Wednesday, August 27, 2014

AUTUMN SINGING!

LET'S SING TOGETHER! Our new season is just about to begin, and I'm looking forward to making music with returning and new members.

We're going to delve into folk songs this year - from here, there and everywhere. Here's a little preview of this year's repertoire:

A few of the songs each choir will sing:

The Junior Choir, which learns its music by rote, is going to be singing "My Paddle's Keen and Bright" paired with "Land of the Silver Birch". We'll also be learning a version of "Tis a Gift to be Simple" which can be harmonized with an original melody based on the word, "Alleluia". And many more!

The Senior Choir, which learns some of its music by rote and some with scores, is going to be singing the Hebrew song, "Zum Gali Gali", a really fun arrangement of "Old Dan Tucker" and "Cape St. Mary's", a folksong from Newfoundland. And many more!

The Morel Singers, who learn songs both by rote and from the music score, is going to sing "California Dreamin' (just for fun!) and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". We're also going to continue with "Shto Mi e Milo", the Macedonian song that we enjoyed so much last year, as well as learning another Macedonian song to join it. And many more!

One of the aspects of the Chelsea Youth Choir and Morel Singers community that I love the most is that the choirs join together to sing. It is incredible to see multi-ages, and especially multi-generations coming together in song. A few of the songs that we'll be singing together over the year are: Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes, Rhythms of One World, and Si njay.

We are looking forward to several workshops, one with Kathy Armstrong from Baobab Drummers, and a second with Jean Marc Lalonde, a superb Franco Ontarian musician. These workshops offer a great opportunity for the choirs to sing and learn together, as do the shared songs that we prepare for each concert.

Please get in touch if you'd like to join us! stephanie@chelseayouthchoir.ca