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11 December Update

Week 7 of 8 (Half Term 2)

In this week's update, we have:

  • A rehearsal recap

  • Song Facts: 12 Days of Christmas

  • Dates for the Diary

☕ Coffee Notices

We have a reminder that Saturday 13th December, we have our Christmas Social at the wonderful Mozart Cafe & Bar, situated at 69A Anerley Road, SE19 2AS. Please arrive after 7pm. If you’ve signed up for Secret Santa and we haven’t managed to collect your gift in advance, it would be great if your gift could be placed on the pile with the others. It ideally needs to be wrapped and clearly labelled to your recipient. Don’t add your own name, it’s a surprise!


Elena had a mishap on her journey to choir this week and left her carry bag on the train. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that she can get it back asap. Being the professional that she is, we were still able to have a full session. Thanks to everyone who could make it and helped to keep the joy of singing alive.

🎄 Upcoming Performances

Our final performance of the year is just a week away. We make a grand return to Stanley Arts for their Christmas Concert.


Timings

  • 6.30pm – Sound check (for those who can make it)

  • 7.15pm - Doors open

  • 7.30pm – Show begins

  • 9.00–9.25pm – Our performance slot (start of the second half)

  • 10.30pm - Show ends


Setlist

  • Silent Night

  • Somewhere only we know

  • Have yourself a merry little Christmas

  • Favourite Things

  • Cosy Little Christmas

  • Carol of the Bells

  • 12 Days of Christmas


The event and lyric packs are now available on the Performing page.

🎤 Rehearsal Recap

Warm-Up

With the help of our wonderful Vicky’s metronome, we used Carol of the Bells to practice singing the first syllable of each bar of the song.

Elena explained that most songs use the first note of the bar to carry the chord harmony of a song. We started with everyone singing the first note of the Soprano melody using the tick of the tempo device to keep us concise and precise. We followed that up by splitting into our three parts and harmonising our key notes for each bar. As Elena had explained, the balance and beauty were clear to hear, and the smiles on our faces showed how wonderful it is when a song comes together. We followed the exercise by singing through the full song. It always tickles the soul when you realise that in just a few sessions, we have been able to learn a new song from scratch and perform a beautiful rendition, especially with an Acapella version such as Carol of the Bells.


Songs We Covered

12 Days of Christmas

This is a Christmas favourite and was requested by the Stanley Arts team! 

Ivonne produced a set of images to help our newbies learn the moves of this interactive rendition. A huge thanks to her for producing a fantastic visual clue to help us out.

The full images are available on our DIVA! The COTH Chat Group via WhatsApp for those who need a reminder. 

For those who want a reminder of the days, please read through the interesting song facts this week.


Key Notes

  • Follow Elena for the starting note. If you start too high, it becomes difficult to keep up the momentum and breath needed by the time we reach the 12th day.

  • Try not to rush.

  • The actions should be easy for all members, but if you find any of them difficult or a strain, please don’t push yourself.

  • This rendition is fun! Enjoy the performance and smile with the audience.


Have yourself a merry little Christmas

We listened to the new backing track to familiarise everyone with the slight change in tempo and the simplified Alto lines. This includes:

  • The pattern of the first line in each verse is the same

  • In the first verse, the final line uses just one note

  • In the second verse, the line uses one note except for the last word “away”, which goes UP

  • In the middle 8, the final line uses just one note

  • In the third verse, the notes remain the same, but the first time we sing it, there is NO pause between the last two words - Christmas now

  • This is a particularly low alto harmony. When singing, use the lowest part of your airways to expel the sound, and the “Pingu Face” to maximise your ability to hit those lows

Note for all:

  • There is now an instrumental of one full verse length after the third verse

  • The word “bough” is held for an 8 count. Try to hold it for as long as you can. Make use of the full capacity of your airways. Slightly bend your knees when hitting this note to help expand the space available in the lungs

  • The third verse is repeated after the instrumental. This is sung using the same notes as we originally learned, with a rest between the last two words - Christmas [pause] now

  • The final line of the verse is slowed for effect. Pay close attention to Elena during the performance so we all sing in sync


Cosy Little Christmas

Everyone can sing this with confidence now. 

A reminder from Elena:

  •  When singing the “Oh, oh, oh, oh, no” - each word is sung in a staccato fashion. This means the word is short and individual. There is a clear sound to each note. There is no need to hold the sound or blend the notes.

  • Make it sound snappy and upbeat!


Silent Night

Elena went through the Italian verse briefly once more. Vicky wrote down this verse phonetically to help everyone. Please remind yourselves if needed.

