- Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 5 (2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Tue, 16 Jul 2024Reply to Jos Gregson,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
SCBSG Website: www.bigsing.org
POST-CONCERT ROUND-UP
Dear Singer,
Sadly the concert is now over but it has left me with musical phrases running through my head which will take months to dissipate.
I am writing this listening to the 1962 Adrian Boult recording of the Hymn of Jesus with the BBC SO and Chorus, I think we were much better though the recording quality obviously does affect the Boult.
THANKS
My thanks of course to Adrian, without him the whole idea of the South Cotswold Big Sing Group would not function and his close ties with Gloucester Cathedral are enormously helpful, also his intimate knowledge of how to use the space to the best effect. He was, as ever, endlessly patient with the less experienced singers, our rehearsal conductors Chris and Steve did a fantastic job with giving the two choirs a good grounding in how the pieces worked, ably supported at the piano by Derek, Julian, Robin and Jonathan.
The Gloucester Cathedral choristers were quite superb and thanks to Nia for rehearsing them and to Helena for making sure all the scores came back, well done.
On the SCBSG side my thanks to Alison, my Vice-Chairman who manages to keep me well grounded when things start falling apart. David Joyce, our Concert Manager really has a thankless task in drawing up numerous layouts which are constantly having to be modified to suit singers individual problems or the sound that we make. Sadly David is standing down after managing 6 concerts for us but I am delighted that Trevor Bartlett of Wycliffe will take over the role. Mike Elcock also deserves special thanks for setting up the SCBSG website which is now working well after the odd hiccup which he has satisfactorily resolved. Our SCBSG Secretary Naomi was not singing in the concert unfortunately due to other commitments but has worked hard on making sure that all the agreements with the Festival are correctly worded and sorting out my sometimes confused drafts.
Thornbury Choral Society members have been particularly helpful including Margaret, our bus monitor, Mary, Annis, Lyn and the whole team who put out programmes before the concert.
Thanks to Wycliffe Choral Society for the loan of folders and to Rosemary for arranging that, also to Lyn for shifting several boxes of Thornbury’s folders.
The main thanks are due to all you singers who took part, coping with a demanding rehearsal schedule and managing to get to rehearsals. Thank you all so much.
Finally, my gratitude for a very generous gift given to me at our last rehearsal at St John’s Northgate, I will spend it wisely!
LOST PROPERTY
If anyone came away with a dark blue blazer with a red silk lining can they let me know. Thanks.
REVIEW
There was a review of the concert on Bachtrack which was very complimentary. It may be viewed at:- https://bachtrack.com/review-partington-holst-royal-liverpool-philharmonic-cheltenham-music-festival-gloucester-july-2024
NEXT CONCERT
The next concert will consist of the huge Berlioz Te Deum in the second half, this lasts nearly an hour. The first half consists of a Mass written jointly by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager called Messe des Pêcheurs de Villerville for women’s voices and the sublime Brahms Alto Rhapsody for men’s voices where we are hoping for a top mezzo soprano to take the solo. This concert will be on Saturday 5th July 2025 in Gloucester Cathedral and rehearsals will start on June 10th. I have worked out the rehearsal schedule but it needs confirming by Adrian and our rehearsal conductors Chris and Steven before it is posted on the website.
WORKSHOP
All being well with the Crypt School we plan to hold a Workshop on all three works there on Saturday 26th April 2025. In the morning Adrian will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager Mass in the main auditorium while a second conductor takes the men through the Brahms in the Drama Studio, we will then go through the Berlioz Te Deum either later in the morning or in the afternoon.
PHOTOGRAPHS
If anyone has photographs of the day that they are happy to have posted on the website could they send them to Mike Elcock, mdelcock@gmail.com
COMMENTS
Although these comments are largely addressed to the Chairman they do of course refer to all who were involved and helped to make the event a success.
- Still on a high this morning. It was great wasn't it. Fabulous bit of arranging Mr Chairman. I bow to you. Enjoy the rest of the festival. (LS)
- Congratulations on another brilliant success again! An excellent day! Well done! (AM)
- I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the incredible organisation you did for last night's performance. I think we all really enjoyed it and I hope it was up to Adrian's expectations. (AS)
- It was a fantastic experience from which I am still buzzing. Would you also pass my thanks to David and the rest of the team but especially Choir 2 members for their understanding during my first attempt at "managing" at a concert!! (TB)
- I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work, supported by your committee that ensured a really enjoyable and exciting singing experience last night, at Gloucester Cathedral.(HH)
- I know you have been properly and publicly thanked but I wanted to add an extra personal thank you.
