome-sauce!

Poor Michael was not singing with us last night as he felt poorly, so he went round with a bucket, not because he was poorly, but to collect some pennies for our two charities, and we enjoyed meeting Zebedee, Megan's lovely Dog, as a rep for Dogs for the Disabled, wearing his very smart coat. Zebedee also thought Ben the Rat was rather interesting, did you spot him? He's not very big, but he knows all the words and wore his cheerful Christmas hat!

We had a nice audience and some even sang along, of course they could have been waiting for the lovely Emma to sing, but they did make our collection bucket heavy too. I want to say a big thank you to Choir for turning out in good numbers again, despite the cold and missing our last practice together! And it was especially nice to walk into the lovely warm pub afterwords and have a drink together.

So the cheeky-blogger will now wish you a Merry Christmas and share this pic of Ben getting ready to go out and sing last night. Don't eat it Ben.

Love you always, Dorset for Singing, see you on 20 Jan 2011 ... XXXXXXXXX

2nd December 2010 - Practice Cancelled!

2010-12-02T07:31:00.002Z

please don't come to choir practice tonight ... play is cancelled ... stand by for more details about next week when we will sound lovely having done all the verses of Jingle Bells for home work ...

oh - here they are - from our lovely Choir Master ...

"Will try and get the message out to all, but there will be no rehearsal tonight due to the risk of sunstroke. We are performing at 7.30pm next Thursday outside Debenham's so please arrive about 15 mins earlier in order to get in some sort of crazy order. Social starts at 8pm in the function room, Clipper Bar, Weymouth, Ed x"

25 November 2010

2010-11-26T06:40:00.003Z

We love Penny ...

Last night when we arrived for rehearsals, the WI choir were sounding really good, and I was given my first Christmas card and three very sweet horseshoes! Ed handed out carol sheets, yes - proper carols will be sung by DFS on the cold streets of Weymouth, and barely a ballad left on the play list! There were 15 songs on the sheet, and we whittled these down to 8. Or 9. If you want a reminder I cleverly used my mobile phone to record and have this list ...

Silent night
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Jingle Bells - with more lyrics than I ever knew!
Good King Wensleydale
Calypso Carol
Deck the Halls - changed to DING DONG
White Christmas
Merry Christmas everybody ...

....and not necessarily in that order. That was the spell checker that slipped the cheese in by the way, we have got the one with cranberries to be extra festive.

Penny, our new shining star came along with her Choir recording all edited, and we discussed prices, numbers of tracks and CD cases that don't crack. Then before it was time to go home we listened to You Raise Me Up, and I went home to drink beer as I had been married for 5 years to the day!

Next week's practice goes on at the same time as All Saints' School's Christmas market in the hall, so we will be carolling in the gym but open to visitors popping in and out. Please smile and wear tinsel in strategic places. And don't be naughty. Much. XXXXXX

18 November 2010

2010-11-19T06:27:00.002Z

Brown Girl in the Ring ....

I love listening to Wey-Hey-Bay WI choir before we all get to sit down. They sound quite good these days, even of down in numbers, and much more grown up than DFS... But after they have finished we pile into our seats, and rattle thru a warm up before Ed gets up and announces a surprise. Which is singing Christmassy songs.

So we all should out the name of songs we like, apart from me, and come up with a list of 25 songs, paired down with voting and groaning to a humble 9. I liked watching Dave type then out on the screen, it reminded me of the Match-of-the-Day teleprinter, only much more exciting.

Then we sang our way through some of the songs, many of them in too high a key, and at the end Ed hinted that although this list had been very democratically chosen, it might change when we saw it again the next week.

But there was an awesome super duper surprise this week, when right at the end the lovely person I had seen wielding equipment at our concert appeared with a nice shiny disk, and after Michael and especially Dave twiddled lots of things on the mixing desk, the beautiful sound of a well-rehearsed, happy, and rather good community choir rang from the speakers and made many a hair stand up on end! So now, the burning question would be, we can we have one? Me Mam would love it!

So proud of you Dorset for Singing, Traa-la-la-la-lah! XXXXXXX

12 November 2010

2010-11-13T07:42:00.003Z

Two Encores!

So Dorset for Singing, resplendent as ever in blue tops and black bottoms, revisited again the Weymouth Bay Methodist church, where the delightful audience wondered why I was singing into a microphone that wasn't switched on at the end of 'Story of a Heart'. Carol said it sounded nice anyway...

I managed to get a last minute babysitter and train ticket for Hubby, who was pleased to hear just how far we had come, having not been to a concert since our last All Saints School hall gig! So give yourselves a pat on the back, DFS!

And again, a lovely, lively mix of soloists, from Hymns, musicals, folk and pop from many decades. Rachel told me on facebook she had bought a fun Monsters Inc. top just for her solo, and very cheerful it was too. I had a stroke, did you? I had a good look at everyones bottoms when they were soloing, but we wont linger there ...

Ed section was bigger than some of us thought it would be, I think he got carried away with all the cheese, and my favourite was 'Take on Me', and the way he waggles his eyebrows!

Actually I am most excited about our two encores, because that has never happened before, and we have also been asked back again in the future to entertain this lovely audience, who don't mind being outnumbered by our musical selves! And a fantastic £285 was raised, to share between the two charities! Well done choir, sound man, choir master, choir manager and blogger, but mostly choir, thank you for another great night! xxxxxx

11 November 2010

2010-11-12T06:34:00.002Z

Phys Ed ...

Good day, DFS, and good news, it looks like Michael did have a chance to get it up last night, as the running order for tonight's concert is in the news section of our website, and looks like this ...

If you took home version 1.0 of the running order last night, it is missing a certain little persons solo at 6.5 because Ed forgot I had asked him if I could do my Hymn again ...

you folder should look like this
1. The Story of a Heart
2. Imagine
3. Like a Prayer
4. Can You Feel the Love Tonight
9. At the End of the Day
10. Silence is Golden
11. Fields of Gold
17. Run
(and with Ed). Hallelujah ...

but if you have diligently hung onto you folder from other practices, it wont, as in the interest of saving trees, 2 new songs have been added printed back to back, and are therefore ... out of order!

I am feeling very nervous now, and will try and get a record played for everyone on Wessex FM today, but I am also enjoying sitting down at my computer after all that standing in the Gym last night. I notice Ed stayed on his feet all night, all the better to see him with. He is going to be very busy with his hands, playing, so just watch his head and mouth for the closures of words, especially those that end in S! WE could bring him a sock puppet but he would have to wear it on his head. Love you DFS, knock 'em dead! XXXX

4 november 2010

2010-11-05T06:18:00.005Z

Lost ... Cat and Kittens ...

Remembering the news before half term that the hall would not be free, a few folk gathered in front of All Saints School last night, after struggling to park their cars, and embarked on the long track together to find the music room. Cat lead the way, and it was quite the adventure, twists and turns, monsters and daemons, terry's chocolate oranges (not really), and finally, a locked music room door, and lots of other choir members looking at us through the green builders mesh, saying, how did we get in there?

So Cat whipped out her trusty mobile phone and called Ed, who probably let it go to voice mail while giggling, and guessing my fate! We were having a few chats through the mesh when Ed called me back, and suggested we all go back to the school hall, so we had to brave the three headed beasts and the waterfall and the plague of spiders all over again ...

But we made it, and Sandra had saved me a seat, not bad.

There's a concert this time next week, at Wey Hey Bay, and choir sang lots of our recently tried songs, we are going again for the concert with fresh, new, well-rehearsed material, i guess recycling isn't always a good thing. I got home very tired and sleepy, and wasn't sure if it was from singing all those songs, or the march round the building. Keep singing good people of DFS, and remember, dont follow a Cat anywhere, unless it's only to the fridge xxxx

21 October 2010

2010-10-22T06:41:00.008+01:00

I love your delicate way ...

Ed thanked us for performing so well at All Saints' Church, and confirmed what a pleasant surprise our singing of 'Silence is Golden' had been. I don't know if you felt the same as me when we opened our mouths to sing it, but I thought it sounded quite good! Now i know it wasn't the audience joining in, after all! Ed also apologised for going wrong in 'Like a Prayer', which wont happen again, his apology I mean, not the mistake in the music! You can click on the tab below, but will only ever find one blog entry. I don't think the audience noticed so that's OK.

We had some fun tonight with new songs, a 'Les Mis' number that is 300 times faster than Su Bo, an innocently sounding ballad from 'The Feeling' which turns out to be about drinking wine, and a lovely bit of cheese, namely a shawaddy waddy number and 'bye bye baby' which make me think of my itchy tartan trousers, all those years ago (when i was a preschooler, honest!), not forgetting a chance for the men to expose their bass voices with 'Breaking Up is Hard to Do'

It's half term next week, so don't come to choir, and when you come the week after, expect mud, getting lost and bring a torch, as we try to negotiate our way into the music room from a secret back passage, due to the main route being blocked off by works of some kind. Rather par for the course in Weymouth and Portland at the moment...

