26 December, 2010

Hallelujah Chorus Melbourne Central Flash Mob Skin Opera 22-12-10

Sue sent us a notice to say that we might like to participate individually in this Flash Choir event to be held at Melbourne Central. Two of our choir members went along and said it was great to be part of it. Here they are...

Our intrepid Hallelujah Chorus participants taken at Mt Martha
I've put the YouTube link here for you to see the event. 
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhaB_24b-FI

You will see our lovely participants right at the bottom of the screen at about 1 minute 20 seconds - watch carefully. They are visible only fleetingly. Wish I'd managed to get there too.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I'm thankful it wasn't too hot to sit outside with our friends. You can expect a bit of news from the Singers Festival in Daylesford in about three weeks and in the meantime, enjoy the break before we return at the end of January, 2011.
 
Happy New Year,
Ros.

24 December, 2010

Carols by Candlelight at Mt Martha, 2010

Thursday, 23rd December, and Carols by Candlelight has swung around again, with people gathering on the embankment just below Mt Martha House. Quite a few of us met for dinner at the Dava Hotel before the gig.

Dinner at the Dava Pub

This year it was quite cool and although the children were running up and down the hill letting off steam, many came with their knee rugs and jackets.

Lots of play and picnicking as folks found their spot for the Carols

Mr and Mrs Santa were well rugged up
We had a warm-up in the evening light behind the semi-trailer that was the stage. We were on the stage at the beginning to sing the first two carols with everybody. Our segment was next with Tuross Carol, Christ Child's Lullaby and One Morning Soon which always engages the audience in some clapping.

Waiting to start our warm-up amongst the lengthening shadows.

After we left the stage, a few joined the crowd, a few went straight home, and some stood to the side and joined in the next couple of well-known carols.

Singing with the audience before departing

23 December, 2010

Christmas Carols in Frankston, 2010

The weather was kind to us as we gathered just before 6 PM at the north end of Shannon Mall yesterday evening. Conspicuous in our red tops of all kinds with dashes of green here and there, we established our group outside the entrance to Bayside shopping centre ...outside Rebel Sports and Sanity Music. That seemed to work!


...outside Rebel Sports and Sanity Music, ready to begin.

People floated past with kids and trolleys, whilst some tarried to listen for a little and danced with children pointing.  There were those who stayed until the end of a song, or changed their pace as they went by. I noticed one woman who caught the mood of "One Morning Soon" and went skipping down the mall, clapping as she went.

Achoir of colour for Christmas

There were two sets of Christmas songs and carols with a short break in between. Amongst them (not a full list) were On Christmas Morning written by our Director, Sue, Soalin', and Mary’s Boy Child. Amen Aleluia from South Africa is rousing and Christmas Day (North Wind) is an Australian carol that a few of us learned at school. Thapelo is a traditionl prayer with lovely harmony from the Soweto Gospel Choir and we have a soft spot for Tuross Carol which was written by Genevieve Pizzey who died this year.



Happiness is a song sung well
Our position in front of a wall was great as it seemed to deflect the sound quite well, and the spirit of song and harmony carried us to along to sing well. Afterwards, some said goodbye and headed homeward, whilst others met at Sofia Pizza down by the pier to enjoy large helpings of food, laughter and talk.

At Sofia Pizza afterwards. Andrew makes a strong point
Happy days,
Ros

14 December, 2010

Christmas Carols in Mornington

We gave an informal street performance of Christmas songs and carols for the after lunch shoppers and passers-by in Mornington on Saturday, 11th December, 2010.

Stepping outside the usual dress code for Christmas, we wore tops of any Christmas colours with hats and tinsel decorations for our music books.

We sang a mixture of traditional Christmas carols and more recent songs. For those who are interested to recall what we sang, here is the list:
Amen Aleluia, On Christmas Morning, Soalin', Mary's Boy Child, Jazz Gloria, Salaam, Christmas Day (North Wind), Bright Bethlehem, Thapelo, Tuross Carol, One Morning Soon.

Best wishes,
Ros.