- I can only begin to imagine the many hours, the background thought, planning and the commitment which went into enabling such a tremendously well organised event as last night’s wonderful Concert to take place. You have given a thrilling opportunity to so many people so a HUGE thank you.(AB)
- Congratulations on your success and organisation for last night's performance!!.
- Such a joyful concert - Gustav Holst at his absolute best! His truest masterpiece. You achieved an excellent concert for the festival. There were many other highlights. Poulenc's Gloria! It was so dramatic and the solo, Samantha Clarke has an amazing voice - her performance was very moving!
- Thank you too for all the hard work you put in with the helpful "Event calendar" with dates of rehearsals, the song library with track recordings; I found this helpful and the newsletters keeping everyone well informed.
- Adrian was so articulate, as I watched him, it helped me a great deal with the words and the timing. He deserves more recognition. I felt we all (including the orchestra & cathedral choir) deserved a standing ovation. (CT)
- Many congratulations on a wonderful concert on Friday, Jos. By a sheer fluke, I was in the Cathedral on Friday at lunchtime with my niece who is visiting from California. I saw that the SCCG concert was on that evening and asked her if she would like to go. She was delighted to have the opportunity to attend a concert in the cathedral and we managed to book two tickets in row D! We both thoroughly enjoyed the concert. Thank you! (CB)
- What a night! Absolutely fantastic performance by all and Adrian was magnificent in front of such a professional orchestra - not just in the performance itself, but also in the time-restricted rehearsal.
- Your own efforts didn’t go unnoticed neither. Your hard work and preparation is what makes these events successful and I’m sure has been appreciated by all involved. (PH)
- Thanks for all your hard work in making the whole event run so smoothly. I was fortunate to be placed right behind the orchestra and it was an awesome sound! I really enjoyed being part of the concert. (JD)
- A big thank you for all you did to make Friday's concert happen. I thought it went well as I hope you and Adrian did, and the audience clearly loved it. (CS)
- I thoroughly enjoyed singing with the choir. It was a really brilliant concert, and a great project to be a part of. (WR)
- Thank you so so much for giving us all the opportunity to sing this wonderful music in this wonderful place. (TS)
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
- Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 4 (2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Wed, 3 Jul 2024Reply to Jos Gregson,Dear Singer,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
CONCERT FINAL NOTICES WEEK 5
It is now coming up to concert week so I am sending out instructions for the final week‘s rehearsal and details of concert day.
NIGEL PERRIN
I am sure that those of you who have sung with us from the beginning when we did the Verdi Requiem in Tewkesbury Abbey in 2011 will be very sorry to hear that Nigel died last week at the young age of 76. Nigel was a great believer in the whole South Cotswold Big Sing Group project and gave unstintingly of his help in the first two concerts, before we moved to Gloucester Cathedral. He was a charismatic and exciting conductor and those of us lucky enough to sing with him learned a lot.
PART LEARNING
Reminder: Rehearsal website links can be found on our website here: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status. If you click on the relevant piece, you will find links to YouTube, Choralia, CyberBass, Learn Choral Music and John Fletcher Music where they are available. There are now more YouTube voice parts videos added for the Poulenc and Messiaen.
CONCERT FOLDERS
We will be using folders courtesy of Thornbury and Wycliffe Choral Societies. As there are several different colours involved in the scores we are singing from we are very keen to use folders to give a uniform appearance. Folders will be on your seats when you arrive.
WATER
If you feel that you need to take a bottle of water in to the concert please can you take as small a bottle as you can manage with and keep it out of sight, both when taking your seat and also while sitting down. It is essential to stay hydrated while we sing as we do not need any cases of heatstroke.
For the rehearsals on 11/7 and 12/7 we will not be having a juice break after an hour or so as this will mean dismounting the staging which takes time. Please bring any liquid refreshment that you require for those evening’s rehearsals. Non-alcoholic, of course!
PROGRAMMES
We have produced a 24 page programme with details of the orchestra and conductor, lists of the orchestra, singers and children’s choir members and most importantly a write-up on the works that we are performing together with the librettos where we are singing. At 5pm on the 12th after the afternoon rehearsal we would like a number of singers to help by putting a programme on each audience seat, also the soloist’s, singers and orchestra seats. The boxes of programmes will be stored in the Cathedral and the authorities are going to lend us a trolley to shift them.