I will miss you next week, never mind, you lot can always read my other blog if you miss me too much. I will be trying to turn Ed into a Duck. Hugs, Cat xxx

15 October 2010

2010-10-16T08:32:00.006+01:00

I am here for the Bucket...

Hello Dorset for singing, I have still not woken up yet, not used to blogging on a relaxed Saturday when I woke up too late to get it done before the children rise!

The choir did really well last night, old members and new ones, belting out some songs we had hardly touched since we started this year's rehearsals only 4 weeks ago, and we really got our heads around 'run' and were pleased to perform this again for an encore. Who doesn't like being asked to do an encore? Having been given the treat of singing the descant part of 'story of a heart' to sing over the last few choruses
only the night before, I spent Friday afternoon learning it, until my Fuzzies (children) begged me to stop! I fluffed it, mixing up most of the lines I had carefully printed out, but no one knows, so it's OK!

It was really really nice to hear all the solos as ever, I always enjoy this section and we had lots of new performers, I love the way our choir grows and changes!

I enjoyed having a rest and a snuggle under my coat as Ed performed, as freshly as if he had just decided to pick them, a selection of tunes from his enormous repertoire, treat for all our hard work, and nice after we had got our own solos under our belts.

Thanks again to Jenny's lovely family for bringing me and taking me home again, Marie and new member Sandra for turning up to support us, Ruth's mum for recording some of the choir that my mum can watch, far away in Lancashire, and Alex for telling me he reads the blog. That's one more person besides me and Ed, then. I went home and stuffed an enormous piece of chocolate cake into my face then lay in bed with Elton John songs running through my head (It's ok, I don't usually get to eat a full dinner before a concert, no room on account of all those butterflies!).

AND we raised a total of £227 to split between the our two chosen charities - not a bad start!

Now here's a bit for Ruch Meech ... Dorset for singing debued on the Rock last night, as they performed alongside their awesome choir master, Ed Hintze, and raised lots of dosh for 2 charities, Dogs for the Disabled and the British Stammering Association this year. Now we just need a great pic from Harry and we are all set.

Thanks dear choir, loved it last night, still on a high and love you lots, see you Thursday when Ed will try to be nice about our singing of 'like a prayer' xxx

14 October 2010

2010-10-15T06:13:00.003+01:00

Yikes!

As I type, shivering at some obscenely early hour, I realise that tonight is our concert, in a strange new venue, with strange new songs and, although I still don't know where to pitch in two of the songs, I am sure it will be fantastic. Harry is going to steal the show, anyway, with a lovely bit of ukulele.

Today I will try to get Ed to confirm which key my song is in, and try to 'get' the lovely descant part in the last verses of 'story of a heart', remember to feed the children and hope my hard working husband can get home at a decent time to let me leave for my lift tonight (long days at county hall for him). Every time I practice any song, 4 year old Matty starts up with 'you raise me uuuup' in a very loud voice, and I have to stop and listen! It won't be long ...

We do have a big challenge this time of singing very new songs, not like last term when we had performed so much that we only needed the folders to cover up any dresses that were fraying in church (the naughty corner wanted me to put that on the blog. but I think they want more detail than that!), as we knew all our song so well. Just remember to keep an eye on Ed as he cuts off our S's before they hiss all over the church.

Now, would anyone like me to explain Ed's intelligent joke? See you tonight at church dear choir, and remember I love you! Cat xxxx

7 october 2010

2010-10-08T06:39:00.005+01:00

Golden ...

An evening of revision, where we jumped in and sand 6 of the songs from weeks one and two, and learned that for this concert, Valerie has been dropped no no dogging, I mean dodging, for a while... all 8 of our new songs are now up under 'songs' for you to enjoy, but at least 2 of them are in a key all of their own.

Unfortunately we didn't get the change to vote off 'silence is golden' but I know from the way it sounded where I was sitting, that others were going up and down the octaves (several octaves) in trying to sing along. I think this song alone has contributed to how much 'the tremeloes' have aged now ...

we did a super job of 'run' and it sounds very pretty, and then our naughty corner (not mentioned them this term yet, they much have quit the gin) added in the lovely harmonies in 'can you feel the love tonight' and it all started to feel like we might be OK at our next concert NEXT WEEK after all!

Please print out some posters and paste them up if you can, dig out your folders from under the lego to bring next time to be stuffed with our delightful new set of songs. Get onto you tube and learn the ones you don't know while you are washing up, and remember i love you, Cat XXXX
PS thanks for the 2 offers of lifts too ...

30 September 2010

2010-10-01T06:42:00.005+01:00

look at this lovely poster - Its Elton John and the mini-folk ... I am the smallest one of course ...

Hello dear choir, admire this poster that Michael send me last night, We are soon to have strok-able Glossy versions of this soon to paste around town. I do wonder if anyone can remember all 5 songs we did last night, but I managed to recall 3 straight away and another one after some time. Plus a couple from last week, when I blogged that the videos and so ons, would soon be on the website-proper to cover up for my empty head ... but Ed is still testing the water with new songs, thinking of our next venue with the lovely acoustics, and Father Flynn wondering if we will play any punk rock?

Thankfully tho, the important news and events for Dorset for singing is all nice and up to date and can be found on This LINK!

We had four charity nominations last night, 2 that were local, and 2 that were national, supported by and important for 2 of our fantastic choir members. And so, joyously, for our third year we have 2 lovely charities to support so we shall have to sing extra hard and raise the rooves at our concerts!

I am sorry that I can't think of anything rude to say about Ed this week, and that Jenny had all the best lines, but that these are most certainly unbloggable ...

so did you enjoy singing Run, Story of a heart, Like a Prayer, Silence is golden, and ... the other sing that we did?

This Blog has been Passed by the Management, Thankyou.

23 September 2010

2010-09-24T07:00:00.003+01:00

Back - after braving the roads!

Welcome old faces and new faces ... wait, old faces doesn't sound so cool. Welcome back third years! We warmed up with 'You raise me up' (without the gap), and were shocked by the announcement of our next concert - catch up with all the HOT Dorset for Singing news on the website proper, of course, where you will see times, dates and other announcements if Michael has time to put them up.

I do think Ed should start by saying, Hello I am Ed ... he did introduce our lovely Dave who keeps clicking away in the corner to get the right thing on the screen, mans the desk and lights at our concerts and takes a lot of the awesome shots of us when in concert.

He didn't introduce you to Michael, who looks after DorsetforSinging-dot-co-dot-uk and sings in the front row while juggling baby Ruby. In a few days there should be some links to new songs (you tube videos and some lyrics) and a nice big BLOG tab on the official website.

And Ed didn't tell you that the small pest at the front called Cat is me, Choir blogger. I also do a bit of PR work getting our stuff on radio and in the Echo, which means I have to eat chocolate cake with Ruch Meech and bother those good people at Wessex FM too ...

Jenny is Ed's long suffering wife. She monitors kebab levels, takes our payments at the start of each term and does a fantastic job of catering, whether for our adoring fans at concerts or a lovely buffet for a Choir social event. Guest list only!

I sometimes put really useful information on this blog, about what order to put your folders in, or when to leave an all important GAP in a certain song ... I know there are old blog readers here going, we know all this, get on with the jokes ... but there will not be any jokes as they have all been done before. Sorry. Bring your charity nominiees for next week and remember I love you, Cat XXXXX

other things that ed and cat get up to ....

2010-09-15T09:11:00.001+01:00

so here we were on a rainy Saturday ... Elton John ready with those plush scissors I made ...

Elton is really Ed Hintze, and Cat has probably heckled him too many times at choir practice ... the neighbours are suitable shocked!

some one steps in, and finally Elton attacks the pink ribbon, for Steve's camera ...

It takes quite some time to cut through it ...

And its OPEN, after Eltons lovely speech ...

and the crowd rush in ....

to fondle my 'art for the hands' mats ...

say hello to molly the owl ...

choose some colourful and reasonable priced cards ...

and enjoy a little SPICE!

see for your self, here - http://www.artwey.co.uk/venue.php?venue_id=138

Just adding some Ed related event to the Blog ...

2010-09-11T07:11:00.001+01:00

altho i wont be a lobster today, i will be manning my Artwey 2010 open studio event ...

perhaps you already have your Artwey map, and saw last weeks Dorset Echo magazine? That lobster stunt seems to have worked out well for advertising!

Here is the bit on the Artwey map showing dear Molly owl, and my venue ...

you can grab a PDF file of the 2-sided map from artwey.co.uk ...

and i have some new pieces on display at the Brewers Quay, one of these little chaps sold at the private view last night!

and if you visit me at 10.30 today you are up for a rare treat, as Ed Hintze opens my porch to the general public and fans of the Raggy rat! Some lovely members of DfS have said they will come ...

