All posts by Chris K

Fwd: Thanks from Lin and Chris

Lins Emails
Good morning to you all,

I enclose an email I have received from Lin regarding the card and gift voucher that we gave to her last week.
Regards
Eric

Hi All
On behalf of Chris and myself we would like to Thank You for your very apt card with kind words and the voucher for the Mayflower Theatre.
Apologies for my reaction on Thursday but it was a complete surprise as I was not expecting anything.  I was very happy with the lovely speech from Tom and the Card and Flowers at the Summer Spectacular.
It was very kind of you all and a perfect choice of gift.  We love going to the Theatre but do not go enough so this will give us a perfect excuse for a lovely night out.
As I said in my last Chairman Report I have enjoyed my time on the Committee and it will be hard for me to adapt to not being totally involved, but I will still enjoy singing with the New Music Makers with so many friends that I have made over the many years. Chris is looking forward to a bit more freedom and not being tied to the NMM calendar so much.  
Thanks again
Lin and Chris xx

Message

Lins Emails
Good evening, and sorry for the lateness of this email, but I am suffering from the effects of a Covid Booster Jab I had on Tuesday lunchtime.
We are hoping to have sectionals this week. We will start off together as usual for the warmups, and then Chris will take the men, I will take the women with Hilary on piano.

Here’s the order:

Jingle-Bell Rock
Still, Still, Still – women learning German; men checking pitches
Away in a Manger – new version
This Christmas
Grown-up Christmas List
Follow the Star – men check the running bass line
Last Christmas
The Little Drummer Boy
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Sing We Now
Do You Hear what I Hear

Maureen Pay has requested that if you send in the form for your costumes electronically, can you send them to her, and not Eunice.  Her email address is: maureenpay@yahoo.co.uk.

We still need prizes for the Beetle Drive/Quiz evening on Saturday, so if you have any, can you bring them tomorrow night.

Also, we have had a request for the Local Vocals for Wednesday, 19th October, at 2pm, at the Snowdrop Place, Woodhouse Lane, Hedge End, singing for 3/4hr. However, they require us to do a negative test before we arrive to prove that we are negative, and I know that some of you may not have any lateral Flow Tests and you will have to purchase them from your local Pharmacy.  I will be mentioning this tomorrow night to see if we have enough to make it worth going.

Well, that’s all for now, and I am off to bed.

See you tomorrow.

Eric

This Week’s Rehearsal

Lins Emails
Hi there,
The plan this week is to have sectionals. We will start together for warm ups and then divide with men with Chris and women with Lillian.

Here is the order of songs:

THIS CHRISTMAS
GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST
FOLLOW THE STAR
LAST CHRISTMAS
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
TIDINGS OF COMFORT
SING WE NOW
CAROL OF THE BELLS
JINGLE BELL ROCK
DO YOU HEAR
STILL, STILL, STILL – check notes

If anyone was not at last week’s rehearsal, then your music will be waiting for you at the hall.

Can I remind you all about the Beetle Drive/Quiz Evening that we are holding on the 1st October, at the Hedge End Village Hall. There will be a list for you to put your names down and to order your Fish & Chips etc.

Regards

Eric

Fwd: Christmas music – an update

Lins Emails
Good Morning all,

I enclose an email from Tony Jardine regarding the music.
Regards
Eric

_______________________________________________________________________________
 
Hello all,
Good news!  The rest of the new music for this season has now arrived.  It will be in your music packs available at rehearsal from tomorrow night.  So you’ll now have:
  • Carol of the Bells
  • Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • Follow The Star (only if I held it on your behalf in store – otherwise please print at home as previously advised)
  • Grown Up Christmas List (arr. Mac Huff) (new for 2022)
  • Jingle-Bell Rock
  • Last Christmas (arr. Greg Gilpin) (new for 2022)
  • Sing We Now of Christmas
  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  • This Christmas (arr. Paul Langford) (new for 2022)
·        Tidings of Comfort and Joy (arr. Audrey Snyder) (new for 2022)
White Winter Hymnal (arr. Alan Billingsly) is for a small group (up to 12).  I’ll issue it when it’s been decided who will be singing in the group.
The remaining carols/songs, except one, will be from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’.  I’ve already given you details about the book.  The exception, as previously advised, is that we’re singing an alternative version of ‘Away In A Manger’.  I’ve attached a PDF of that for you to print at home.
Best wishes
Tony
 