PARLIAMENT SUITE
We will be using the Parliament Suite for changing in. As you enter the Cathedral Close through the main gate the entrance to the Parliament Suite is to the left and behind the West Door of the Cathedral. There are three rooms in the Suite. Ladies will use the room looking over the Close, the centre room will be used for serving juice and biscuits and the main room will be used by the men. We suggest that you bring a picnic or sandwiches to eat either in the cathedral grounds or in the Parliament Suite. The Parliament Suite will be open when you arrive for the afternoon rehearsal and will be locked by the Concert Manager while we rehearse and again while we perform.
The Comfy Pew by the entrance to the Cathedral Close will be remaining open in case you wish to book a meal, I imagine booking will be essential.
RADIO 3
I have sent in a request for our performance to be mentioned in the breakfast programme on Radio 3; They say they have many requests and cannot guarantee
SCORES
I am now assuming that everyone has the correct scores so will be reducing the number of spares that I carry with me. I still have a few copies of the Poulenc Salabert edition for sale and will have these with me.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
If you do not have these written in already please check the website where they are listed.
RETURNING SCORES
There will be boxes by the large pillars at the left and right of where we are singing on the staging. Please return all hired scores to these boxes as we leave the staging at the end of the concert. Please do not put the Messiaen score inside the larger scores, these had to be hired from five different sources and I do not want to lose any.
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale up to 9th July evening. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
£32 seats – EE3-6, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-8
£22 seats – JJ15-16, KK3-7
£15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking. Any tickets that I have not sold by 10th July will be returned to the Festival Box Office that morning.
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor (tel. 07753162920). Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
CONCERT DRESS
For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
For gentlemen – black dinner jacket with white shirt and black bow tie. We will be watching the weather forecast in concert week and if it will be very warm on concert day will dispense with jackets for the men. We will be changing in the Parliament Suite at the Cathedral and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.
TOILET
The Cheltenham Festival are bringing in a mobile toilet for this concert which will be parked opposite the south door. It will be installed from 10am on concert day.
WEEK 5
Tuesday 9th July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe College Chapel Bath Road, Stonehouse, GL10 2JQto be taken by Chris Swain. Please note that this is a change in venue from the last three rehearsals This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud on the A419. At the fourth roundabout take the first exit (B4008) and the official Wycliffe College car park is on your left. Alternatively you can turn left just after the lights before the roundabout and park in the school grounds, there are usually a lot of minibuses there. From the grounds you can see the spire of the chapel. If you park in the school car park walk in the same direction either along the road you have turned into or through the grounds, it is about 5 minutes walk.
Wednesday 10th July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 and the cathedral choristers so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.
Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.
Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if traveling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.
Thursday 11th July -? ? Rehearsal 7.30pm-10.00pm at Gloucester Cathedral GL1 2LX to be taken by Adrian Partington. Note the slightly extended time. This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2. It is vital that as many of you as possible attend as this is when our Concert Manager David Joyce will sort out the seating plan. If you cannot attend please ensure that a colleague in your voice part keeps a seat for you for concert day. Choir 1 will access the staging from the North transept/ conductor’s left and choir 2 from the south transept but can find their seats as they arrive. A seating plan will be displayed in each transept and seating blocks will be colour coded with the stage midline separating the two choirs also clearly marked. At the end of the rehearsal we will practice exiting/unloading the stage and on the Friday afternoon we will assemble in the transepts and practice a concert style entrance.
Friday 12th July – There is no morning orchestra only rehearsal. Our rehearsal is from 2pm-5pm with orchestra, please be in the Cathedral in your correct place by 1.45pm. The performance is at 7.30pm and will run to 9.30pm. Please be in the Cathedral for the performance by 7.15pm in the North transept if you are Choir 1, in the South Transept if you are Choir 2..
The Cathedral is well signposted from the various roads coming into the city. There is parking in the Westgate Street car park as well as in the Park Street/Hare Street car park used for the St John’s Northgate rehearsals.
STANDS AND SITS
At the start of the concert, stand and sit with the orchestral leader. Adrian will then stand and sit the choir as appropriate. There will be a brief break between the Messiaen and the Poulenc; Adrian will go off after the Messiaen and return with the Soprano soloist.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
- Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 3 (2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Wed, 26 Jun 2024Reply to Jos Gregson,Dear Singer,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
WEEK 4
Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
By the time you get this we will have had the two Choir 1 and Choir 2 rehearsals in Alveston and Stonehouse and also the first joint rehearsal in Cheltenham and should all be getting a feel for the three works that we are singing.
WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.
SCORES
I have a small stock of the Poulenc Salabert score at £16, the Holst is sold out. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium”? ? which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
At the rehearsal at Christ Church on June 22nd he changed one of his original revisions. In the Poulenc Gloria we will no longer change “Deus” to “fili” at two places after rehearsal mark 39, please revise your scores accordingly
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, K7-8, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
£32 seats – EE3-8, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-8
£22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
£15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking. Any tickets that I have not sold by 10th July will be returned to the Festival Box Office that morning.
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel apart from the 26th June when Mike’s Travel have had to hire in another operator as they are already booked up. Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
CONCERT DRESS
For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
For gentlemen – black dinner jacket with white shirt and black bow tie. We will be watching the weather forecast in concert week and if it will be very warm on concert day will dispense with jackets for the men. We will be changing in the Parliament Suite at the Cathedral and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.
TOILET
The Cheltenham Festival are bringing in a mobile toilet for this concert which will be parked opposite the south door. It will be installed from 10am on concert day.
WEEK 4
Tuesday 2nd July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.
Wednesday 3rd July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.
Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.
Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if traveling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.
Thursday 4th July -? ? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.
Saturday 6th July –Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington and Steven Kings. This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2 and as many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking. If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.
Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter.
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
- Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 2 (2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Wed, 19 Jun 2024Reply to Jos Gregson,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
SCBSG Website: bigsing.orgDear Singer,
WEEK 3
Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
By the time you get this we will have had the first Choir 1 and Choir 2 rehearsals in Alveston and Stonehouse and also the first joint rehearsal in Cheltenham and should all be getting a feel for the three works that we are singing.
WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
The Holst is written for double choir plus a children’s choir which adds to the complications. Choir 1 will consist of singers south of Stroud, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud, Stonehouse and north. There are a few singers who have not listed their choir membership, please use this as a guide.
For the purposes of the July performance:-
CHOIR 1 will? ? consist of singers from Bath Choral Society, Bristol Chamber Choir, BBC National Chorus of Wales,? ? Bristol Choral Society, Campden Chorus,? ? Gwent Bach Choral Society,? ? Henleaze Choral Society, Lucis Choir, Bath, Malmesbury Choral Society,? ? Oxford Bach Choir, Swindon Choral Society, Thornbury Choral Society, Tyndale Choral Society,?and Weston super-Mare Choral Society.
CHOIR 2 will consist of singers from? ? Cirencester Choral Society, Fairford Choral Society, Gloucester Choral Society,? ? Newent Choral Society, Philomusica, Stroud Choral Society, Tewkesbury Choral Society,? ? Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Worcester Festival Chorus and Wycliffe Choral Society.
WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.
SCORES
I have a small stock of the Holst Stainer and Bell score for sale at £8 (one only left) and also the Poulenc Salabert score at £16. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium” which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, K7-8, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
£32 seats – CC3-4, EE3-8, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-9
£22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
£15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/ booking
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel apart from the 26th June when Mike’s Travel have had to hire in another operator as they are already booked up. Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
WEEK 3
Tuesday 25th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.
Wednesday 26th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.
Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.
Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.
Thursday 27th June? ? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
Rehearsal website links can now be found on our website here: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status. If you click on the relevant piece, you will find links to YouTube, Choralia, CyberBass, Learn Choral Music and John Fletcher Music where they are available.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
- Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 1 (2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Tue, 28 May 2024Reply to Jos Gregson,Dear Singer,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
WEEKS 1-2
Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a weekly Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses etc. As there is only one rehearsal in week 1 this is included in this first sending.
WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
The Holst is written for double choir plus a children’s choir which adds to the complications. Choir 1 will consist of singers south of Stroud, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud, Stonehouse and north. There are a few singers who have not listed their choir membership, please use this as a guide.
For the purposes of the July performance:-
CHOIR 1 will consist of singers from Bristol Chamber Choir, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Bristol Choral Society, Campden Chorus, Gwent Bach Choral Society, Henleaze Choral Society, Lucis Choir, Bath, Malmesbury Choral Society, Oxford Bach Choir, Swindon Choral Society, Thornbury Choral Society, Tyndale Choral Society, and Weston super-Mare Choral Society.