Plus - listen out for my radio interview on WESSEX FM news!

15 july 2010 - the choir social ...

2010-07-20T08:27:00.003+01:00

The choir social was well attended and the singing was mostly excellent. I don't know what they call that game on the xbox 360', but at least I remembered the appliance, and it provided perfect background to our eating, drinking and talking.

Sorry it took me so long to fill you in on all the happenings. If you weren't there you totally missed out, on a whole smorgasbord (nice spread, Jenny) of tasty delights and a cornucopia of karaoke. Sorry about the big words, its going to be the last blog for a while, and to be honest I am still feeling the effects of whatever it was Ed put in his glass bath full of punch. There was enough to bath Ruby in, and he stood in the foyer making the glasses very full indeed ...Jenny let me help cut bread, so sorry if it was wonky/smaller than some one else's bit...

Bonus - every item on the sweet trolley was chocolatey! and I had about 5 things in the end ...

I do hope Jack got home OK, but after seeing him in action licking butter wrappers clean of butter, I wouldn't have taken him over the speed bumps in my car...

BEST PARTY QUOTES ...
"well, it's off the internet ... so ... you can blame the internet!"
"Lovely Spread Jenny!"
"He's not usually allowed to do that ..."
"I do feed him, honest!"

This Bog post has been approved by the management. It's their fault its so late.

Dorset For Singing - Beach Live 2010

2010-07-12T14:29:00.002+01:00

Dorset For Singing - Beach Live 2010
Originally uploaded by dav.idbain

Dave shares another super photo with us, of our day on the beach for Spirit of the Sea - you can read what he says about this if you click on the picture ...

And here I have blown us up a bit so you can see us better ...

8th July 2010

2010-07-08T23:07:00.002+01:00

A little something before the weekend ...

hello dear choir, no Ed this week and no Hannah, but theres always a little Cat and her dusty keyboard ...

This lovely review apeared in the Echo after our Wey-Hey-Bay do ....

Where Dave, our lovely sound man and super photographer took this lovely picture, risking life and lenses to avoid a rail being in the picture!

hope you are not missing choir this week ... but if you are, i hope that helped. Dont forget to come and sing on the beach on Sunday, 3.30pm.

4th July 2010

2010-07-04T18:45:00.002+01:00

Singing in The Street!

The events on stage at Sutton Poyntz Street Fayre over ran a bit, but Dorset for Singing kept the audience hanging on to their very last song, yes, we had them swaying and singing along. I was pleased to see the size of our crowd, it was much bigger one than the act before us, and I think that audience was largely made up of Dorset for Singing, waiting to squeeze on stage.

And squeeze we did, and sang our hearts out we also did, and though the wind started to blow and the bunting tugged at its trappings, we made a good sound and left our audience smiling. I think we might even gain some new blood too. I hope it's men.

Well done dear choir, I was so proud to see those happy faces out there, I am sure we were a fitting finale to the well organised day. We can now tick off out third concert of the summer term, and look forward to sand in our toes next Sunday during spirit of the sea. Remember too, not to turn up on Thursday, but you can turn up on the blog if you like, and I'll have a little treat for you, coz I love you so very much ...

Ed; Thanks for the lift down ... XXXXX

1st July 2010

2010-07-02T08:13:00.003+01:00

Trust me, it sounds lovely!

No Ed tonight, but a few questions to me about how I get anything done with all these children, well I am bit late today with the blog, so that will help explain that ...

Please meet near stage on Sunday just before 4-ish, ready to wow Sutton P with our voices. If you aren't sure where the main stage is I think its in the middle of the duck pond.

A HUGE thank you to Hannah for coping with us, I hope we didn't appear to stroppy, I think we are definitely used to dealing with Ed, and his gentle ways, and thought it was quite funny when we all gratefully sat ourselves down without being asked! Thanks to Michael for doing all the notices, and giving us some tips on speed dating ...

It was quite useful hearing some more vocal tricks and tips, and to have a break from our serious concert practice of the same old songs, and do you know, I do think that IMAGINE was starting to sound very lovely, and all that in half a session too!

Sorry about the snakes hannah ... i should have warned you that without Ed's hand signal to finish a word, the ss can hiss on for hours...

Love you D~F~S, see you in a muddy field on Sunday xxxx

24 June 2010

2010-06-25T07:28:00.006+01:00

Last Practice this year ...

More folder juggling last night - i juggled one for some one who doesn't read the trusty bloggy blogs - now our songs for ''beach live'' look like this ...

I'M A BELIEVER,
I DREAMED A DREAM,
SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG,
SONG OF THE SEA,
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP,
THE PRAYER,
LET THE RIVER RUN,
money money money
you raise me up
sos
THE ROSE...

if you take out the songs in small letters, you get the songs for out Sutton Poynts gig on the 4th of July ...

Hot news tonight as we heard that we will meet Hanna Soulsby at last, when she will do a WORKSHOP. I hope she doesn't make us go on all-fours, or stare into each others eyes, or maybe stand in a big chain holding each others bellies (thinking of other vocal workshops I have taken part in). I might bring a note from my Mum. Or leave my belly at home so I cant do it... Also, are coming to our social to eat jenny's cheese straws? Tickets next week, or call jenny using the web site information ...

The official timings and so on for Sutton-Poynts and Beach-Live will be up on our official site soon, I am not going to bother you for much longer today as I have to take 2 cots to bits and that means finding a srewdriver first, but before that, we did get some ironing done this week on some very important parts of songs, now you jusy have to remember what you have been told and sing that. I'm proud to a 'lover', and proud to be part of DFS, we really are sounding like a propper choir these days.
Keep Singing, I LOOOOOOOVE YOUUUUUU! XXXX

19th June 2010

2010-06-20T06:42:00.003+01:00

Concert, St John's Fun Day ...

Thank you to everyone that turned out to sing on Saturday, it was funny watching the audience disappear into the 'stage area' after The Omega Project made way for us. Thanks guys for letting us use your PA system and letting us hide behind your music stands... sorry that Ed pulled the head of your music stand at a crucial moment ... here is a link to Omega Project's Facebook Page to make up for it!

We were all a bit nervous of singing outside, but we did hear that we sounded great, and that our last song, The Rose, had beautiful harmonies which came across very well, and was a good choice for a finale (thanks Ray for that feedback, and thanks to Ruth's Mum for cheering the loudest).

And thanks for the scone, very nice, oops its starting to sound like the Oscars, so I had better go before I cry and you all look at your watches. Thanks also to Ron for visiting RaggyRat Land and giving me some feedback. I went home to find a wonderful review of out Wey-Hey-Bay concert, did you see it? Catherine Coombes, who's she when she's at home? ...Thanks to Ruth Meech for making good use of our blog and websites to promote our wonderful choir's work ... and thanks to my Dad for making me stand on a chair and sing to him when I was 6 ....

18 june 2010

2010-06-18T07:50:00.005+01:00

The Plan ...
well the plan was to have a warm up, some notices and a look at some ironing out that needed doing, followed by a break and a quick run through of our half an hour of songs for St Johns on Saturday.

but it didn't work out like that, because reshuffling song sheets and arguing over what stays and goes takes a long time! And we never got round to ironing, never mind the break (luxury) so I just hope we don't look too wrinkled next Saturday.

for those of you who dropped their folders or were too busy having their nice green folder stolen by Ed to fix their pages, here is the new running order.

I'M A BELIEVER,
I DREAMED A DREAM,
SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG,
SONG OF THE SEA,
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP,
THE PRAYER,
LET THE RIVER RUN,
THE ROSE...

We don't need to get to the Church for any earlier then 2.45pm, unless you are coming for a donkey ride or a bounce first (nothing to do with Ed's belly, there's a bouncy castle). For the choir there's a cream tea afterwards, well they couldn't give it to us first as we wouldn't look good with jam on our tops...

Remember to that Ed was very proud of his 'well tuned' choir at the Wey Bay Methodist church, and have a hug from me, Cat XXXXX

Saturday 12th June 2010 ....

2010-06-13T06:33:00.002+01:00

Oh What a Wonderful Concert!

Well done Dorset for Singing, the management and the community are really proud of you again, We opened up voices, hearts and purses, and raised over £370 pounds for this years charity!

From the front row of the choir it certainly sounded really good to me, and despite sitting almost intimately with our audience, I have heard lots of good things from other choir members about the venue. Panic at the start when the backing for Honey, Honey wasn't very loud. Cat pondered alternative songs, until Someone Upstairs (and I don't mean God) found a loose connection and shoved it home!

Lovely to hear from new soloists too, and nice song choices except for mine which was far too rude after all, esp when you consider that with the two run throughs, I said LOVE MACHINE 6 times in church! sorry about that. Loved Adrian's song choice, I think a lot of people would like to dance with their Dads again, I always wear a gold chain for concerts that my dad bought me for getting my degree...

