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In fine voice: this year's Chamber Choir<\/p><\/div>\n
All the aspects upon which we\u2019d worked in rehearsals \u2013 dynamics, diction, flexibility \u2013 came out.<\/p>\n
In the rehearsal earlier in the afternoon, we\u2019d practiced the pieces, of course, \u00a0but more importantly, we\u2019d rehearsed processing in and out and bowing. As I said to them, the performance starts the moment the group processes into the performing space; you win or lose the trust of the audience in that moment, in the manner in which you take command of the space, the way in which you hold yourself as you walk on. Walk with confidence, and the audience will immediately trust that you are about to deliver a performance equal in confidence. Walk on sloppily, self-consciously or nervously, and you communicate that sense to the audience and lose their trust in you. No matter what happens afterwards, walking into the performance governs their initial reaction and trust in what follows.<\/p>\n
We also rehearsed bowing. In focusing so much on the pieces, on performing, It\u2019s easy to overlook what happens after the singing stops. If you deliver a polished programme, it can be tarnished by losing discipline in bowing and leaving the performing area; a good group carries high standards of professionalism right through until it has left the public eye. There was some mirth over whether to mutter \u2018Have I cleaned my shoes ? Yes, I\u2019ve cleaned my shoes!\u2019 in lowering and raising one\u2019s head or to use \u2018Down, two three \u2013 Up, two three!\u2019 instead. Then there was confusion (and much hilarity) over whether, whichever phrase one used, one lowered the head over the length of the phrase (\u2018Have I cleaned my shoes ?\u2019), or whether one whipped one\u2019s head down straight away on the first word (\u2018Have\u2019) and then immediately up on the later word (\u2018Yes\u2019), which could potentially result in whip-lash. With such issues are pre-concert rehearsals concerned…<\/p>\n
In the waiting-room outside the church, Steph led the warm-ups and we sang the first antiphon and our trusted Remember, O Thou Man <\/em>to focus our minds on the opening of the concert. When we filed into the back of the church, preparing to process down the middle, we were greeted by a packed audience; from outside, candle-flames flickered and danced a warm orange halo at the windows, and the atmosphere inside was electric. As the first Advent antiphon rose into the rafters, I was immediately reassured; the sound was confident, the ensemble was secure, and the group was about to deliver a fine performance. As the text of Steve Martland\u2019s carol puts it, \u2018Make we joy now in the fest,\u2019 and we certainly did.<\/p>\n Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated, to the choir, readers, those who manned the ticket-desk, to Janet and Tim for their help with setting the church, to those who ran the post-concert refreshments and the nocturnal parking arrangements, and to Stephen Laird for the invitation to perform. Advent has begun.<\/p>\n