oor Harmony Update
In the last 20 years Moor harmony have taken a few knocks and always recovered so the current situation (not going to mention the C word here but, you know what I mean), however inconvenient, is just that, inconvenient.
Actually, it was a little more than that a month ago; it was downright annoying. We had re-grouped after Christmas to prepare our entries for the Devon Performing Arts Festival and all was going swimmingly for our big day on 14th March with lots of work put in honing phrasing, memorising the words and learning where and how to stand. Getting nervous, a couple of rehearsals beforehand in the Victory Hall on the 4th I mooted jokingly that maybe we should have some contingency plan in case the country was locked down; how we laughed … by the following Wednesday, the 11th, we had a contingency plan … unfortunately, it was put into action on 12th following notification that the Festival was off… and, about a week later, so was just about everything else! Still, we’re well prepared now for next year however disappointed in the meantime.
After a couple of weeks in limbo a member (thanks Saff!) suggested we could meet up ‘virtually’, via ‘Zoom’ and, you know what, we’re doing it, with about 2/3 of the choir joining in about the same time on Wednesday evenings. Or course, it doesn’t work anywhere near as well as a proper rehearsal for all sorts of technical reasons but, we are doing the important bit of keeping the routine of having Wednesday evenings free for MH and, doing a bit of socialising, until the end of the summer term probably (with our Open Gardens concert very much on the back-burner just at the moment and , our Summer barbeque, … ouch!). On the up-side, about a third of the group took up my offer to learn and take Grade 1, ABRSM music theory (in-house), which keeps our little grey cells working ?, so, well done you guys, we’ll have a Graduation Ceremony when we re-group in person.
Autumn term plans currently remain intact, regrouping in September with a recording session booked in October and then, of course, Christmas.
On a personal note, I never could have envisaged a time when having a piano keyboard and internet capability in my shed would be so useful. From working up the garden I’m beginning to identify all sorts of birds on the feeder and, am really falling out with the squirrel big-time. I know the routine of the resident (I think) hedgehog, have located three bumble-bee nests, know that there’s a mouse living in the ceiling cavity and am very aware of a large hairy spider under the sink …
Take care everyone, stay safe and, if nothing else, look forward to the celebrations we’re bound to have when this is all over.
Jeremy
moorharmony@gmail.com
07.04.20 - no update for 18 months; shocking! Back in business shortly but, we are up and running still!!
30.10.18 - the honest truth is that the "Moor Harmony Mainframe" (kindly donated by top-bass, Andrew) from which this comes had got buried at the back of the summerhouse .. it had the login details for this site!! Anyway, now safely housed somewhere more accessible up the garden, and just in time to advertise The Armed Man, I hope to be publishing more gibberish in the future. All the best to top-bass, Robin, who is quite poorly at the moment but to whom we wish all the best and, get back to the village for a large brandy asap chap !! Our cover photo actually is from out last performance of The Armed Man and hopefully we'll get a new photo as top-sop Saffron hates that particular picture as she thinks you can see right up her nose ... is you zoom in closely enough, she's right ....
25.02.18 Exeter Festival is cancelled because of requirement for child performance licenses being demanded by the council - shocking news, talk about pen-pushers taking over. Hope they can have a word with someone reasonable at the council and get this rubbish sorted before next year; kids are the main-stay of the Festival !
23.02.18 MH never cease to amaze me! Armed Man rehearsals are going so well. So well in fact it's getting a bit boring so I'm going to have to really pull the rest of 2018's music ahead. Last year I had to cut any idea of the close-harmony pieces I wanted to do at Christmas due to lack of time so, now's time to break them out. AND I' really want to do a couple of numbers from The Sound of Music (arguably the best musical of all time ...discuss..) for OGD so I'd better break out the dvd and get transcribing ....
02.01.18 Now Christmas is out of the way it's time to relax a tiny bit. 2018 is a big year with the long planned re-run of the Armed Man. We did this first in 2013 to pre-empt everyone else doing it before the 100yr anniversary of WW1 and now, to celebrate the end of the war the cycle is completed with us re-performing the work; probably with every other choir there is going this time ! Still, it means pulling OGD stuff in early and even the Christmas set - probably be learning the more complicated stuff for that before Easter just like last time !