The feel of the concert was lovely, our voices sounded much more powerful, and confident, and some one even told me what a great time they had singing on the back row, singing with people who impressed them with their voices. See you thursday, and also next Saturday at St Johns, do remember that there is no parking at the church.

Love you Lots, Cat XXX

10 June 2010

2010-06-11T06:52:00.004+01:00

Ed's Official Running Order - discovered in lap of choir member!

and here is what it showed,
apart from I haven't put in the interval ...

SOS,
BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP,
THE ROSE,
SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG,
LEAN ON ME,
I DREAMED A DREAM,
HONEY HONEY,
CHASING CARS,

LET THE RIVER RUN,
MONEY MONEY MONEY,
THE PRAYER,
SONG OF THE SEA,
I'M A BELIEVER,
YOU RAISE ME UP,
and finally, JERUSALEM!

which is just the same as last weeks running order 1.1, only now I have typed it out all nice, and you can check that your folders are in the right order. I have had a guess at where the commercial break is, and I know how to say 'thank you' in Swedish... and yes, I have made a seagull on a stick, and it looks quite dapper!

Dont panic Dorset for Singing - it's a lovely venue and judging by last nights roof raising, we sound great, i really enjoyed the sound of my own voice bouncing back to me off Ed's belly and I couldn't sleep last night, so excited! Love you XXXX

27 may 2010 ....

2010-05-28T08:55:00.005+01:00

Full Fathom Fifteen ...

well for those that threatened to snatch the sheet from under my nose, or called me a toad, here is the WEY-HEY BAY order of service, version 1.1, and not including nay solos apart, from the one you are helping me out with! And I must squeeze in a thank you at this point, because it sounded great, just like the time you sang along to 'its getting better' at Christmas!

SOS, BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP, THE ROSE, SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG, LEAN ON ME, I DREAMED A DREAM, HONEY HONEY, CHASING CARS, LET THE RIVER RUN, MONEY MONEY MONEY, THE PRAYER, SONG OF THE SEA, I'M A BELIEVER, YOU RAISE ME UP, and finally, JERUSALEM!

Yes, we sang all those songs last night, and more if you count DUM-DUM-DIDDLEY. And Ed never once crashed his head down onto his keyboard and wept desperate tears, at last not while we were still there. in fact, I think he's quite excited, and I am sure we all feel much more confident this time, and facing a concert to soon in the term. It has been a lot of fun actually revisiting some old favourites, and a challenge to find we can still improve our performances of those... we know which ones we need to work on, dont we?

i am so pleased to be part of this great, funny, not to serious, clever thoughtful choir, and no i have not been drinking and gone soppy. Its a sort of reply to Ed's FRONT PAGE the other week. And now, for the benefit of the person that left a grumpy comment on the blog, that wasn't the blog. That was a contingency plan. THIS is the Blog. But don't worry, I still love you even when you are grumpy. And now in off to find some grey wool and make a seagull-on-a-stick ...
Have a great half term, and let me know what you get up to ... XXXX

Honey Honey ... for the Cat!

2010-05-24T18:34:00.000+01:00

Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, ah-hah, honey honey
I'd heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine
Oh, you make me dizzy

Honey honey, let me feel it, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, don't conceal it, ah-hah, honey honey
The way that you kiss goodnight
(The way that you kiss me goodnight)
The way that you hold me tight
(The way that you're holding me tight)
I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing

I don't wanna hurt you, baby, I don't wanna see you cry
So stay on the ground, girl, you better not get too high
But I'm gonna stick to you, boy, you'll never get rid of me
There's no other place in this world where I rather would be

Honey honey, touch me, baby, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, hold me, baby, ah-hah, honey honey
You look like a movie star
(You look like a movie star)
But I know just who you are
(I know just who you are)
And, honey, to say the least, you're a doggone beast

(instrumental)
So stay on the ground, girl, you better not get too high
(instrumental)
There's no other place in this world where I rather would be

Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, ah-hah, honey honey

(starts to fade here)
I heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine

20th May 2010

2010-05-21T06:27:00.003+01:00

This weeks list of songs is all lovely and typed out, not drawn with lipstick on an envelope this time, and very easy to read. This terms big charity concert looms, and now (with a break in the middle for half term) there remain two more practices before WEY-HEY BAY find out how much we kick ... Tickets and posters are now available, and once I have some text for Wessex FM I will contact them by email and phone. I am putting all the songs we do on the blog at the moment, to jog your memories until words and sounds and videos go up on Dorset for Singing propper. That's not my job, but I can help with a few pointers here until the Web Master does some fiddling ...

We started with SOS, and seemed to be missing some soloists - Ed hinted that many of them would also be at a Wedding instead of singing with us on the 12th of June!

It took us a bit of effort this time to get into our I'm a believer voices, to hit the rhythm on the nose - syncopation - but the ending was fab! Well remembered from last time, dear choir!

Ed does realise that we have to sing both poppy, lively songs and nice sweet ballady sings, and appreciates that we might get mixed up ... it doesn't sound so lovely though when we hang onto our roungher voices for softer songs. So then we tackled three gentler songs, The Rose, Song of the Sea, and I Dreamed a Dream. Strangely enough it was the latter that sounded screeched, to Ed. Were we all trying too hard to be Susan Boyle I wonder?

Next we sorted out the over laps in Let the River Run, so that sounded much less confused.

Big Finale, we make such a lovely job of this song, Chasing Cars, the harmonies sounded lovely. I am sure Ed went home with a little warm feeling inside, and slipped in yet another Tena-Lady joke without so much as a blush! Which does bring me to my last reminder of the day, mind you don't "we" too early...

Keep singing, remember we love you, yes you! .... XXXXXXX Cat XXXXXXX

13th May 2010

2010-05-14T06:24:00.004+01:00

six of the best ....

I dreamed a dream, kicked us off tonight, I suspect that some people who still sing the first line up and down after being told off about it lots are actually having trouble hearing it. I know, I had that trouble once. it actually does sound a bit like it pops up and down, but really, it doesn't. The rhythm is fooling you! I found you that little piece of music, but its a bit small because the internet doesn't want you to have too much for free!

Remember for the low notes, do not put your head down and try to create lots of chins, because it doesn't help...

something inside so strong seemed to have been well remembered. Ed wants more passion for this one, so I'll expect more hugs from all members!

Down to softer voices again for the prayer - I need to get my CD back off Ruth so I can tune in to some of the parts again.

yippeee - Honey Honey from Ed's copy of ABBA GLOD was the surprise item, and much better than everyone singing Happy Birthday which was someone else's guess! sorry it was a bit wobbly, I was very nervous especially as i keep coughing. Winter-bugs, be gone! I'll try harder next time, and hopefully Ed will have in blue type some lovely baah-baah-baahs for you all to sing. Eeh I do love Dorset-for-Singing, don't you?

For Hot finales we belted out Jerusalem, and I'm a believer but the oooh-ooh-ooh/oi! bits had gone a bit astray!

And as soon as I have some minutes from Mondays meeting, I will pop them up for you! I must be getting old, as I now steal Eds notes from the end of his organ to help jog my memory, there's an interesting shopping list on the back ...

keep singing, love you, Cat xxxx

6th May 2010

2010-05-07T09:02:00.005+01:00

Too Many Concerts! Too Many songs! Don't Panic!

I am thinking of issuing BINGO cards, or frequent flier cards; get a stamp for each concert you attend, and at the end trade them in for a Dorset For Singing Thong! That ought to keep the attendance numbers looking good ...

Tonight we heard just how hard we will be working this term, just how hard, is reproduced here, from the Back of Ed's envelope, with thanks ...

Weymouth Bay Methodist Church, 12th June 7.30pm

St John's Fun Day, 19th June afternoon-ish sort of time

Sutton Poyntz Fair, 4th July 4.15-4.45pm (then scones and jam ... or jam and Jerusalem?)

Beach Live 11th July, time to be confirmed. Bring a seagull on a stick.

And as for out own end of term concert, well that one will have to be thrashed out next week ... i wont be able to be there, but i vote we give it a miss and leave the punters hungry for more!

And so the other important thing is to attend the meeting next Tuesday, 11th May, at the Admiral Hardy. I wont be there as i will be at the Artwey Meeting, Old rooms, discussing other creative things ... There will be many points to discuss, including whether tops can be black or trousers brown, in case we don't have enough clothes for all these performances!

And as for singing, no new songs tonight, but a good old romp through some old friends - The Rose, Build Me Up, The Prayer, Money Money Money, Song of the Sea, and You Raise Me Up, while the last voters fought to get into the polling stations, and the sun began to fade in the sky.

