ghoti_mhic_uait

Just returned from Spode Music Week, not, sadly, in the building pictured above (and in the wikipedia article), but in its new home of Beechwood school. The building worked very well - it's not Hengrave, but then nothing else would be.

Anyway, we sang and played some wonderful music; Britten's Hymn to Saint Cecilia, which is gorgeous, and Brahms' Fest- und Gedenksprüche, which was tough; both conducted by Debbie, from whom I always learn a great deal. In fact. she looked like she had helpful comments to make on my solo (A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square) oin the last night, but I forgot to ask and she is too polite to proffer advice out of hand.
We also sang a lovely Tallis mass (Puer Natus Est Nobis) and a Salve Regina written by a man named Richard Davy, from the Eton Songbook. We sang from partbooks, which was a new thing for me, but very interesting. If I say nothing further of the conductor (Dominic) allow it to be mentioned that this isn';t because I don#'t like him or, indeed, singing under him.

Anyway, we also played some lovely stuff in Orchestra - and I played trombone. Before we went last, I practised for a bit, but didn't play the trombone at all while we were there, so I didn't get it out beforehand this time. Oops. I did play the euph for late-night jollies, though. I also performed the viola, in accompanying Benedict. That went OK; funnily enough, one of the other brass players also took up viola, while we were there. From that, we have the concept of a 'Grade 1 challenge' - learn an alien instrument to pass grade 1 by next year. We also considered all taking it at the same time - confusing the examiners by accompanying each other :) Colin and I have decided on clarinet - string players thought my viola playing was too good for it to count, and brass players thought it would be OK, so I settled on an instrument I dabbled in a long time ago. Colin, of course, has never played a wind instrument.

Um. Apart from that, well, a good time was had by all and I return home in better voice (despite a sore throat) and all round fired with enthusiasm. Must be St Cecilia at her mischief :) Oh, and Benedict sang everything and while he has attained a state of bored indifference, at the time he sang well and enjoyed it.

Oh, and this is what Colin wrote, and this is what Alison wrote.