 
 

pdf icon Away-in-a-Manger-2022.pdf

Thursday’s Rehearsal

Lins Emails
Good afternoon,

Firstly, I am sorry that we gave you such short notice about the cancellation of last week’s rehearsal, but under the circumstances, we thought it was for the best, and our apologies to those you did not see the email or the message on the WhatsApp group about the cancellation and turned up, only to be told that the rehearsal had ben cancelled.  Thanks to Sarah for being there and dealing with you all.
This week we are back to normal and Tony Jardine is arranging for the Christmas music to be available Thursday evening so we get a start on rehearsing for our Christmas Concerts.
We will be attempting to sing the following songs, so you will at least be able to hear what they sound like as they are all on the One Drive.
Sing We Now of Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
Carol of the Bells
Follow the Star
Jingle Bell Rock
Do You Hear
This Christmas 
Still, Still, Still – in your 100 Carol Book
White Winter Hymnal

Following the death of the Queen, the Committee has agreed that we will hold a minutes silence at the end of the rehearsal, followed by the singing of “You Raise Me Up”, so can you make sure you bring your copy of the music for that song.

As I have said in my email last week, we will be holding a Beetle Drive/Quiz Evening on Saturday, 1st October, at the Hedge End Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.  You will need to bring your own drinks, and you will be able to order either Fish & Chips, Sausage & Chips or Fishcake & Chips, and we will have the cost for these ready for Thursday Evening, together with a list so you can put your name down for you are going to attend.  As we have done in the past, can you pay for your food via the choir’s bank account, with the reference of “Beetle” so Sharon will know what the payment is for..  There will be a charge of £5.00 a head to cover our costs for the evening, and of course there will be a raffle, and we are looking for the donation of prizes for the raffle, as per usual.

We also need to know if you are available for singing with the Local Vocals, and if you are available for the various other concerts that we have been asked to do in the run up to Christmas.

Lastly, can I remind you, if you haven’t done already, that the subs were increased from £14 to £16 per month, as from the 1st September, and if your Standing order has already gone through for this month, can you make sure that you change your order ready for October and then make a separate payment to our account of £2 to cover the difference for September.

Well, that’s all for now and I look forwarding to seeing you on Thursday.

Regards

Eric

Fwd: New Music Makers Christmas Music – further information

Lins Emails
Here is a message from our Music Librarian regarding the music for tonight.

Regards
Eric

Hello all,
You’ll receive your Christmas music pack this evening containing:
  • Carol of the Bells
  • Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • Follow The Star (only if I held it on your behalf in store – otherwise please print at home as previously advised)
  • Jingle-Bell Rock
  • Sing We Now of Christmas
  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  • This Christmas (arr. Paul Langford) (new for 2022)

Your pack is in a plastic wallet marked with your choir number and your name.  As is usual with Christmas music, I’ll collect everything in again early in the new year. I’d be grateful if you could return it if at all possible in its wallet please. It helps to keep our costs down.
Other new pieces for 2022: You should have noticed other pieces mentioned in the recent newsletter.  These are on order but supply times a little extended at the moment.  These pieces will be issued to you as soon as they arrive and have been “library processed” by me. These are:
  • Tidings of Comfort and Joy (arr. Audrey Snyder)
  • Last Christmas (arr. Greg Gilpin)
·        Grown Up Christmas List (arr. Mac Huff)
Your Music Committee has also chosen one other new piece, White Winter Hymnal (arr. Alan Billingsly). This will be sung by a small group (up to 12).  That music has been received but I’ll only it after Lilian and Chris have decided who will sing in that group.
 
Best wishes
 
Tony
 
 
 

Subscriptions

Lins Emails
Can I remind you that you need to change your Standing Orders for the payment of the monthly subscription to the choir.

The subs were increased as from the 1st September, from £14 to £16 per month, and if you did not make the change in time before you standing order went out, could you send a separate payment for the difference, quoting “Subs” as a reference.
Many thanks.
Eric

Fwd: Christmas Music 2022 – a note from your music librarian

Lins Emails
Good morning,

I enclose a copy of an email I have received from tony Jardine, our Music Librarian, which I hope is self explanatory.