Who enjoyed smiling at their new friend, when Ed gave us a little exercise to do? I managed it actually but the eye contact was very hard! A long time ago my singing tutor told me to look around the room at the tops of all the heads while singing, not as scary as eye contact yet still makes the audience feel loved, included and warm inside ... remember too, those over the top smiles don't look over the top when you are out there performing, and will make your jowls look smaller and your cheekbones bigger. Lovely!

29 April 2010

2010-04-30T06:45:00.004+01:00

Summer Term - Hot News!

We are back, We are keen, Raring to go, but we have a bad cough. Its amazing just how much vibration can be generated by humming with a blocked nose. But Hum we did, and then then 5 Super Songs made the evening Disappear!

There will be three uplifting performances this term, June 12th, 19th and of course our concert which may be around the time of spirit of the sea again. We need to have a meeting soon, but 'The Spa' think we are too noisy, so when we have found another venue which can cope with us we will post the details... There will be beer, civilized talk, and heated arguments about the merits of brown trousers, OK if you get very nervous i suppose...

SOS time again, Ed announced that we would sing our very first choir song, and expected wee Dave to know what that was, but that was in the olden days and well before his time with Dorset for Singing. We knocked that one back into shape, somewhat then also revisited Let the River Run, but only because some Wey Valley pupils rejected the song on lyrical grounds... Nice backing track, and Ed got going with his baton, which helps us nod our heads in time...

We do have a nice large repertoire now, so we will have a more relaxed term working on songs we know, but we also listened to a GLEE version of Lean on Me, and the last choir standing version of I'll be There, but your home work this week is to listen to the Jackson 5 version, and Ed and Dave will sort out some proper lyrics.

And while I try to think of the 5th song we did, I hope you like our new format, the standing up for the final sing of each number, even if we do look like a sea of nodding dogs!

Dorset For Singing - Best Of Dorset Show

2010-03-30T10:07:00.001+01:00

Dorset For Singing - Best Of Dorset Show
Originally uploaded by dav.idbain

Dave took this wonderful photo of us all on stage at the Pavilion on Sunday. What was that dress-code, again?

Sunday 28th March, 2010 ...

2010-03-28T19:00:00.003+01:00

Dearest Choir,

Have you been over to the forum? Go on over and feel the love. Can you feel the love tonight? It Doesn't get much better than this ...

This term, a toughie by all accounts, was topped with our choir concert on Thursday of course, and beautifully iced today when we sang out socks off on stage at The Best of Dorset were I am so glad we were asked back to perform after our first time there last year. I just re-read the blog post for last year, and remembered how wobbly we all were. This time around, after waiting nervously on the wings, and a few aaaaarrrghs (for the sound check) we got stuck in, and only the first song was a bit shakey. After that we had wings. We flew.

So folks, hope you enjoyed the goosebumps, tears of emotion, and singing-along with us. Special huge thank-yous to all those that take the time to say how much they enjoyed our singing; friends, neighbours, husbands and children. Dorset for singing delights, entertains, relieves stress, and helps brains. If you want to perform, you can, and if you want to come and sing with us at the end of a hard day, you can do that too. You can have time off to do other things, and then come and be welcomed back, then told to sit down and go, "eeeeeeeh, AAAARGH"!

Just before I head off to dream of chocolate, I will share a link with you. I recently read a take a break article, which summed up community choirs such as ours perfectly, and I was moved to contact them. They didn't want to pay us any dosh for our story, but they did call me back and ask if they could add our choir to their Hums4mums Facebok group. There.

See you back in the hall for the 29th, ready for more hard work. HAPPY EASTER LOVE YOUUUUU! XXXX

Easter Concert, 26 March 2010

2010-03-26T09:04:00.010Z

Perfect Night ..

Last night Dorset for singing kicked some serious butt, but not Ed's this time, as we sat a-stage from the start of the concert until we climbed down at ten-past-nine. Choir members were shocked at the rumour that there would be no interval, and fantasised about a nice cup of tea. I was in the know, and stole a Kit-Kat from Michele while I was supposed to be helping Jim on the door.

Well, I know its been a really tough term this time around, lots of challenging songs and not enough time to practice them all - but I think we did really well and rocked the audiences socks off. Some impressive solos too, so that the whole thing blended into one seamless smorgasbord of talent. (Sorry about that last sentence, I just wanted it to sound better than whatever Michael sends to the Dorset Echo).

Not a huge audience the other night, but I do know that it included some choir members who had been other wise skiving from choir, but who are completely forgiven for turning up to support and cheer! Ruby was heckling us as usual ...

I think 'perfect day' was a huge success, and about as unrehearsed a choir song as you can get, and chasing cars had survived neglect very well too, my hubby liked that one. Our world war I song really got us moving, better do that at the start next time, and I love how it fits in with the spirit of this years charity of course, and their 'singing for the brain', and we raised a total of £438.31 for the charity!

and now its time for lunch, having written this blog post either side of a trip to Kinston Maurward. Hope to see as many of you at the Pavvy on Sunday, so pack up your troubles and get your butts at the stage door for 1.15pm.

love you! XXX

Best of Dorset Tourism Show - Be there on Sunday, folks!

2010-03-26T06:47:00.001Z

Michael Anders, via FACEBOOK - March 25, 2010 at 3:52pm

Subject: Best of Dorset Tourism Show, this Sunday 28th March - ON STAGE AT 1:30pm

Dorset For Singing have been invited once again to sing at this years ‘Best of Dorset’ Tourism and Leisure show.This is the 10th annual ‘Best of Dorset’ Tourism and Leisure show, which attracts over 1,000 visitors. It’s an ideal opportunity to showcase local talent/business on the stage at the Pavilion Theatre to residents of Weymouth & Portland and the surrounding area. The show contains over 30 exhibitors from the country’s leading tourism and leisure attractions and services, along with live entertainment, demonstrations and displays. Admission is free.

We will be on stage at 1:30pm. Ed will be performing after at 2:45pm.

Details for Members
Please arrive by 1:15 at the latest.
Dress code is blue tops or blue dresses and black trousers or black skirts.
Afterwards we shall have a drink up in the bar, before Ed’s performance, so please feel free to join us and socialise with other members.

18 march 2010

2010-03-19T09:05:00.004Z

Aint no stoppin us now ...

Last night dear choir we met The Band, as we wobbled on our school-dinner benches that hurt your thighs. The Band of course sounded a little bit unrehearsed - but then so did we. But I am sure we will be all right on the night, and if not I'll point out Ed's Bottom again and the audience will forget the 'lack of confidence' on stage.

My personal favourite bit of last night's dress rehearsal, after the fun and buzz of sitting on stage and the chance to stand up and sing, was watching Ed conduct the drummer with his head. Unfortunately I realise that this doesn't leave Ed with a free head to conduct us, but like i said before, we will all learn the timings, tunes, etc. and it will be as smooth as treacle to the delighted Pepsi Max drinkers in the hall. And if Ed doesn't open his mouth at the right moment among all those TA's well we will just have to sing another round till I am good and ready to jump in!

Do you feel ready? I don't know what it is about this term, but i hope we don't put off out new comers. Marie has left because i made to many references to her. Sorry about that babe.* Its been hard work learning these sexy, hip and trendy songs, and finding out which to reject too. just what have we been doing for 10 weeks? admiring a new baby? I could do with another 10!

I love you so much I am going to call Wessex FM soon and get some mentions and work-a-day shouts, if you leave a comment for me below, I will mention you too and you can be as famous as me, and almost as famous as Ed!

Go and get your CD's out, go you-tubing. See you next week in my new top from Littlemoor charity shop. It's not blue. Cat XXXXX

*just kidding - she has gone off to do great things with her clarinet :-)

11 march 2010

2010-03-12T09:47:00.003Z

Last night, Ed told us off. No more grumpy comments on the lovely Dorset-for-singing forum. Ever. Here he is saying it like he means it, and no I don't remember just how grumpy it was but its gone now, only hearts and flowers are left ...

And he could be preaching, but here he is conducting his little heart out, puching us with every fibre of his being, imploring us to give the song life ...

I don't know about you but I have found this term really hard, a lot of new songs, and a lot of songs we have had to work hard at too. I am not sure I'm ready. Or after the last fortnight, even awake ...

Go and listen to you tube. Lots ... XXXX

4th March 2010

2010-03-05T08:26:00.003Z

We Love Dave!

Hard work this week, lots of fights and plenty of energy. I heard from one member that choir, in general, is always so much better behaved in the music room. There might be something in this, the same thing that makes Americans tourist loud, and the Japanese frightfully polite and quiet spoken. Or it might just be that now we are well into our second year we feel OK about playing up a bit ...

I have added a new tag to the bottom of this blog post, which might come in very useful. I seem to have picked up on some of Ed's nuttiness, or it might be a craziness all of my own, as one of my little poorly girls gets some tests in hospital today,after a week of illness. So my usually perfect powers of observation have gone a bit wonky this week.

