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Welcome to Choir Banter
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MARCH 2010
BACKWORTH MALE VOICE CHOIR
for all gentlemen readers of any age and young at heart….….. If you like socialising, enjoy good company, want to find new friends and have a shared or even an uncertain interest in music and singing why not consider joining,; you’ll enjoy it. Also any organisation interested in using the high quality vocal and choral support of Backworth Male Voice Choir in their formal or informal functions……
contact below.
For further information , phoneAndy Rutherford …..Tel : 0191 253 0612
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BACKWORTH MALE VOICE CHOIR CELEBRATES THE ULTIMATE
SUCCESSFUL ST. GEORGE’S DAY CONCERT
WITH THE BAND OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF FUSILIERS.
The interest in choral music in and around Tyneside has proved to be as strong and healthy as recent television programmes would suggest.
The resurgence of interest in group singing was very apparent by the large audience attendance, in excess of 700, at the most recent choral event promoted by Backworth Male Voice Choir with the The Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
This belated St George’s Day concert was held at St. George’s Church in Cullercoats where the enthusiastic audience were presented with a wonderful programme which
included “The Territorial”, a medley from “Wizard of Oz”, “Soldiers Chorus” and a full selection from stage and screen.
The military rendition of the “Post Horn Gallop” , proved an outstanding item creating a virtual musical competition between two accomplished bandsmen .
The vocal talents of soprano Susan Robertson complemented the St. George’s Day traditional programme with the rousing rendition of “Jerusalem”, “Pomp and Circumstance No 1” and “Land of Hope and Glory “ accompanied by enthusiastic flag waving and singing of the audience. The evening was brilliantly compered by BBC’s Paul Mooney.
Backworth Male Voice Choir sing for enjoyment, and judging from the audience attendance and comment , to the obvious pleasure of all.
Harmony and acoustic perfection are features which local choirs seek to present on all occasions. The music, in such an acoustically perfect setting as Saint George’s Church, was on Saturday , a sound not to be missed and the next performance by the choir will be held on Saturday 23rd August in the “Conservatory” of the Azure Garden Centre, Cramlington.
The people and friends of St. George’s look forward to welcoming you back to such a special event in the future and if this account is of interest to any gentleman reader of any age and young at heart, who likes socialising, enjoys male company, wants to find new friends and has a shared or even an uncertain interest in music and singing, why not consider joining us.
Visit......
www.backworthchoir.co.uk
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Further Banter
The most obvious thing about a male voice choir is, of course, its members are all men. There's nothing sexist about this but reflects the sound produced and whether ladies, men's or mixed choirs each has it's own distinctive style and ardent supporters. Men's singing voices range from high to low pitch and by convention divide into four groups which are, in descending order - first tenor (the Pavarotti's of the choir), second tenor, baritone and finally bass (whose contribution can best be described as sounding like bathwater gurgling down a plughole). This is perhaps illustrated more clearly in the following “chuckle time” verse:-
We start with a choir's top tenors, who resemble an over-ripe peach,
When straining for the higher notes that others find out of reach.
But the florid face and bulging eyes as they warble up on high,
Could be symptoms of very tight Y-Fronts or a hastily zipped-up fly.
Second tenors and the baritones inhabit the middle ground,
Where sensible notes and the tuneful bits are generally to be found.
They try to keep the time and pitch but are often led astray,
By top tenors and the basses who will always have their way.
The bass line has the easiest job that beats the rest by a mile,
As it grunts in lower regions in a smooth and effortless style.
But a double forte on top E wreaks havoc with chords that jar,
By silencing most of the bass-men for at least the next four bar.
A conductor and a pianist complement the male voice team,
Though unaccompanied singing has supporters it would seem.
Yet whilst he often looks in pain - or panic - or even sick,
We’ll always need a conductor in the middle with his stick.
So within most male voice choral pieces there are four or more tunes being sung, all at the same time, yet the combined sound is generally pleasing to the ear because they complement each other and are said to be in harmony. Backworth Choir is dedicated to maintaining a high standard of harmony as “Ambassador of Song”