SSG Annual Conference 12th November - Come and Sing!

[mcb]

This is a cordial invitation to singers to come and join the scratch choir for the SSG Annual Mass, part of the Annual Conference taking place at Leeds Cathedral on Saturday 12th November.

All are most welcome. I'd like, if we can raise a suitably large and enthusiastic team, to tackle John Ireland's Greater Love Hath No Man. (12th November is the feast of St Josaphat, and the text No-one has greater love, says the Lord, than the man who lays down his life for his friends is one of the Communion antiphons from the Common of Martyrs, appropriate for this feast.)

It's a challenging piece! We'll only be able to do it if we get a good number of singers, who are able to come prepared. There's a good training video on Youtube here. We won't be using this version of the score because of copyright issues - I'll provide loan copies on the day.

There will be plenty of other music, including the Missal chants for the Mass ordinary, Chris Walker's Out of Darkness, a piece from Iona, one or two by yours truly and a rousing hymn tune by Gustav Holst (but not with those words). And we'll have a plan B, just in case we don't manage to muster the forces for the Ireland.

Please join us! The bigger the choir, the better our chances. For the Ireland, which splits for a while into eight parts, we'll need: (i) 8 singers who can each hold a part; (ii) 16 singers who are happy singing a line if there's someone to keep them company; or (iii) 30+ singers who love singing when there are plenty of others also taking part. If you'd like to take part, please let me know which voice you are, and whether you fit into (i), (ii), (iii) or none of the above! Send me a PM here, or e-mail me at martin.barry@manchester.ac.uk, or, I dunno, post something on Facebook or tweet me with your Blackberry. Or something.

I hope you can come! I look forward to hearing from you, and to seeing you on the day.

Martin

[Nick Baty]

post something on Facebook or tweet me with your Blackberry. Or something.

[Eastern Promise]

I'll be there - soprano...

[SOP]

I remember it now! Put me down for 2nd sop.

[blackthorn fairy]

Please add me too (alto). I know Greater Love v well (and have sung it recently at both Peterborough and Ely cathedrals).

[oopsorganist]

And I wil be there.
Put me down as a iii) on a good day with a following wind.......

[MaryR]

Just a reminder that, if you are planning to attend the Conference and would like to eat as well as sing, you need to let me know you're coming! PM me, or email me at secretary@ssg.org.uk.

Many thanks.

[oopsorganist]

sorry to bump over your post Mary but posting before I forget to do so
On Soundcloud you can hear the alto part for the Ireland piece. It seems to be different on page 3 ie not unison for a few bars but other than that quite useful for people like me who cannot hear their note on Youtube version. You have to log in but it is a free site.

[mcb]

Thanks, oops, you're absolutely right. There's an error in the score on CPDL, and this is replicated in the Youtube video - on page 3 alto and bass should have something that roughly involves parallel thirds with soprano and tenor, rather than the unison that's printed. I haven't yet seen the hire copies we'll be using on 12 November, but they're certain to have the right notes (as in the SoundCloud recording), rather than the wrong ones as in CPDL and Youtube.

No big deal, though: the unison notes fit fine, so the piece won't crash if those who have done their homework come armed with the wrong notes.

(Many thanks to oops for finding this. There's a complete set of recordings for all the individual voices. Type 'greater love tenor' [or whatever] into the search box. You have to register first, but there's no charge.)

[IncenseTom]

I'll be there. Happy to sing Bass, although also happy to serve. Not sure if the Cathedral will have organised Altar Servers. Hope I get the thurible!!!

[contrabordun]

Hoping to make it - maybe a chance to put some faces to some names! Generally sing tenor, but can also mess up a bass line if necessary.

(Don't suppose there will be a chance for those of us interested in such things to admire t'organ at close range? Not asking to play it, but would interested to hear about the recent work.)

[IncenseTom]

Don't suppose there will be a chance for those of us interested in such things to admire t'organ at close range? Not asking to play it, but would interested to hear about the recent work

I was recently at the Cathedral as part of a day on Music and the New Translation run by the Leeds Cathedral Music team. Ben Saunders (Master of Music) took a few of us up the stairs to have a look at the new organ.

Perilously tight stair-case. Can only fit about 5 people at a time in the organ loft.
Lovely instrument, though - cost 700, 000 euros if I remember correctly.

[MaryR]

If you've not already been in touch with me, and you are planning to come on Saturday, can you email me or PM me and let me know? I need final numbers for those who want food, and I will need names in any event for badges and folders.

Thanks very much.

[IncenseTom]

Just to let you know that i'll be serving for Mass so unable to sing Bass.

Thankyou, Mary, for liasing with the Cathedral Dean for me.

[musicus]

Martin, I think I know the answer to this, but could you confirm that you will be providing all music on the day,and that we don't need to bring anything?

Thanks.