Choir opened with footage from out Christmas concert, another impressive turn around this time, go ahead and but a copy as soon as you can, I am hiding in the wings next to Ruth's amazing sequins so you wont have to look at me all the way through. Ed said the sound isn't so brilliant, but if the joke about Ed's bottom can be heard, it will be worth it.

Tickets will be delivered to the Portland Arts Centre later today, along with some posters, make sure you slap those posters up everywhere, they look really fantastic so I hope they bring in the adoring fans.

Why do we love Dave? Dave got to vote on the best side during a sing-off, Pack up your troubles Vs It's a Long Way to Tipperary, and he voted for choir-left, YAY! We all know that choir-left have the best voices after all. Fight in the Car Park next week. Dinner ladies optional. And now I simply must have a cup of tea.

25 february 2010

2010-02-26T06:45:00.003Z

It's got to be ... Perfect!

Back from our half term holiday were a eager bunch of choir members, seemingly a bit low on numbers. Was something else on, or did Ed’s nuttiness at the last session put some members off? He behaved himself very well this week, which is more than I can say for me and Marie.

We have hit the revision section of our practices now, having had all kinds of songs and hilarity hurled at us in the last few weeks. Time to stick with the ones we love, and sweep the others under the proverbial, including, and let’s all cheer, YMCA!

So we worked hard on ‘the Susan Boyle number’, the ‘kids from fame’ song, Rent, and ‘Winner takes it all‘, featuring new voices to us all, which all choir members agreed was a lovely thing. Nikki had a go at the solo in rent, and we had a new man for the second part, (yes we do have the odd man at choir), and a new female vocal for the Abba song!

New voices were also aired at the end, when Ed presented us with our mystery song, a fun way to get more choir members singing a solo part. We were given two radio mics to circulate, and murmurs of approval rumbled around as the lyrics of ‘Perfect Day’ hit the over-head screen. Those that knew this song got stuck in, and whoever had the idea to try this is a genius, we might even got audience participation for a bit of fun with this one!

Now Ed wants your help, to come up with a set of songs we can sing as a medley, ones which everyone will know, as we think of other ways to support this years chosen charity, and their ‘singing for the brain’ project. Marie thins we should do the birdie song, and now she wont sit next to me any more! But older songs would be better, even as far back as 1920 or so…my mind has gone black at the moment, and all I can think of is getting my cerial.

Thanks ‘Dorset for singing‘. I do love you all xxx

11 Feb 2010

2010-02-12T09:21:00.002Z

Going Out With A Bang!

Well its half term next week so don’t turn up at choir. But do turn up here next week when I’ll have a special treat for you … or maybe not.

Ed certainly acted like the world - or half term - was about to end, as he plunged us into a vigorous warm up and threatened to march us through all ten new songs. It didn’t happen of course. Seasons of love is so very layered and complicated that we had to work on it for several hours, until offered some light relief provided by ‘Star Maker‘. This is a song for BIG EGOS, and yes, its one of Ed’s choir choices! So just think yourself into the shoes of those American kids, dreaming their dreams, and paying in sweat, everyone should imagine that this is their solo, to get that very special powerful sound. Heck, I do that all the time.

The Glee cover is certainly starting to sound like it belongs to us now. Its very upbeat and just right for a cold dark night, so no more grumpy faces folks. Incidentally, I found This Link which is well sung and shows the different parts of the song. We seem to be missing some bah-da-dahs …

Actually this choir practice was so busy that I did feel as though all has merged into one big song. But I must add that Ed gave up the biggest thrill of all when he said we had sounded at our best ever. Wow. I wiped a little tear from my eye. This is what its about folks.

Anyway, I’m sure you have some work to do. Look back next week when I will show some edited candid-camera footage of some of the grumpiest faces at choir. But you will all be very happy now, as there is no more YMCA song! Have a good half-term break, and thanks to Dave, for following the blog and leaving our second comment xxx

more ticket outlets via local business ...

2010-02-11T13:28:00.002Z

Concert tickets will now also be available via The Phoenix Bakery and Jezebel's Jewels, just click through to their web links to see their phone numbers and addresses.

Ticket Sales ... Portland Arts Centre

2010-02-11T08:36:00.004Z

the lovely people who run the portland arts centre have agreed to sell our tickets during their fire and ice exhibition from 28 february ...
i will be showing some work there too :-)

SPICE by Catherine L Owen
(Mary not included)

9 february 2010

2010-02-10T13:18:00.000Z

The Pub-Party
Agenda, and (525,600) minutes …

1 Easter Concert

The format of the last concert was deemed very successful, with perhaps a few more soloists next time, but it is interesting how differently we have done things each time. There will definitely be no YMCA so you can stop learning it now and put your feet up. This leaves us with 10 new choir songs … and we will have a live band too, with nothing taken from our charity kitty to pay for them.

We will have tables seating as well, but no bar, only tea coffee and soft drinks, and this will be ongoing so as to avoid half-time queues and hopefully sell a few more drinks and raise a few more pennies. We talked about bringing you won bottle, but I’ve crossed it out again, this is to stop people laughing throwing things at Ed’s bottom.

We will look into three possible ticket outlets, I will approach the new Portland Arts Centre, and we will also try the new bakery in town and Jezebels Jewels.

Dress code will still be blue, with perhaps the chance of red clothes for Christmas time, for a festive flavour. Yummy!

To help raise more money we want members tins of caviar and chocolate eggs, so that we can group donations into baskets and have a raffle which will be drawn discreetly and displayed for folk to collect on the way out, at home time. Can anyone make those chicks that are knitted around crème eggs?

Of course we can still have our words on the screen. Just please, don’t stare at it like you will be shot of you look away. And we have seen the DVD so we know who you are. Glance around the room, smiling as you sing, and the audience will never know!

2 General Choir Stuff

We generally sing, and keep, songs that work with us as a group. There were requests for carpenters, show tunes, and Morning Has Broken, which isn’t a hymn but gets used as one. We still keep brainwashing Ed to let me sing la-la-la-la-laaaaaa … or I’ll settle for “honey honey” in my mellifluous tones!

Choir will still start at 7, with the FREE warm up from 6.45, and notices at 7 to be fair to those getting here then. Any thoughts on getting Dave to take some nice smiley photos for our publicity? Using a proper camera of course. And do let us know if you enjoy the blog.

4 Feb 2010

2010-02-04T23:25:00.003Z

Soloist, Left and Right …

Good evening choir and welcome to another blog, this time it’s fresher than usual rather than the morning after. Ed had lots of news this week to start us off, the most important being out 2 fast approaching concerts and our pub meeting next Tuesday at 7.30.

We are taking part in the best of Dorset again this year, on stage at 1.30, so please don’t arrive any later then 1.23. See I told you I would write down just what Ed said! that’s on Sunday 21 march, just before our usual termly concert on Thursday 25 march and guess what - we will have a live band, at no cost to our fund raising so lets give them a very big hand when we meet them. Are you going to join us this time Malcolm?

We ran through ‘you got a friend’ which everybody likes, and also the glee cover, ‘don’t stop believing’ which some people love and some folk, well … can you see anyone that is not enjoying it?

look, the lefties are singing their litle hearts out !

I have decided to spice the blog up with more pics, and if no one else takes any for me then I will pop up with my camera now and then. So make sure you keep smiling, you know its bad to frown.

Well done ruth for singing our solo part for ‘winner takes it all’ I was so glad I finally watched mama mia just the other week, now abba makes much more sense to me. I’m looking forward to more choir with front-men and choir backing. Who knows, Ed my let me do that cheesy Karen carpenter number I keep harping on about. I do like cheese.

ps - i put a question on the blog forum ... :-)

28 january 2010

2010-01-29T06:57:00.001Z

Hot dates –
Pub (business) Meeting in the spa, Tuesday 9 February 7.30
The best of Dorset, Sunday 21 March

And look -http://www.youtube.com/dorsetforsinging - here is the link to the super-duper-all-in-one place youtube channel, and there’s a hot link over on the right along with one for this year’s charity. If you have the picture of Ed posing with the link on the screen, I want it for this blog, so drop me a line, quick before he says no!

We were back in the music room last night, which makes for a lovely intimate practice but the computer is old and chuggy compared to the one in the hall. Mind you I hope we don’t have to watch One Voice lyrics shooting up the screen again, I felt quite sick after that, and much prefer the lovely PowerPoint presentations Michael always makes us! How about you? And from here on it is to be known as Ron Voice, unless he backs down from his solo intro. The del boy version was a treat, thanks for that!

Does anyone have any stuffed and cuddly tigers? From one voice to one-brow, we tackled the ‘Susan Boyle’ number, I Dreamed a Dream, and quite nicely too I think, Ed certainly looked pleased with us. I am happy with this one, as I often sing it while scrubbing potatoes.