03.02.17 - Whoopee....
well done everyone :
08.09.16 - so much for keeping this up to date !! Anyway, all back together now for the October concert but still finding it difficult to get mobile recording studio to confirm availability for 9th October. Then it's going to be a very quick run up to Christmas. I must just say a bit THANK-YOU to everyone of the members who admitted to a birthday in the last 12 months and was brave enough to endure our own special version of 'Happy Birthday' including, Ray, Jen, Andrea, Gaynor, John and all the rest ... especially the celebratory refreshments you brought along to rehearsal also !! I'll try and make the comments bit more personal in future.
19.01.16 - regularly updated once every twelve months or so!! The first sentence reflects the 21/12/14 comment below and our grateful thanks to The Oxenham Arms in South Zeal for splendid Christmas dinner. I really must record peoples birthdays on here more regularly as the current trend seems to be to bring a 'tipple' to rehearsal to celebrate, and then I could prompt them if they forget the following year! Anyway, mild panic just now as we have to finalise the spring Programme based on favourites voted for in December to do a recording in April (and possible concert) but to date .. not finalised, no accompanist booked, or venue or recording studio!!
21.12.14 - and .... relax! Christmas concerts and party over and now time for a bit of a rest (once we've bought the music and sorted all the folders for re-grouping in January....); Must remember that I was 'ambushed' by a 'coven'of sopranos at the Christmas party - don't cross 'em; really not worth it!!
.jpg){kind=link}
06.01.14 - Christmas done and dusted (Gidleigh is a nice venue) and now for 2014 DPAF entry; committee meeting tonight to check we have all the music copied for Wednesday.... (note to self - we are NEVER going to do a full christmas set in 5 weeks again!!)
13.11.13 - Blimey! we raised £650.00 ... that made it all worthwhile. Trouble is we're now 10 weeks rehearsal-time behind with the Christmas programme.... panic stations ...
03.11.13 - the Ockment Centre is fantasic to sing in; appreciative audience and great instrumentalists (Gavin, Roger, Laura, Erica and Will) all pulled together to provide a memorable event. Now for the 9th .....
23.10.13 Trumpet parts written out, the cellist and percussionist have been in touch now, what about the piccolo ....
16.10.13 -Happy Birthday Paul !! (and thanks for the cake!)
10.10.13 Great suggestion from top-sop Julia to raise funds for charity with our 'big' gigs so for 2013 we've decided to put the Jenkins to good use for Shelterbox; wonder what it will be for 2015? Technical rehearsal with Roger in the V/Hall went well last night and we've just about sorted the trumpet player thanks to Paul; now, i just need to hear back from the percussioninst and cello ... By the way, thanks for the cake Saffron ..and the cases of wine Jen !!
20.06.13 - AGM over and plenty of champers layed on to celebrate the forthcoming weddings of top alto Jen and top new-sop Saphron; best wishes for you big days girls (ladies?) ... now to get writing out cello and percussion parts ... some break!
16.06.13 - What a splendid performance for Open Gardens ! (omitting Happy Birthday, of course)... Now, with a sop and an alto getting married before the September season, next Wednesday's going to have a bit of a party atmosphere (partly to offset the AGM/'have your say' bit) but mostly to celebrate their best wishes and all that.
25.01.13 - nearly forgot :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN !!
25.01.13 -just been asked to take part in a fundraiser in March; hadn't intended doing anything before June .... one to think about ....
13.01.13 -Copies of The Armed Man have been hired and arrangements of pieces for our Tribute to the American Songbook in 2014 are under way so it's time to hit the ground running on Wednesday ... which movement shall we start on ?
07.12.12 - Of course everything's under control. An additional gig at Castle Drogo has dropped in (1pm, 17th) and Deborah, thank heavens, is able to direct for that one. Tickets are available now at The Store for our "Christmas Party" on 15th (Thanks to Wendy, Andrew, Rosemary and all on the party committee) then it's off to Okehampton on 19th for a private function before our main event at Belstone on 22nd ... followed by our own Christmas dinner party at the Tors ....
16.10.12 - Well, that's got the Ave's out of our system; performing and then recording them - cripes, that was hard work on Saturday - we only recorded 14 in the end. Now to get the editing under way and .... HERE COMES CHRISTMAS !!
27.03.12 - Phew ! just sorted the music for the autumn recording session.... 15 Ave Verum Corpuses (Corpi?) ... can't wait to break the news tomorrow night at rehearsal !
