9 October Update

Week 6 of 7 (Half Term 1)

In this week's update we have:

• A rehearsal recap

• Links to 2 video clips from our session

• A full list of all the upcoming dates for the diary

  Some fun facts about the song Somewhere only we know, originally by Keane and covered by Lily Allen.

Rehearsal

Warmup:

This week’s warm-up focused on scales in legato. Legato means singing notes smoothly and connectedly, without any noticeable breaks between them. We aimed to keep a consistent volume across every note in the scale - no sudden pushes or dips in sound. This required careful breath control, especially using the diaphragm to maintain even air pressure, avoiding the instinct to push more strongly at the start of each note.

Songs we covered:

• Hallelujah I Just Love Him So - We revisited this piece, working again on the three vocal parts:

  • Alto 1 carries the main melody of the song.

  • Alto 2 sings the soprano line an octave lower, adding depth to the harmony.

  • Sopranos sing the upper harmony, creating a bright, balanced blend when all three lines come together.

  When combined, the parts create a wonderfully full, rich sound. You can hear how the harmonies build in this week’s Instagram post and watch a clip of the full song on our YouTube channel (see below).

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  (As before, the YouTube link is unlisted and for choir members’ viewing only.)

• Somewhere Only We Know (Lily Allen version) - Elena introduced a new upper soprano line this week — a gorgeous harmony that appears in the final two sections of the song (after the “ahhhhs”). This new line adds extra richness and pathos to a song that’s been a much-loved part of our repertoire for many years.

  You can watch a recording of this week’s sing-through on our YouTube channel:
  

Lyric & Audio Library

All song lyrics and recordings are in the Lyric & Audio Library .

SONG FACTS

Somewhere Only We Know

• Originally by Keane, released in 2004, as the lead single from their debut album Hopes and Fears.

• It became one of their signature songs and reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.

• In 2013, Lily Allen covered the song for the John Lewis Christmas advert (The Bear & The Hare).

• Lily Allen’s version reached number one in the UK.

• The original version is piano-driven, with a steady rhythmic pattern.

• The song evokes themes of nostalgia, longing, and seeking a place or moment of connection that feels private and meaningful.

• Lily Allen’s cover has a more intimate, reflective tone, particularly fitting for its use in the Christmas advert context.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

THURSDAY 23rd October - Half term social @ Mozart's, Anerley

We are meeting at Mozart’s in Anerley for a half-term social. There will be drinks, food and probably a bit of singing. We'll likely start at 7.30pm - more details to follow.

THURSDAY 27th November - Westow House, Crystal Palace Christmas Light Switch-On 

Crystal Palace traders will be switching on the Christmas Lights for the town in a ceremony held at Westow House. We’ll be singing inside Westow House on the ground floor in the main space (facing the bar). The lights switch on is at 7 pm, and we are finalising our performance time (which will be after this). As this is still a choir night, we will be asking members to pay for the session (as we still have the hall hire, Elena’s time and other outgoings to cover).

Set list TBC.

SATURDAY 29th November - Maple Road Market (Penge) 

We will be singing at Maple Road Market* which, for the month of November, will be held in Anerley Town Hall. We will be singing 2 slots - most likely the first will be around 12 till 12.20 - then we'll have a 45 min break with the second performance at 13.15 (TBC). Our repertoire will be Christmas songs - list is also TBC (we'll be asking for suggestions at future rehearsals). Depending on the weather, we may be singing indoors or outdoors.

We'll share more information (and a registration form) as soon as we have it.

*The Maple Road Market is a volunteer led independent local market that was originally started in 1921. It stopped trading in 2010 but was brought back with help from the local community and Bromley council. It's held on the last Saturday of each month and features a mix of vendors and activities, ranging from art & craft to kids activities and hot food to health and wellbeing.

SATURDAY 13 December - Christmas Party at Mozart's

We’re back at Mozart’s in Anerley for our annual Christmas celebration — expect food, singing, fun, and likely a bit of bubbly. More details to come!

(Note: this date has been moved from the 12th to the 13th.)

FRIDAY 19 December - Stanley Arts Christmas Concert

Following on from the last 2 years, we’ll be singing as part of the Stanley Arts Christmas concert. We are asking the choir for Christmas song suggestions, which we will start rehearsing after our half-term break in October.

More details to follow!