Anyway, its time I put clothes on myself, don’t forget if you want to have a say on what the choir does, drop us a line, use the forum or turn up to the pub meeting detailed above. Mines a half.

21 january 2010

2010-01-22T07:05:00.000Z

Coo-Coo-Kazoo!

Having wasted some time this morning trying to locate a fictitious youtube channel called known as Dorset for Singing, and verifying that I was searching properly by finding my own channel, I have given up and will leave you in the busy hands of Michael and Ed to enlighten you as to the whereabouts of our one-stop-shop for choir music. I hope it hasn’t gone the way of the solos from the summer concert.

Other choir info can still be found back on our ‘proper’ choir website. I’m just the blogger, after all. Look there’s a link over on the right there, and when we have the youtube info, ill pop on a link to that too.

I am not posting 5 videos this week, other wise we will never get any work done. We sang quite a few high energy songs, and I felt as if I had been jogging, mind you I still had enough puff to sing very loudly in the car on the way home. Marie was behind me in the queue, looking in her glove box for her ‘80s leotard dance greats – the electric blue edition’. And maybe some gloves.

When Ed stuck a microphone in my face I had no choice but to make like the karaoke queen I am, so very sorry about that. Anyone fancy any karaoke in half term? We could empty a pub and have lots of room for doing the YMCA actions, and some arc welding in legwarmers.

I don’t think I have any very sensible advice for you today. That choir practice was bonkers. Stand by for more information on videos and some word documents too. Lets hope they are the right ones. I don’t think F# is the right key for me …

14 January 2010

2010-01-15T06:54:00.002Z

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll ….
And Happy Bloggiversary!

Hello Dorset for Singing, and welcome back to choir for 2010. We all squeezed into the music room as the hall as being used for an interesting talk! Jenny was particularly pleased to see some new faces again too, and most of us had a peep at Michael’ and Catherine’s new baby Ruby.

Time warp time tonight as we slipped into some Eighties numbers and an interesting selection it was too! You know how I am always telling you to sit and listen to the songs on repeat? Well here is the first one, by the magic of new bloggery blogs! Soon all those jumbly-up words will fit into the right places just like we did with ‘river of dreams’.

Video number two gave us such a giggle, especially as they kept singing ‘we are happy now,’ but they were very plainly not! And I remembered how when aged about 12 I had written some new lyrics for this song about dinner ladies!
There are some odd words that don’t make sense at all, but again, sit with you tube for a while and get your head around the phrasing.

Most people know bonnie Tyler’s songs; we are that kind of choir! I know a Welsh Mountain pony we can borrow for the concert, and we can scour the charity shops for lots of white nighties to wear!

Sorry if you were a bit squashed in the music room, our default setting is now the school hall, unless there are things going on there …see you next week choir, and ooh look, you can leave comments on this blog! I do hope you like it, and enjoy a poke around in the archives too. The Choir Blog is 1 year old…

a happy new year, dorset for singing!

2009-12-28T07:39:00.002Z

i have been busy putting all the past 12 months choir blogs together on this bloggery blog, for your enjoyment ...
has anyone got any god pictures of choir they we could use, too?
i think we need lots more!

i hope you are keeping singing? cat xxx

3 december 2009

2009-12-27T08:21:00.003Z

Term one year 2 week 10
Getting better…

Now its time for some feedback, the kind that wont hurt your ears. I think Dorset for singing just gets better, and better. Every time we finish a concert and go home, I feel a little twinge of sadness knowing I wont see my 100 best buddies for a few weeks … and last year there were only 80 of you! But this busy mum-of-many does enjoy the rest, too, all this frantic blogging that no one else has the time to do …

Gasps last night, as the phantom blogger was unmasked, yet again, and more then once! Ed’s cheesy jokes will be told on the BBC (website). Michael has lost his on-stage job as we have a new charity and it was nice to hear some words from the local man for the Alzheimer’s society, but for the life of me I can’t remember his name. Erm… oh well at least I can remember most of the song lyrics when they are hidden behind a Christmas tree. Last years tree in the school hall wasn’t that tall. It only affected the bottom line. Thanks to Dave for shifting all the words over to the right, for the second half!

And talking of bottoms, I suppose you all had a good look at Ed’s after I pointed it out. I don’t suppose he will leave me in charge of the microphone again. I am very proud of him for being honest about his mistakes. Sorry there were so many everyone! But well done choir for keeping smiling and keeping singing … that’s all I ever ask of you, isn’t it?

I know im always nagging you to practice, and read my blog of course, but now im feeling generous. Once the turkey sandwiches and chocs from the tree have vanished, and its time to think about the new year, I would like to give you a present, so send me an email after Christmas (coombes6@btinternet.com) and ill tell you were to find it. And pop into the new Portland Arts Centre’s fund raising exhibition, coz I’ve got some art and crafts in there from 6th-29th December. ‘Cause I do love you, you know! Cat xxx

here is what i wrote for the local paper, and sent to ruth meech ...

"Dorset for Singing’s big Christmas Concert, number two
Review by Cat Coombes, AKA the choir blogger …

Weymouth’s biggest community choir does exactly what is says on the tin. The choir gives its members the opportunity to perform, and if any want to, to stand up there and sing alone. And last night again we brought good people of Weymouth and further affield together for an evening of song, and as more than one person said to me afterwards, there was something for everyone, in our audience of 180 people!

If you enjoy singing all kinds of songs, then this is the choir for you, and the concert is an option of course, but to make sure everyone is welcome we have our words on a screen at the back, and often some seating. We even have a naughty corner, but this year they redeemed themselves just in time for Santa’s visit by handing out refreshments in the interval! Having the words on a screen can be interesting when they are half hidden by the All Saints school hall Christmas tree, but members of the audience laughed along with Director Ed Hintze when he pointed out some mistakes, and some said they loved how friendly and informal the evening was.

We sang a bit of everything, from Abba to snow patrol, show tunes, and old favourites, with a handful of Christmas ditties this year too! There were solos from familiar faces and a new choir member too, some of them beautifully and spontaneously backed by the rest of choir seated on stage. When I joined Dorset for Singing I had no idea it would take me to centre stage for solos, but what a great opportunity that is, all ears upon you, bright lights and your own pianist, nerves and wobbly notes, and all! And the applause! Oh yes, and the mince pies at half time.

Of course we also worked together to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, voted as this years charity to benefit from our termly concerts, and Malcolm Cumber from the south Dorset branch, came on stage to talk to us about ‘singing for the brain’, therapy for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. The concert raised a fantastic £462.83! Go Dorset for Singing! To find out more about our lovely choir, and catch up with the choir’s blog, go to www.dorsetforsinging.co.uk, and have a lovely Christmas, from all of us!"

26 november 2009

2009-12-27T08:19:00.000Z

Term one week nine!
On your marks, get DORset ….

Ed was at the clavinova compiling a list of songs and picking our brains for ideas. Michael was nowhere in site, but we had Dave in attendance of course.
This was our longest practice ever, and was a very good idea, as finishing at roughly 8.45pm gave us enough time to sing 14 songs, laugh at Ed’s cheesy jokes (I mean it, they were REALLY cheesy), and have a break too.

The evening passed by in a blur, probably because May opened the bar at half time, and we were warned not to slur our words. Michael, Carol and Catherine did arrive, and good job too, because M’s laptop often fills in when the school PC goes on strike!

We are getting lots of complements from Ed, about our tone, which is good now, and we are singing a lot of songs which require LOTS of energy and power…at this years concert, we will have been practicing together for over a year, so we cant get the sympathy vote we had at our first concert when we had only met nine times!

I wasn’t choir blogger in our first term together, having followed a friend to Dorset for Singing, and joined at week 4. In January when days are short and nights are long we will start practising again, and I will have my choir blogger first birthday. Perhaps May will open the bar, again!

Have a GREAT WEEK, keep singing, and be in the hall ready for the concert at 6.30 please, mince pies in hand. Does it matter if they have toddler finger prints in them? Cat xxx

19 october 2009

2009-12-27T08:18:00.000Z

week eight ...
The penultimate practice

Ed scared us by reminding us that this was our last practice before our ‘technical’, and then the concert the week after that. Although technically, we wont be getting in next week, as the hall is yet again in use. Never mind, we may not be able to tread the boards but we will be able to stay longer, running onto 8.45pm, and all squished together in the practice room. I wish we could put the words on the ceiling, so we can stand up and give it some welly…

Michael was back in charge of words and music this week, with some help from Dave, and chose the songs for us to rattle through. I won’t list them in dreary succession, but I will make a few points…

The biggest surprise was how lovely ‘chasing cars’ sounded, esp. after all the grumbling and booing last week! Well done choir, you really have been listening to me nagging you to go on you tube! The same could be said for ‘river of dreams’ where all those jumbly up lyrics seemed to fit on the right lines, at last!