Regards

Eric

 
Hello everyone,
Your music for this coming Christmas season will be available (apart from new pieces still to arrive from the suppliers) at the first rehearsal this week.  If you are not going to be there this week, you will be able to collect your pack in subsequent weeks. If you’re a regular “Zoomer”, feel free to arrange for someone to collect your music on your behalf. There are a couple of points you should note please.   
Follow The Star is available for members to print at home themselves.  Some members chose to keep their copies safe in the library with the rest of their music when they returned it after the last Christmas season. If that was the case, your copy will be in your music pack this week.  However, many chose not to do this. Therefore, members with the following library numbers should print their own copy again unless they already have one at home ready:
1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 49, 55, 56, 57.
A PDF is attached for your convenience to use for printing out.  Alternatively, you can access the PDF in the members’ area of the website.
Carols from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’:  This is the one set of music that we do ask members to buy themselves.  I hold a few spare copies in the library that I can loan out temporarily as required, usually to tidy over new members until they can get their own copy.  In terms of purchase**, there are either paperback or spiral bound versions available at, for example, Amazon or Musicroom.com.  Don’t forget to use the easyfundraising portal should you shop at either of these retailers.
** The collection is edited and arranged by David Willcocks and John Rutter, published by Oxford University Press. ISBN 9 780193 532274 (paperback); ISBN 9 780193 355798 (spiral bound)
Away in a Manger:  Contrary to earlier advice we will not be singing ‘Away In A Manger’ from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’.  We will use another version, still being finally decided.  I’ll make whatever is chosen available to everyone as soon as I can after that decision.
Best wishes
Tony

pdf icon Follow-The-Star.pdf

New Music Makers Newsletter

Lins Emails
Hi there,

Well, I hope you have all enjoyed the lovely summer we have had, and managed to get away somewhere nice.
Most of you will know that Lin stepped down as Chairman of the choir, and I was duly elected to take her place.  I know that that is going to be a hard act to follow, so you must bear with me until I get my feet under the table.  Lin and Chris dedicated a lot their time and effort to the choir, which we are truly grateful for, and we wish them well as they travel in their motor home across the country and behind, but we are happy that Lin will still remain a member of the choir.
We now have a plan for the Autumn Season.  The Music Committee have met and have agreed the following for our Christmas Concerts:-
Carried Forward from Last Year

Carol of the Bells
Do you Hear What I Hear
Follow the Star
Jingle Bell Rock
Little Drummer Boy
Sing We Now of Christmas
Still, Still, Still
The Most wonderful Time of the Year
From the 100 Carol Book

Wexford Carol (No. 21)
Hark the Herald Angles Sing (No. 23)
Away in a Manger (No. 13)
O Come All Ye Faithful (No. 54)
Once in Royal David city (No. 61)
New

Grown Up Christmas List
Last Christmas
This Christmas
White Winter Hymnal
Tidings of Comfort and Joy (small number)
We are in the process of purchasing the new music, and once we have it, Jerry will put it on the One Drive so that you can practice.
We will be starting back on Thursday, 8th September, and the following four weeks, we will be doing Sectionals.
Lillian will be back, and Chris will be conducting four of the songs in the concerts.
We have had a number of requests for us to sing at various functions in the lead up to Christmas, so I give below a list of dates:
26th November – Hedge End Methodist Church – 7.30pm
1st December – Hedge End Macular Society, at Hedge End URC – 1.30pm – Festive refreshments provided
10th December – Christmas Concerts at Hedge End Village Hall – performances at 2.30 and 7.00pm.
13th December – Halo Club at KCC – afternoon – considering wearing Victorian costumes
17th December – Carol Concert at Royal Victoria Country Park – time to be confirmed
21st December – Fareham Towns Women Guild – St Johns Church, Fareham – 2.15pm
Can you let me know if you are available for any of the above.
Now that Chris Kellaway has stepped down from his role Audio Technician at our concerts, we are looking for help in this matter, so if you know of anyone who will be willing to help, then please let me know.
We will also be holding a Beetle Drive/Quiz Night on the 1st October, at Hedge End Village Hall, at 7.30pm.  There will be refreshments provided, but you will need to bring your own drinks.  We are hoping to provide a Ploughmans, and once we have priced up the ingredients, we will let you know the cost of a ticket, but please put the date into your diary.
We have also been looking at resurrecting the Local Vocals, and we are contacting the various Nursing Homes etc to see what the situation is regarding restrictions, but it would be helpful if you could let me know how many would be willing to come and sing, if we are allowed back into the homes.
At the AGM held at the end of July, it was agreed that we would increase the Members Subscriptions from £14 per month to £16, starting in September, so I am requesting that you all change the Standing Order that you pay the choir as soon as possible.
The last thing that I have is to remind you that if you are feeling unwell, please do not attend the rehearsals, and you can join in via Zoom, which we will broadcast each week, as we have done for the past two years.
Well, that’s all for now, and sorry that it has been a long email, but we have had a lot to get through during the Summer holidays.
See you all next week.
Eric