Home again, home again, jiggity jig

[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.

Comments

[gerald_duck]

For musically-inclined people who already know a few instruments, the Grade 1 challenge sounds too easy. I pretty-much managed Grade 2 or 3 on the clarinet in an afternoon, though it would have needed a few weeks' polish; Lizzie seems to be at above Grade 5 on the horn after nine months. I've seen a suitably-inclined music scholar pick up Grade 8 with distinction on both bassoon and lute in the same year.

Maybe the challenge should be a race to be first to Grade 1 on every symphonic instrument? (-8

[emperor]

A while back, there were music teachers doing the grade 1 challenge for charity.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Does it depend on how musical you already are, and which instruments you already play. I am sure I could never get any embouchures right, but then I have to admit I never really tried. I can, however, still get a sound out of a drinking straw (cut to make a double reed).

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it does; however bear in mind that Steve and Angelica are already at grade 1 standard; I'm sure you could cope with brass. Go on, learn a trumpet!

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Alas, no time. Also several other ideas in my head. Is it easy to learn harmony, in order to write an arrangement of a tune? Nothing fancy, just the basics.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

this one looks plausible.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

tempting, not sure. We have already decided to get John a bass guitar, and Sam might (but probably won't) get a drum kit for his birthday.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

what about classical-type guitar?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

It does seem a little on the easy side, I agree.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Tried looking people up on the internet: Jeremy is on Wikipedia. Debbie has a website where she offers a choral training workshop for your choral society.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

I have been looking at the Associated Board syllabus for singing, and A nightingale sang in Berkely Square is Grade 5, except it has to be from memory... I wonder what the sight reading tests are like, and whether I could do Grade 1? But I suppose it doesn't count as a Grade 1 challenge, because I can already sing... perhaps it's an idea for a future challange; all the singers could get a singing qualification.