CHOIR 2 will consist of singers from Cirencester Choral Society, Fairford Choral Society, Gloucester Choral Society, Newent Choral Society, Philomusica, Stroud Choral Society, Tewkesbury Choral Society, Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Worcester Festival Chorus and Wycliffe Choral Society.
WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.
SCORES
I have a small stock of the Holst Stainer and Bell score for sale at £8 and also the Poulenc Salabert score at £16. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium” which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation.
As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-10, D3-6,G11-16,H3-6, K5-8, M15-18, P5-10, R13-18
£32 seats – CC3-6, EE3-8,EE13-14, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-9
£22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
£15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Those struck through are sold and will be removed for future sendings.
Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
WEEK 1
Thursday 13th June rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.
Tuesday 18th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.
Thursday 20th June rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. For directions see 13th June
Saturday 22nd June – Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington and Steven Kings. This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2 and as many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.
Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking. If you are coming from south of Bristol this and the next Christ Church rehearsal on July 6th might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.
Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
- March 2024 Update (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
-
Date Posted: Sat, 2 Mar 2024
Reply to Jos Gregson,
18 Willoughby Close,
Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: josgregson@gmail.com
2nd March 2024
Dear Singer,
This is being sent to you as you have either sung with the South Cotswold Big Sing Group before or have signed up for our April Workshop on Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria with the possible intention of singing in the July performance of these works.
BOOKING FOR THE APRIL 20th WORKSHOP
Bookings may be made by accessing the South Cotswold Big Sing Group website at www.bigsing.org and downloading the booking form. If you are a member of Bristol, Gloucester, Stroud, Thornbury or Wycliffe Choral Societies and require scores these will be handed out by either Adrian Partington, Steven Kings or choir representatives. Otherwise they will be posted to you.
CRYPT SCHOOL APRIL 20th 2024 WORKSHOP
This will take place at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE and will run from 10am-4pm. We will be rehearsing both works as well as the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium”, see the note below.
Teas, coffees and biscuits will be served in the morning. Please bring your own lunch. There will be no afternoon tea break.
Timetable:-
9.30am: Arrival and registration
10am-11am First rehearsal
11am-11.30am Coffee break
11.30am-1.00pm second rehearsal
1.00pm -2.00pm lunch break. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH.
2.00pm-4.00pm third rehearsal
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CONCERT 2024
The date for this will be Friday July 12th 2024 in the evening. Usually our concerts are on a Saturday with our rehearsal to sort out the seating plan on the Friday. We have the Cathedral booked for Thursday July 11th 2024 so that we can do this. The performance will be accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Adrian Partington.
ADDITIONAL WORK
In addition to the Holst and the Poulenc the choir will sing Olivier Messiaen’s “O sacrum convivium”. Scores for the Messiaen will be handed out at the Workshop and there will be no additional charge for these scores. The orchestra will also play Vaughan Williams’ “Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus”.
SCORES
A reminder that you may keep your score/scores between the Workshop and the June/July rehearsals and performance with no charge for the second hiring. If you only do the performance there will be the normal charge of £2 per score, again with no charge for the Messiaen.
SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP CONCERT 2025
The Cheltenham Festival have asked us to move our planned June 2025 concert to July 2025 and make it part of the 2025 Cheltenham Music Festival. This will be on Saturday 5th July 2025. This is helpful as it means that we will be using the Cheltenham Festival’s publicity and ticketing facilities.
This concert will be accompanied by the British Sinfonietta and conducted by Adrian Partington.
The full programme will be as follows:-
Messe des p?cheurs de Villerville by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager – for women’s voices.
Alto Rhapsody by Johannes Brahms for men’s voices.
Te Deum by Hector Berlioz.
There is a full rehearsal schedule on the website, Choir 1 comprises singers south of Stroud and will rehearse in Alveston, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud and north and will rehearse in Stonehouse. Joint rehearsals for both choirs are either at The Crypt School, Gloucester, Christ Church, Cheltenham, St John’s Northgate, Gloucester or in Gloucester Cathedral.
BUS
There will be a bus from Thornbury to Gloucester for the Workshop on 20th April. This will leave from outside Aldi at 08.45 and return from The Crypt School at 16.15. Tickets will cost £15 and can be obtained from Jos Gregson (email jos@josgregson@gmail.com, tel. 01454-411652)
SINGING NUMBERS
Choir numbers will be limited to 150 by the organisers so as to comfortably accommodate the choir. The Holst is written for three choirs, the third choir will consist of Gloucester Cathedral choristers and these will be seated separately. There will be a small group of six lay clerks who will be accommodated among the main choirs so that we will only have space for a maximum of 144 singers.
