14 November Rehearsal Update

In this week's Bulletin you can read about:

• Rehearsal news

• 28 Nov and 20 Dec: Christmas performance updates

• 'Getting to know you - COTH Member profile' - get to know your fellow COTH members with this fun Q&A. This week, it's the legendary Ruth Herity, aka 'Ruth 1'!

Week 10

At this week's rehearsal we did some helpful breathing exercises and a brief but useful vocal warmup.

THE SONGS

This week we looked at The Twelve Days of Christmas, Feliz Navidad and All I Want for Christmas is You. All of these songs are available in the Christmas Lyric and Audio Library.

As we have limited time leading up to our Christmas performances, here are some additional pointers for those who were unable to attend this week:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

If you take a look at the lyrics in the library, you'll see there are numbers next to each line. In a similar way to how we approached You've Got a Friend, each line is assigned to a different member or ensemble in the choir. We all sing the parts that are not in bold (i.e. on the 'x' day of Christmas my true love sent to me') and then every time we go through the different numbers, the person or persons assigned to that number sing it each time. We all sing '5 gold rings' together. When we reach Twelve, we all sing all the lines in unison.

Note - the numbers after Five gold rings get a little confusing because, as we sing 'Five gold rings' in unison, 'Six geese are laying' is now group five! It should all make sense in the room!

Feliz Navidad

When viewing the lyrics, the first 3 lines we sing in unison. After that, the altos sing the rest in harmony.

You'll see that the first section of the song (above the boxes) is repeated in exactly the same way (so essentially we sing the same thing x 2).

Once we reach the boxes, the sopranos sing the section on the left. The altos sing a different harmony on the right (listen to Elena's recording for this).

After this we sing the section under the boxes with the sopranos singing the melody and the altos the harmony.

I've included a little video of Feliz Navidad with a huge caveat - it's our first full run through and there are obviously a few niggles to iron out but it gives you an idea of how it is performed. You'll also note that it is impossible not to dance to this song - even if you are a self proclaimed Grinch such as myself 😂

All I want for Christmas is You

As previously mentioned on WhatsApp, this is arranged slightly differently to what we have learned before. We didn't have much time to run through this last night but we will revisit next week. If you have any moments where you can listen to the library recordings before next week, that will mean we are all well prepared!

CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES

We have two Xmas performance opportunities this year- the Crystal Palace Christmas Light Switch-on and Stanley Arts Christmas Concert. Registration forms for these events are now live: You can click here to register.

We'll be sending out a performance pack for the 28th Nov soon but as a reminder, here are all the details we have currently.

THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER Christmas Light Switch-on

We will be singing as part of the Christmas street light switch-on ceremony for Crystal Palace.

LOCATION

Westow House, 79 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TX

TIMING (PM)

7.00 - 7.30-7.45 - There will be a brass band playing outside the Westow (estimated time they'll finish is between 7.30 and 7.45)

7.30/7.45 - Light swich-on ceremony

7.45 - 8.15 - COTH performance inside the pub (c30 mins of Christmas set-list). We'll start when the brass band/switch-on is done so at either 7.30 or 7.45.

8.15 - drinks in the Westow for anyone who wants to stay.

For anyone who has paid by subscription we will be offering you a refund - please get in touch if you would like to receive this. Similarly, for PAYG members, it will not be obligatory to pay. However, we still need to cover hall hire, as this is paid in advance, as well as Elena’s time and other running costs, so if you are happy to contribute your usual fee towards this it would be very much appreciated.

FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER Stanley Arts Christmas Concert

Last year we had a great time singing as part of the Stanley Arts Christmas Concert. We've been invited back again this year!

LOCATION

Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, SE25 6AB

TIMING (PM)

6.00 - There will be a sound check for anyone who can make it.

7.30 - Concert starts

8.20-8.45 - We will be singing in the final act of the first half

10.15 - Concert ends

We are invited to watch the rest of the concert from the balcony as we did last year and then join in on stage for the final group finale of 'All I Want for Christmas is You'.

Friends and family can purchase tickets from Stanley Arts:

https://stanleyarts.org/event/stanleys-christmas-concert/

GETTING TO KNOW YOU - COTH Member Profile

Each week we'll be speaking to different members of the choir so you can get to know them a little better. Please speak to Vicky if you'd like to be featured.

Ruth Herity, COTH Member

Tell us a little bit about yourself - where you're from/where you live now etc.

I am South Londoner. I was born at home in Brixton and spent 39 years living in Lambeth, before settling in South Norwood with my Glaswegian husband John and our 17 year old son Frank.

What are your favourite songs:

• To get you in the mood for a big night out

Something '90s dance, maybe, Finally by CeCe Penniston - but something up tempo to hurry my prep time!

• To lift your spirits when you're feeling blue

Your Love is Lifting Me Higher - Jackie Wilson

• To belt out at the karaoke

Shout - Lulu (my signature song)

Are there any types of music you're not keen on and why?

Grunge / Garage (sorry Vicky*), I love words and melodies!

[*Note from Ed - that's OK, you wait to you hear what I don't like! Might be an unpopular opinion haha]

What brought you to Choir on the Hill and how long have you been singing with us?

I joined COTH about May 2021. After Isolating in 2020 and being housebound for 6 months in Q1 2021, I needed to inject some joy into my life. I've always loved singing and was in a choir 20 years ago. There were several choirs available, but I liked the feel of a local community choir. It has proved to be so much more.

Which female musical artists do you admire and why?

There are far too many to mention, but I adore Doris Day, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand and Karen Carpenter.

All of these artists put so much emotion into their performances. Their vocal story telling captures you and carries you along. 

Who are your female role models?

My mum and my sister, both strong women who have spent their lives grafting to support their families.

I am also in awe of anyone surviving every day to support themselves and others through ill health or tough times.

Tell us a surprising or little known fact about yourself.

In 2005 I requested an application for X-Factor! My application arrived in the same post as a new job offer - which I accepted instead.

What is your favourite thing about being part of Choir on the Hill?

I absolutely love being with people, singing my heart out and socialising - COTH delivers all of this and so much more. I think the biggest thing for me was having a weekly reason to get dressed, get out of the house and interact with others through song. It's so much easier not to bother making an effort, but the COTH camaraderie week on week lifts your spirits enormously. I have gone from strength to strength and am now able to support others.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

The information below will be added to our Calendar and details will be shared on our Performing pages as and when we know more.

Click on the arrows to expand for more information