18 june 2011 - Guest Blogger Again!

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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!