WEBSITE
The new website is now up and running, the address is www.bigsing.org. There have been a few minor teething problems but Mike Elcock has worked very hard over the summer and autumn to integrate the old database and we now have the system running to Mike’s satisfaction. The website is always kept up to date, so please refer to it for the latest news and events.
Jos Gregson
Chairman South Cotswold Big Sing Group
www.bigsing.org
Please do not reply to this email. If you want to unsubscribe from our emails, please email webmaster@bigsing.org.
- Chorus Notes for 2024 (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing)
-
Date Posted: Wed, 3 Jan 2024
Adrian Partington has made a number of adjustments to the scores of Holst's Hymn of Jesus, Poulenc's Gloria and Messiaen's "O sacrum convivium". for our July Cheltenham Festival concert
These are attached. Please pencil those relevant to your voice part into your score (apart from the Messiaen unless you have your own copy of the score). Messiaen scores will be handed out at check-in on Workshop day on 20th April.Attachment: 
- October 2023 Newsletter (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
-
Date Posted: Wed, 4 Oct 2023
Dear Singer
Welcome to the new South Cotswold Big Sing Group website. Our Webmaster Mike Elcock has worked very hard over the summer months to set this up in conjunction with Making Music and all future group email communications about Workshops, Big Sings etc. will come through this website.
The website address is https://www.bigsing.org and you are invited to look over it and make helpful suggestions or comments. It is very new and Mike can add extra features according to requirements and also adjust any entries where necessary.
Our next event is a Workshop on Saturday 20th April 2024 at The Crypt School in Gloucester where Adrian Partington will introduce us to Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria which we will be performing in Gloucester Cathedral on behalf of the Cheltenham Music Festival on 12th July 2024. Rehearsals for the performance start on 13th June in Alveston and 18th June in Wycliffe.
Enjoy the new site, the committee will be making every effort to publish all relevant information with timings, dates etc. for relevant events.
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
www.bigsing.org
Tel: 01454-411652
email: jos@josgregson.plus.com
4 October 2023
PS Please let us know if you wish to be taken off our mailing list.
- July 2023 Newsletter (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
-
Date Posted: Thu, 6 Jul 2023
UPDATE JULY 2023Reply to Jos Gregson
18 Willoughby Close,Alveston,
Bristol BS35 3RW
Tel: 01454-411652
Email: jos@josgregson.plus.com
6th July 2023
Dear Singer
I am now in a position to give a date for our July 2024 Cheltenham Festival concert and more detail on our own June 2025 concert.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CONCERT 2024
The date for this will be Friday July 12th 2024 in the evening. Usually our concerts are on a Saturday with our rehearsal to sort out the seating plan on the Friday. I have ensured we have the Cathedral booked for Thursday July 11th 2024 so that we can do this.
We will be performing Holst’s “The Hymn of Jesus” and Poulenc’s “Gloria”.
SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP CONCERT 2025
As the Cheltenham Festival were not happy with our suggestion of the Berlioz Te Deum for their 2024 we will be putting it on in Gloucester Cathedral ourselves on Saturday 21st June 2025.
The full programme will be as follows:-
Messe des Pêcheurs de Villerville by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager – for women’s voices.
Alto Rhapsody by Johannes Brahms for men’s voices.
Te Deum by Hector Berlioz.
NEW SECRETARY FOR SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP
Rosemary Robinson has now stood down from the office at her request. Our new Secretary will be Naomi Buckler and we welcome her to the position. We are still looking for a Concert Manager.
The Committee would very much like to thank Rosemary for her years of sterling service, while also acting as the Wycliffe liaison.
WEBSITE
Our Website Manager Mike Elcock will be changing over the website from the one currently in use. The existing website was taken over many years ago from the one produced by John Hicks of Tyndale Choral Society. The existing website uses Serif WebPlus software which is now no longer supported and is outdated. The new website will use software supplied by Making Music (the Making Music Platform) which is specifically written for music groups and incorporates modern functionality. It is already used by several local choirs. It will combine the existing website and also the current mailing list database also supplied by John Hicks. We have only just sent payment and there is a lot of work in the changeover so it will probably be 2-3 months before we can make the switch.
If you wish to access the current website it is at SCCG.info, the new website will have a slightly different address.
Jos Gregson
Chairman South Cotswold Big Sing Group
