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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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