18.03.12 - After a quick rehearsal in the Victory Hall it was off to Exeter. 20 minutes of fretting and it's all over - and what a result ! Two 'Distinctions' a shield and a trophy. Lots of hard work paid off and you can see what the adjudicator had to say for our Mixed Choir entry here and our Chamber Choir entry here. I must drop them a line as we forgot to pick up our certificates !
16.03.12 - 14hrs to go before we get together tomorrow lunchtime for the last run through ... 15.5hr before we're on the ..... 15 minutes and it's all over ... commendation, distinction or honours? Goodness know they've worked hard enough at it. One bass down with a cold, one tenor out of action and one tenor missing in action ! Chances of being asked to take part in the Gala Concert - unimagineable. Still, we've sorted the 2013 programme with the main events being an easter concert of 'the American Songbook' which has perked Ron up no end (!) and , in the autumn, .... well, another "Big Concert" with the Armed Man ..... And that's all after our 2012 recording session in October.
17.02.12 - Just dug this out - our progress to date with DPAF entries ....
| Devon Performing Arts Festival entries : | ||||
| Year | Class | Choir | Score | |
| 2012 | 5895 | Mixed Voice Choir | Moor Harmony | ??? |
| 2012 | 5902 | Chamber Choir | Moor Harmony | ??? |
| 2010 | 5888 | Small Choir | Mellow D | 89 |
| 2010 | 5888 | Small Choir | Moor Harmony | 90 |
| 2010 | 5888 | Small Choir | St Thomas Gospel Choir | 91 |
| 2010 | 5902 | Chamber Choir | Moor Harmony | 86 |
| 2007 | 5888 | Carol Class | Bel Canto | 84 |
| 2007 | 5888 | Carol Class | Moor Harmony | 86 |
| 2007 | 5888 | Carol Class | Exeter Festival Chorus | 88 |
| 2007 | 5902 | Small Choir | Bel Canto | 84 |
| 2007 | 5902 | Small Choir | Moor Harmony | 86 |
| 2007 | 5902 | Small Choir | Ex Vox | 87 |
| 2005 | 5887 | Choral Societies | Moor Harmony | 87 |
| 2005 | 5887 | Choral Societies | Exeter Festival Chorus | 90 |
| 2005 | 5895 | Mixed Voice Choir | Bel Canto | 84 |
| 2005 | 5895 | Mixed Voice Choir | Moor Harmony | 86 |
| 2005 | 5895 | Mixed Voice Choir | Exeter Festival Chorus | 91 |
25.01.12 - Happy Birthday, Robin. Top bass and hubby of
(long-suffering*) wife (top-alto) Sue. *Long suffering refers to the fact it's Sue's house we invade to rehearse every week and not because of anything Robin has done !! Thanks for the bubbly and hope you had a great day.
06.01.12 - The deed is done ... DPAF here we come .... must let the choir know now too ! Honestly, less than 10 mins of music to learn in 10 weeks, how hard could it be ...... (By the way, thanks to Paul for stopping me slipping the Mozart Requiem into the church/chapel class !)
20.12.11 - We've had the party (thanks to Deborah and Andrew for sorting all that)(and the Seven Stars, South Tawton too) now time to relax .... after sorting the music for March!
10.12.11 - Well, after the triple birthday-singing for top sops Rosemary and Marge (and, 3rd, John, hubby of Rosemary) a couple of weeks ago, we had a subsequent happy birthday chorus for top-sop Fi (wife of MH member, Jeremy). Then our first Chrisitmas outing (at the Okehampton Edwardian Evening). Today saw our first full rendition in the drawing-room at Castle Drogo. Many thanks to all the N.T staff there who made us feel so welcome (and the mince pies and tea afer!); what a super venue (and what an interesting "few bars" in 'Let it Snow' ... thank heavens Roger (our absolutely fantastic pianist) could hear it too and, knew just how long it could last .... right chord ... right time!)
08.10.11 - Great fun at Spreyton last night. Surely they must have had the heating on full though!! Right, now for St Andrews and, hopefully, a few more sopranos ...... I wait to be impressed!
27,06.11 - "Phew what a scorcher!" for the Bbq! Great fun in spite of the sunburn and MH sang me a version of the Tallis we've just done with a new text by top bass/tenor/bass/tenor/whatever Paul. Thanks for that - sounded great outdoors too; very humbling. Right, now to sort Christmas; back in September.
