Well there was a bit more snow over the weekend and there may still be a chill in the air, but looking beyond all that ... i have to say that i really enjoyed going to Grosvenor last night!
That's not to say that i don't normally enjoy it, but having thought about it, i reckon that it must rank in my top 5 rehearsals ever over my time in the choir! (don't ask me to list the other 4, but i'm sure there have been other notables over the years (?!)
New music was swallowed up last night and Orban will become a choir favourite, i'm sure. When i say 'swallowed up' though, i guess i've got to thank the better sight readers in the tenor section (i am the dodgy one, remember) for aiding that enjoyment of the practice :)
And as i was saying ... what about a little Hans Zimmer choral soundtrack music next week Ed ???
Onwards and Upwards (and maybe even across the ceiling...)
DT
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Did you survive the snow?
Well?
Most of us did ... apart from Ed (our musical director) having fallen and broken a wrist! It makes for interesting and somewhat challenging practices, but hopefully we're being a sympathetic bunch and responding to the slightly more restrained waving of arms and cast!
January has seen the arrival of a new tenor and a bass - 'thrown in the deep end' seems an apt phrase, but i hope the guys are enjoying the experience and craic.
Hopefully, a weekend of recording awaits around the corner, so that's what we're aiming for at the minute - wish us well!
DT
p.s. A SPECIAL mention to say thanks to all those who were able to make it along to the Carol Service back in December and for helping us raise almost a £1000 pounds for our chosen charity - the Northern Ireland Transplant Association!
Most of us did ... apart from Ed (our musical director) having fallen and broken a wrist! It makes for interesting and somewhat challenging practices, but hopefully we're being a sympathetic bunch and responding to the slightly more restrained waving of arms and cast!
January has seen the arrival of a new tenor and a bass - 'thrown in the deep end' seems an apt phrase, but i hope the guys are enjoying the experience and craic.
Hopefully, a weekend of recording awaits around the corner, so that's what we're aiming for at the minute - wish us well!
DT
p.s. A SPECIAL mention to say thanks to all those who were able to make it along to the Carol Service back in December and for helping us raise almost a £1000 pounds for our chosen charity - the Northern Ireland Transplant Association!
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Happy New Year
Wishing you all a Happy New Year for 2010!
Have a good (and safe if you're driving) night out tonight
Snowing again ... joy !?
DT
Have a good (and safe if you're driving) night out tonight
Snowing again ... joy !?
DT
Thursday, 24 December 2009
One more sleep til Christmas!
Well, the height of the season is almost upon us!
We've had a busy December starting with a guest appearance with the Queen's University Brass Ensemble - very festive, and a talented bunch they were - i believe we might even have a new choir member out of that one ...
Then there's been the Carol Service in Down Cathedral - don't forget to tune into BBC Radio Ulster this evening (24th) at 5.00 p.m. and again on Christmas Day at 12.00 noon for two 1 hour programmes featuring words and music from last Friday night's service - CAROLS FROM DOWNPATRICK - a great service as ever and like i've said before - it's the gig of the year which we enjoy the most!
AND THEN THE SNOW CAME!!!
That made for an interesting journey to a wedding appointment just outside Warrenpoint on Tuesday. We wish the bride and groom all the best for the future and hopefully they're enjoying warmer climes for their honeymoon!
And now we're here on the Eve of Christmas - Happy Christmas one and all from the choir and sure, we'll see what occurs in the New Year!
Onwards and Upwards!
DT
We've had a busy December starting with a guest appearance with the Queen's University Brass Ensemble - very festive, and a talented bunch they were - i believe we might even have a new choir member out of that one ...
Then there's been the Carol Service in Down Cathedral - don't forget to tune into BBC Radio Ulster this evening (24th) at 5.00 p.m. and again on Christmas Day at 12.00 noon for two 1 hour programmes featuring words and music from last Friday night's service - CAROLS FROM DOWNPATRICK - a great service as ever and like i've said before - it's the gig of the year which we enjoy the most!
AND THEN THE SNOW CAME!!!
That made for an interesting journey to a wedding appointment just outside Warrenpoint on Tuesday. We wish the bride and groom all the best for the future and hopefully they're enjoying warmer climes for their honeymoon!
And now we're here on the Eve of Christmas - Happy Christmas one and all from the choir and sure, we'll see what occurs in the New Year!
Onwards and Upwards!
DT
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Another December ... another BBC recording!
What do you know? It may have been Radio 3 and BBC 4 last year, but that was only show-casing 2 pieces really. THIS YEAR, BBC Radio Ulster are are coming along to Down Cathedral to record this, our 16th annual Carol Service for broadcast on Christmas Eve!
Great Stuff!
Can't wait to get back to Downpatrick - brings back lots of happy memories of my own school carol services held there all those years ago. But there's two dates before then to get right first - the hard work is starting to pay off! St John's Church of Ireland next Friday for the concert of many names and many lighting scenarios ...
:)
DT
Great Stuff!
Can't wait to get back to Downpatrick - brings back lots of happy memories of my own school carol services held there all those years ago. But there's two dates before then to get right first - the hard work is starting to pay off! St John's Church of Ireland next Friday for the concert of many names and many lighting scenarios ...
:)
DT
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
And tonight Matthew, Grosvenor are under the guest direction of ...
Well it was last night actually and we finally found out we had an impressionist as a musical director!
He was doing his best to sound like either Sir David Attenborough, deep in some rainforest, Adam Sandler playing 'Little Nicky' or one of Marge's sisters in the The Simpsons ... and what a quiet rehearsal was had with everyone straining to hear him, but the voice did start to return near the end at least.
And the other landmark last night was Grosvenor reaching it's 16th birthday - nice to see we've managed to keep five of those founder members there too ... just so we can remind them of how old they are :)
Anyway - a week off next week, and then the big push continues towards Christmas!!!
DT
He was doing his best to sound like either Sir David Attenborough, deep in some rainforest, Adam Sandler playing 'Little Nicky' or one of Marge's sisters in the The Simpsons ... and what a quiet rehearsal was had with everyone straining to hear him, but the voice did start to return near the end at least.
And the other landmark last night was Grosvenor reaching it's 16th birthday - nice to see we've managed to keep five of those founder members there too ... just so we can remind them of how old they are :)
Anyway - a week off next week, and then the big push continues towards Christmas!!!
DT
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
September comes and goes ...
I've said it before and i'll say it again, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO???
The start of the new session has seen the choir grow in size to around 40! Exciting times all round (even if it does mean a steep learning curve for the new members (!) but you'll all enjoy it when it all comes together - i can guarantee it)
The next big thing coming up is a choral workshop day organised by the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters in Carrickfergus on Saturday, where we get to be guinea pigs under the direction of Dr Martin Neary - i wonder what he'll think of Grosvenor compared to the choir at Westminster Abbey? No pressure ... i guess ...
DT
(... not at all phased by the news that there are distinct lack of other first tenors on Saturday either ... ooh er ...)
The start of the new session has seen the choir grow in size to around 40! Exciting times all round (even if it does mean a steep learning curve for the new members (!) but you'll all enjoy it when it all comes together - i can guarantee it)
The next big thing coming up is a choral workshop day organised by the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters in Carrickfergus on Saturday, where we get to be guinea pigs under the direction of Dr Martin Neary - i wonder what he'll think of Grosvenor compared to the choir at Westminster Abbey? No pressure ... i guess ...
DT
(... not at all phased by the news that there are distinct lack of other first tenors on Saturday either ... ooh er ...)
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