Welcome back! - update 16th September

Thank you to Gill and Emma for a really enjoyable first rehearsal. It was lovely to be back. Do join us even if you can't make the first few rehearsals.

We are working on The Messe Solennelle by Louis Vierne. At our first rehearsal we looked at the Agnus Dei. The plan is to finish that movement next week and then look at the Kyrie Eleison. You can find  several recordings of the piece on You Tube. Jo found this link to help us with learning the notes:
http://www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk/Vierne/Messe%20solennelle/messe-solennelle.html

We are also using European Sacred Music edited by John Rutter. If you have your own copy of this, please bring it with you when you come.

Once we are clear on the balance of voices and the numbers Gill will circulate the full  concert programme, but at the moment everything is a little uncertain.

Just a reminder that currently rehearsals start at 7.30pm and finish at 9pm although this may change.
 

Dates for your diary

AGM Monday, 4th October. This will be short and followed by a rehearsal
Christmas concert Saturday, December 11th at St Mary's Church
We will be rehearsing every Monday until then and have an additional rehearsal on Wednesday, 8th December
 
 
Our website: www.marlboroughchoralsociety.org.uk will be the most up to date link between members and I ask you to check it each week for any changes
 

Covid requirements: 

 
Inevitably we have had to change some of our practises to ensure we are keeping all our members as safe as possible. These are unusual times and we are uncertain how the Autumn Covid infections will impact our singing.
 
From September:

• You must NOT attend rehearsals if you feel unwell
• You MUST sign in each week. We will require you to provide contact details the first time you sign in so we have an effective process for contacting people if anyone tests positive for Covid. Please ensure that if these change at any time they are updated.
• We would prefer you to wear a mask as you enter and exit the building (as soon as you reach your seat you may remove your mask if you would like to)
• We will not be wearing masks for singing
• Although we will want to be sociable, please be aware of keeping a safe distance between yourself and others at all times
• Please enter, using the Church door (to the right of our usual side door entrance)
• We will ask you to sanitise your hands on arrival
• Doors (both ends of the room) and windows will be open to allow plenty of ventilation; please make sure you have extra layers in case the temperature drops
• We will space out in the Church to allow a sensible distance between singers and will keep every other chair free
• We will have a one-way system in place to toilets etc.

If you test positive for Covid and have attended a rehearsal during the last 10 days, you MUST inform our Secretary - Kathy Leach, or our Chair - Sally Banham, by email or telephone.  Contact details below:
 
Kathy Leach: kathy@leaches.co.uk  01793 812175 / 07813 615318
 
Sally Banham: sally.banham4@gmail.com 07778 038963
 
We will then inform all choir members who attended the rehearsal that one of our group has tested positive for Covid, and we may decide to cancel the next choir rehearsal to minimise the risk of spreading infection.  All decisions will be posted on our website.
 
As of 16^th August, Government guidance does not require fully vaccinated adults to self-isolate if they have been a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case, unless they develop Covid symptoms. Getting a PCR test is recommended but not legally required.  Of course, choir members should get a PCR test if they develop Covid symptoms, limit close contact with others for 10 days, and let Kathy or Sally know if the test result is positive.
 
Whilst I recognise all these recommendations may seem overwhelming the Committee have assessed all available best practise in developing our plans. We know that many people are apprehensive about mixing in groups and hope that these plans will minimise the risks of infection for all.
 
We look forward to seeing you all soon – with my very best wishes
 
 
Gill Mortimer
Musical Director
 
Sept 2021



 

 

Concert details

1. There will be boxes at the back of the church in which to place all your borrowed music after the concert. Please do not take any home with you. If for any reason you do not return your music on or before the night of the concert, it is important that you get in touch with Beverley at beverley.lyle@gmail.com  to arrange its return. Late return of hired music incurs large fines for MCS.
2. Dress code: Men: Dinner suits, bow tie, white shirt, black shoes. Ladies: Long black skirt or trousers, black shirt/blouse (no jumpers) and MCS scarf. You can buy or borrow a scarf from Jane Scott.
3. HELP. We usually meet around 1.00pm in the church to set up.
4. There will be refreshments (red and white wine, soft drinks )in the interval.
5. There will be a retiring collection for a local charity.
6. You will be told where to sit for the concert and your name will be on the allotted seat.

 

Useful resources

Cyberbass 

www.cyberbass.com provides a really useful resource. For a large number of works you can listen (for free) to the choral parts played with your part emphasised.

Concert Music on the Naxos Music Library

If you a member of Wiltshire libraries then you have free access to the Naxos Music Library - an online resource of many, many thousand CDs! There are almost certainly recordings available of pieces in our next concert to listen to online.
 
Access is simple:  
Go to http://wiltshire.naxosmusiclibrary.com/page.library_cardno.asp
Enter your library card number without the spaces - 9 999999 001 becomes 9999999001
Once logged on you can search for whatever takes your fancy

Concert Music on Spotify

If you aren't a member of Wiltshire Library then you could try http://www.spotify.com/ which provides free streaming of all sorts of music - you have the odd short advert but probably less than on commercial radio.

Once you've signed up and installed the client you can access all sorts of content.

If you do install the client I'd suggest you look at your Windows firewall settings. Access these via 'Control Panel', 'Windows Firewall', then open the exceptions tab and unclick the selection next to Spotify. That will stop Spotify accepting incoming network connections.