Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells
Christmas Bells - Blandfordia nobilis

Friday, December 04, 2009

Robertson Choir performed at the CTC tonight.

Well, after lots of practice sessions, tonight the Robbo Choir gave its first public performance this "season".
We actually performed just prior to Christmas last year, so I guess we are coming up to an anniversary performance.
I can say that we are a better group than last year - well, except for me.

I have caught the "Dreaded Lurgi".

I have had the sneezes and sniffles all week. I put it down to the Privet shrubs flowerering all over town; and then the cold snap which passed through. I went to the Doctor yesterday, for the sneezes and snuffles - diagnosed as "Hay Fever".

Today I went back for some antibiotics, as the stuff had gone nasty, and I didn't want to face the weekend full of gunky stuff.

But singing?
Hardly suitable for that.
It sounded like my head was inside an old paint tin - as if I was hearing remote and echoing sounds.

And I felt like a teenage boy, frightened that I would be unable to control the tone. The voice was way too croakey anyway. But every now and then it would simply "squeak". I apologised to the choir, and "retired hurt" (a cricketing phrase). Better that than ruin everyone else's work.

Enough of that - Here we are singing at the Robertson CTC Annual General meeting, tonight.
That's me, up the back, 3rd from the right.
I forgot we were supposed to wear Black or White.
Cathie Owen, on the left is our Choir Leader
I am going to bed - full of pills and potions and a bit of Eucalyptus Oil rubbed on my chest and neck for good measure.

In my dreams, this is how we ought have sounded singing "Oh Holy Night"
Ignore the annoying ads for learning Biblical Hebrew (or whatever Google thinks you wish to know), and the odd lead in - the singing will start soon. Michael Crawford does it better than we do.

I have a penchant for the original French "Cantique Noel" as I had a recording of Placido Domingo performing both versions and his French version was much more lyrical than the English one. Here it is, in fact. Courtesy of You Tube. Ignore any flashing ads, etc, please.

"Cantique Noel" was composed by Adolphe Charles Adam, a French composer best known for this song, and for the Ballet "Giselle" - which I must admit I have a soft spot for, as it was the very first Ballet I ever saw. I recall loving the ballet - even though I cannot recall the music now. Perhaps I shall search the Web later on - after all. Here is a brief film clip - believe it or not.

Now I can go to bed, satisfied.

Ain't this new fangled Interweb thingie amazing?
From the "Dreaded Lurgi" to Adolphe Adam; Michael Crawford to Domingo; and a bit of Cricketing jargon thrown in.

6 comments:

Snail said...

Oh, what bad luck. Look after yourself. Get better soon.

mick said...

Definitely amazing - and the links were all interesting although I liked Placido Domingo best! Too bad you couldn't sing with the choir this time. Hope you get over the snuffles and sneezes soon.

Denis Wilson said...

Thanks Snail, and Mick for the good wishes and/or commiserations.
.
Glad you liked Placido, Mick.
He is a class act.
Lovely tone to his voice.
.
Cheers
Denis

Beth said...

Thanks for that little clip. As a young child, if I was frightened I would picture a ballerina in my mind and I would be very comforted. I must admit that I still find them angelic. Hope your feeling better soon. Beth

Gouldiae said...

G'day Denis,
A delightful read - thanks. Hope you're feeling gooder soon.
A couple of Sundays ago, the Melbourne Male Welsh Choir sang in the little public hall at Toongabbie. Just wonderful. One of the older choristers sang a couple of solos - It's a Wonderful World and On The Street Where You Live - to standing ovations. He was 92!
Hang in there,
Gouldiae.

Denis Wilson said...

Hi Beth and Gouldiae.
Strange world, I bumped into Beth at a party last night and she told me she had left a comment. - and there it is. She loved the Giselle clip. Nice to have been able to prompt a childhood reminiscence. She also liked the Placido Domingo version of "Oh Holy Night".
.
Gouldiae,loved your story of the Welsh chorister still warbling at 92.
I never do solos myself. But I am inspired and encouraged by your story.
Just for the record, I am a mere 60 years young! Plenty of time to mature into my role as chorister, yet, it seems.
.
Cheers
Denis