The final line is a slower tempo for effect. Follow Elena’s lead to ensure we all sing in sync


Somewhere only we know

This is a firm favourite. The third harmony for the final verse is beautiful. Remember to sing confidently and strongly.


As always, all of these songs can be found in our new and improved  Christmas Music Library, except for the 12 Days of Christmas. Please make use of this great resource. Much effort was put into providing us with a detailed breakdown of each part.


⭐ Song Facts - The Twelve Days Of Christmas

The first known appearance of this popular holiday favourite was in 1780, found in the children’s publication “Mirth Without Mischief”. It is a song to commemorate the 12 days between Christmas Day and Epiphany, two key dates in the medieval and Tudor England Christian calendar. In today's view, most people use Epiphany, the 6th of January, as the last day of the Christmas celebrations, and it is considered bad luck to have decorations up after this date.

It is believed that the song was a test of memory and started as a playground game for children. If you couldn’t recall each day correctly, your friends would give forfeits for you to carry out. This theory stands strong. Despite singing it yearly for my whole life, I still have to do the mental gymnastics to recall the correct order. This proves harder still when sung at the end of a Christmas Concert, where some may or may not have had an alcoholic beverage. Nothing says Christmas like a glass of mulled wine and a tongue-twister ditty.

In Tudor England, the twelve days of Christmas were a time for the common folk to relax and feast as best they could, whilst the wealthier members of society wined, dined, and laughed out the end of the year. Most would say this still holds with those households who celebrate Christmas, making the most of the season, visiting friends and family, and eating well.

At one time, people suggested that the 12 verses held significant Catholic teachings. For example, it was said that the Three French Hens represented the Holy Trinity. This was widely debunked in recent years. Whether you follow the Christian understandings or the modern day significances, this song remains an audience favourite. 


Many schools have adapted the words to suit the children of their communities. I remember being one of the Seven Trees of Christmas when I was 10 and feeling slighted because I really wanted to be Mary in the Nativity. That dream was never realised. I might still hold some resentment. 

Over the years, the song has been tweaked and refined. Many countries throughout the world have their own version and interpretations. Some alter who the gifts are intended for, sending them to their mother or friend. Other versions include Fat Hens, Ducks Quacking, or my personal favourite, Twelve Good Cheeses! Who doesn’t love cheese at Christmas?! 


Doing the math, there are 184 birds featured in our song. This is because the gifts are cumulative, with the same gifts as the days before being given alongside that day's new item. By the final verse, you’ll have received 12 Pear Trees, one for each month of the year, perhaps, and a total of 364 items - something for every day of the year except Christmas Day itself. 


This song holds a great deal of history, given how long it has been sung throughout the years. Christian, childhood or Christmas festivities, the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ holds warm memories for all carolers. May this season bring us all joy and abundance.


DATES FOR THE DIARY

SATURDAY 13 December - Christmas Party at Mozart's

We’re back at Mozart’s in Anerley for our annual Christmas celebration - singing, booty shaking, gift giving, and merriment. Please remember your Secret Santa gift and nibbles, if you’ve signed up to provide something. 


FRIDAY 19 December - Stanley Arts Christmas Concert

​Stanley Arts are hosting a Christmas concert with a mix of local musical talent. This is a ticketed event. Friends and family can find ticket information on the Stanley Arts website. 

  • COTH members will be able to watch the show from the balcony. Other performers may also be using this space. There will be members of our COTH-HABs (Husbands and Boyfriends) who will be sitting amongst us. If you have valuables, we can ask them to keep an eye on handbags, etc., whilst we perform.

  • For those who can make it, the sound check is at 6.30 pm.

  • The concert begins at 7.30 pm.

  • Our slot is at 9 pm, after the interval.

  • The Concert is due to finish at 10.30 pm. For those who wish to, COTH has been invited to return to the stage for the final number to sing alongside The Undercoverz. There’s no obligation to participate, but it is always a great way to end the show and our final performance of 2025.


FRIDAY 16th January – Beat the January Blues Open Mic Night @ Shirley Park Golf Club

To celebrate our support network and each other, we are lucky to be able to gather for an open mic party!

Full details will be coming soon. Take the time to consider a song or two to perform. Solos, duets, or ensembles are all welcome. We’ll share the website we most commonly use for backing tracks. They have a fantastic library of songs, and you’re likely to find your favourites available for a small fee.

Please invite your loved ones to join us. We want our whole community family to be part of our first social of 2026.



More details (and sign-up info) will follow closer to the event, but if you’ve been to previous COTH socials, you’ll know the format and where to find backing tracks! For now, save the date and start thinking/practising what you might like to sing!

 
 
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