3 February 2026
Dear Singers,
Kake was King this week......
Thank you everyone who brought, bought, consumed and served the extravagant spread of delicious cakes. It's a very special social activity that ECS does well, and together with the raffle, will have raised a useful sum towards our funds.
I would like to repeat here my thanks to everyone who contributes to the various aspects of running the choir, apart from the singing. Lots of people make contributions, some in small ways, others bearing greater responsibilities. The Committee is one of the most proactive, business-like and effective I have ever experienced, and I know we are grateful for their stewardship of the choir's organisation. Meetings are good-humoured, full of enthusiasm and commitment to supporting the choir's development. Key to this is communication, which, across the choir, is very good. Oh dear, sounds like an Ofsted judgement! If so, we rate Outstanding.
Feedback about these MD notes indicates that they are helpful and supportive, good to know. They are posted weekly on the website under Members' News to save you searching through your emails!
WHAT WE DID ON 03.02.26
A small group visited the United Reform Church, Southernhay, to scope it for the concert. Although not the most glamorous building, its space and capacity will suit us well for the Verdi. The plan is to construct the stage area on the Friday night to ease pressure on concert day.
Once planned, we will set this up at Palace Gate for Tuesdays, so that everyone knows exactly where they sit (important for the 2-choir sections) and can get used to it. This enables us to deal with seating matters and issues arising ahead of concert day.
We worked hard on pages 133-138 of the Libera. Very useful to do this slowly to build confidence, and it really does! Good progress.
I constantly refer to the plethora of accidentals (sharps, flats and naturals) next to the notes, littering page 133! It can be helpful, or meaningless depending on your experience and understanding - and it can look daunting. The most important thing is that in the end none of it matters because you know it so well and can sing it effortlessly! In the pub after rehearsal, someone commented that once confident you just 'know' what your next note is and don't have to think about it. At the moment we are in a 'liminal space', on the threshold between where we've been and where we're going!
Opening Kyrie p11-16. This short section demands 4 types of singing: Big 'choral sound' (p11), then delicate staccato 'eleison', then quiet expressive legato singing (p12-15), followed by 3 chord/key changes (the 'Christe' p15/16) - finding new keys with absolute pitch precision and clean consonant placement. All this over 24 bars - singing is a precision art form!
Requiem (p127-129) Unaccompanied - tuning is the challenge here, making good progress.
WHAT WE WILL DO ON 10.02.26
Warming up: Many singers suffer from 'inconsonants' - a little-known medical term to describe the 'unintentional loss of control with placing consonants accurately' It can be distressing for conductors, but is generally unrecognised by the singer. Cheap, simple and non-invasive treatment is available and I will share this with you.
Libera p138-end, then run it from p130....consolidate the last two rehearsal's work.
Dies irae p17-24 Let's make a start on this! We haven't sorted 1st & 2nds yet so pick a part for now p17/18
Agnus Dei p 104-108
Recordings of the Verdi: A performance of the Requiem with the pianos/organ is available via a link on the Practice Aids page of Members' Notes on our website. There are plenty of recordings of the full orchestra version - do listen to these too! If anyone has a favourite they wish to share do let me know. It's nice to hear different solo voices and interpretations.
Good work everyone, thank you.
Best wishes
Peter