24.06.11 - And ... Relax ........ We're off to the Bbq on Sunday and then breaking up until 31st August. Hope you all have a great summer. Make the most of it as the autumn is going to be busy, busy, busy !!
13.06.11 - Well, well, well ! Extracting birthdays from members is usually a bit like drawing teeth but, tonight .. Usually at the break and, after getting any announcements out of the way, we try and find out who's had a birthday in the last week so we can all join in a resounding chorus. Today we have top soprano Ania (Happy Birthday for today), Jane (top alto) (birthday with a '0' on) and Simon (hubby of Jane and, top-bass) in the last week and Helen (again one with a '0' on it and today), treasurer and top(part-time) alto (who we phoned up and sang down the phone !!) Many thanks for Jane and Simon for supplying some very nice 'fizz' for the end of the rehearsal. Gosh; Sunday is looming, the weather looks good and boy, do Moor Harmony deserve a break ! (better get their beauty-sleep as the autumn looks busy) ....
06.06.11 - What a great time, great venue, great cellist (Gavin) , great accompanist (Roger) and great audience, great 'sound-system' thanks to Sarah, great refreshments thanks to peter and Ian, teriffics solos ( thanks to Julia, Roger, Rob and Deborah) and all for ... some great music! Thanks too to Deborah's brother for designing the poster and for whoever managed to get us a mention in the Okehampton Times ... 20 weeks hard slog and fretting paid off I think ! Now, Open Gardens ....
03.06.11 - What a super venue the Ockment Hall is for singing; MH did themselves proud. Still, even with 50 posters dotted about I think the residents of Okehampton don't know where it is ! I was so happy to hear that those who made it really enjoyed the progremme ... now for the big one ... St Andrews .......
25.05.11 - a week to go ... must get the soloists together but so much for the woodwind ! Anyone know a flautist we can hire in a hurry ?
20.05.11 - Well, we're almost at the end of a very busy practice run and about to hit the lime-light. Phew! Then only a couple of weeks to open Gardens our Bbq and a well deserved rest! Still, a lot to do before then ...
08.03.11 - So, the Okement Hall, Okehampton and St Andrews, South Tawton it is then ... oboe, cello and flute now ... any volunteers?
09.02.11 - Well, it looks like we're going with the 1st and 4th of June for our concerts ... now to find accompanists, an oboe, a cello, a flute and a couple of venues ....
03.02.10 - Welcome back top Tenor James and top Sops Sarah, Marge and Julia ... at this rate we're going to have to hire more of the Rutter!!
10.01.10 - CONGRATULATIONS 'top alto'
CHLOE : on the arrival of little Isabel last week. (well done to Nick too!).
07.01.11 - Excellent, Tallis, Purcell and Rutter it is - and Exeter Library already have the Rutter Requiem ready for collection. What could possibly go wrong ...... ? See you all on Wednesday.
04.01.11 - Just about cracked the spring programme - just need some indication from the committee that it's a go-er ....... hint hint .....
19.12.10 - Well, we all had good fun at the Kings Arms anyway with our impromptu sing along through some of our Christmas music before our dinner - thanks to all who made it in through the snow to sing along for fun even if you weren't staying for the party afterwards and many thank to Deborah for, once again, organising the prize-giving. Merry Christmas everone and have a very Happy New Year.
18.12.10 - Hmm.... there are various phrases that come to mind describing weather that cancels a concert ... none of them very musical !
15.12.10 - Ah ..... that sinking feeling when, after sixteen weeks hard slog, you realise no-one thought to advertised the concert ........
13.12.10 - Well, wasn't that good fun ! And, thanks to the National Trust for the tea and cakes after.
06.12.10 - We're 'doing Drogo' this Saturday, 11th. In the library from 2.30pm ... not entirely sure we've all got 30's costumes but I'm sure one of the ladies will break out a boa !
25.11.10 - The 2010 Christmas programme, in the correct order, is now on the 'Programmes' tab.
02.09.10 -Right, Christmas selection is sorted so, now to REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE RE-GROUP NEXT WEDNESDAY !!
23.07.10 - One of our sopranos is moving away. Sheilah has been with us since day one and we wish her all the best in her new home. Thanks for everything Sheila, take care, all the best and keep in touch - love from Moor Harmony : hope you like the picture ...