We will need to watch Ed for the timings of ‘higher and higher’ so perhaps we had better practice it next week, along with ‘I wanna be the only one, the only one’ which we adore so much. We changed the backing in the second verse to more ‘yeah-yeah-yeah’, a very positive move indeed.

Keep singing choir, not long to go now. And remember, unlike this time last year when it was out first time, this time we really need to impress the punters. But don’t worry too much. I’ll still love you, whatever happens xxx

12 november 2009

2009-12-27T08:16:00.002Z

Term one Week seven
Shaa la la la laaa ….

Ed came in the car this week, and brought jack, who had put together the words of a new warm up, so we sang a rousing chorus of ‘he’s got the hole world in his hands’, just one of the many songs we tackled tonight.

Kicking of with in the bleak midwinter, it didn’t sound like a dirge at all, which has been the suggestion of some members, until the second version of the tune was tested out, and hurriedly voted off! We need our ‘Jerusalem’ voices for this, and just watch those timings, hit up the choir boys on you tube to see how the words fit in.

We spent over ten minutes listening to bony m’s Christmas song, and singing the first part of it. Then some choir members got very silly and sang ‘brown girl in the ring’ although I have to say it fitted rather well…

There were grumps and grumbles about ‘chasing cars’, which is mostly about lying down in the rain, but comes after a forum request for a more up-to-date number. The bit about ‘grace’ isn’t in the you tube version, and if we take it out, it might sound a bit, well, shorter.

Then we rattled through ‘the river of dreams’ it really needs some homework done on it, for the verses. I said it last week. Just do it.

And the treat, for working so hard? Singing ‘bridge over troubled water’ most beautifully. Didn’t we do well?

Disclaimer – the ramblings of the choir blogger may bare no relation to actual options of Dorset for singing itself, its members, or administrators. Cat loves you, keep singing XXX

5 november 2009

2009-12-27T08:16:00.001Z

Term one Week six
Dvds are here!

Sorry if you missed your Sunday blog read, choir fans, as I rushed out on Friday morning, whirled through my weekend, and realised Monday morning I had forgotten to blog. Many of you know that my youngest children are 3, 3 and 18 months, and rumour has it I fed them all my brains for breakfast one day in lieu of scrambled eggs. As Ed would say, it’s easily done.

Chris was present for tonight rehearsal; with a bag of dvds … so that’s our summer concert and our very first one last year all edited and accounted for. We need to look to Michael soon for the Easter concert. Will it happen before baby Anders pops out? I do hope so, then I can complete my Starlight box set made from recycled weetabix boxes.

Our new warm up exercise is fun. Basically try to sound like one of those sliding whistles, across an octave – the one that covers your breaking point. Don’t try it in Asda. I actually discovered my breaking point, once, in Asda.

We tackled our new song today, back in the hall, and with Ed conducting made parts of ‘the river of dreams’ sound quite good. There are some jumbly bits with too many lyrics in the lines, and dear choir, we must learn these in our bedrooms so that we can impress everyone else this Thursday. I will be there with ‘youtube’ while I peal some vegetables. But the bit where we all do backing parts, a capella is good. Ed was really impressed.

Keep singing! I still love you, even if I forget to blog you … Cat XXX

22 october 2009

2009-12-27T08:14:00.000Z

Week five
Hands up for …

This week, as well as our meeting at the pub, we had lots of business to cover before we started singing, and meant that we will only do our new song by Billy Joel next week, when we will be back in the hall again. We fed back to the choir about the meeting, as Michael was too busy fiddling with computers to put up the blog entry for members to read. I am getting some good feedback about the blog, so thanks for that, dear choir.

A few members, and Ed’s wife Jenny put in their bids for this years charity, and then we had a vote, and will support a local Alzheimer’s project, for which singing has become an important part of the therapy for project users. Expect special guests at our concerts!

Im still getting used to Ed having backing tracks so he can conduct, but its great being able to see when to sing some of the more tricky phrases, ones with syncopation, and when to do your ending sound, s or t! We tackled ‘Money, money, money’, and ‘I’m a believer’ but we forgot to add our American drawls. ‘Bridge over troubled water’, had a drawl added to ‘can’t’, which amused Ed no end! We also had a go at that new song from last week that I don’t think anyone likes, or is that just me?

We over-ran to squeeze in an extra song, then went to find our cars buried in the busy car park. Back in the hall next week folks, so keep singing, and keep off the grass! Cat xxx

tuesday 20 october 2009

2009-12-27T08:11:00.000Z

The pub meeting, number two

A nice small group of choir members bought drinks and snuggled up together in the spa pub, it was nice to see some new members come along with offers to help and eager to find out more about Dorset for singing.

We discussed our room change, notably from the music practice room to the hall, in some ways its big, cold has us spread out, but it does fit us all in now. This week though we have to squeeze back into out old room, as the hall is in use. Choir still remains flexible on where you sit, which is great for little folks like me who don’t fit into any particular demographic at all, even when it comes to voice range.

This Thursday the whole choir will have the chance to say whether we should all simply wear blue as our uniform, and any shades of will do. Unless there’s a mass vote for orange, which I doubt. I have a suspicion that the naughty corner are still hankering after a set of polo shirts, so that they can be seen as proud choir members wherever they may wander. They could get back to me with numbers if they wish, I spent some time in the polo shirt shop last summer …

The edits of our Christmas and summer concerts are available now, and will be for sale by an ordering system and a pound from each going to starlight. £3 for Christmas and £5 for summer, please.

A concert, which may be recorded, may take place in late January or early Feb, at All Saints Church, Portland, when everyone has gone flat after Christmas. It will be a live recording; so don’t come if you have a cough. Just kidding.

Our concert on the 3rd December will cost £2.50 for adults and £1 for children, as at out summer concert. No burgers this time but it was thought that choir members could hand out mince pies during an interval … when they are supposed to be having a break. We talked about possible outlets for tickets since Ed no longer has a shop in town, and came up with a few ideas to follow through. Remember to bring your bit of paper with your charity suggestion for this year, and yes, keep singing!

15 october 2009

2009-12-27T08:10:00.000Z

"Week four - 15th October 2009
Unfortunately there will be no blog this week, due Cat being absent from choir. Please come back to this page in a weeks time, to see her next installment."

did you miss me?
i did miss choir ...

8 october 2009

2009-12-27T08:06:00.000Z

Week three
Stuck in the middle with you …

We found the hall full of chairs, not in anticipation of a huge choir, but ready for assembly tomorrow. And if I heard right, we are back in our old practice room next week, as the hall wont be free. That will be nice and cosy, and it will be much easier to blog, since I became a bit buried in the rows and missed some of the best jokes … I was near the front until a mass exodus towards Ed, and even the naughty corner were where we could all see them!

Ed used backing tracks so he could conduct properly. He was much more professional than last week when he had too much fun playing with the barriers, and I think this reflected in our singing too. Ed even said we were good, and that doesn’t happen very often, does it dear choir?

‘Money, money, money’ had more …guts… this week, and ‘I’m a believer’ was much improved by the addition of some fine American drawls, which had to be erased again just in time for ‘bridge over troubled water’, and amazingly, it doesn’t sound like it will need too much work!

We over ran a little due to bad traffic, and were spared any work on ‘the prayer’ this practice, but rest assured that Ed has found all the proper Italian parts … talking of bad traffic im off to Yeovil, this blog is always created before 8am. Give your selves a pat on the collective back, look out for warm-ups on the website, and remember please to keep off the grass, other wise you will end up in detention, and that could be embarrassing at work … keep singing! xxx

1 october 2009

2009-12-27T07:55:00.001Z

Term one – week two
Where is Ed? Oh, he’s over there!

We filled the school hall quite nicely this week, all seated on lovely chairs, apart from when the naughty corner stood to sing. Dave was there to press buttons and mix sounds, and Ed had a special hiding place under the screen for the times when he did actually sit down and play his organ. And a nifty barrier, against restless sopranos. In between, we were treated to a bit of foot tapping, and some proper conducting as he had both hands free!

Revision first, with ‘higher and higher’, which many people found hard work. We also played the you-tube version so we could hear the timings in the verses, and the correct place to sing ‘keeeeep on!’ in the chorus, and this gave us a better idea. You must practice this at home!

Ed remembered his ‘stick’ – see last week’s blog – but it did not have the proper Italian on it for ‘the prayer’, so we muddled through and also sang along to the you-tube version. It was sounding better and better! We had much more Italians this week. We really needed Ed to help avoid the hissing by telling us when to sound the s’s.

Money, Money, Money, made me feel like I was auditioning for Fagin, esp. since the main female vocal part is so low, but it sound good when we mixed in some singing an octave above, and the naughty corner added in the ‘aaarghs’, not that they sound like pirates, you understand. A great song for these troubled times, make sure you sing it with aggression but down frown!
Keep listening to you-tube, and keep singing! See you next week …