King’s Lynn Festival Chorus NEWSLETTER ♯6 DonationsfortheChorusatnoextraexpensetoyou!Aswe approach the climax of the season for giving, andyour fingers are busily tapping on keyboards orderingthose special gifts, please consider clicking onto yourfavourite site via https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/klfchorus/Registering and using this platform will help King’s LynnFestival Chorus raise funds every time you shop online,with over 4000 big name retailers signed up, includingArgos,JohnLewis,ASOS,andBooking.com.Collectively, these donations, whether they be small orlarge, will help usmaintain the standards that you haverightlycometoexpectfromus,aswellashelpingtokeepticket prices at a reasonable level as much as possible.Thankyouifyouarealreadyusingthisplatform.

Talking of fund raising, heartfelt thanks go to ourmemberswhohavetakenonsoenthusiasticallytheraisingof funds forour ‘biggig’nextApril:Bach’sSTMATTHEWPASSION(SMP).Somanymembers havemade huge efforts in organisingthemselves todosomuch.OurSMP fundhasbenefittedfrom ongoing regular fund-raising efforts such as cakemaking, sponsored slimming, raffles, copper coinscollections, books and greeting card sales and sale ofpreloved items. Plus we have seen huge ‘one-off’ fundraisingeffortssuchasTom’smarathonwalk,atombola,aconcert‘AroundtheHarp’,aCoffeeandCraftmorning,afunMusicQuiz,andevenParachuteJumping.Therehavealsobeenotherswhohavefinanciallydonatedand ‘sponsored’ specific items - likea2ndviolinist’sbowandotherdiverseobjects-tomakethefund-raisingfun.A huge thank you -we salute you and apologies ifanyonehasbeenleftoffthelistinadvertently.The fundstands inexcessof£6000at themoment. Butit’sbynomeansclosedtofurtherdonations!ByGraceNg

December 2019

OUR NEXT CONCERT

Christmas FantasiaSaturday21stDecember20194.30pmTheMinster,SaturdayMarketPlace,

King’sLynnIn everyone’s year, two kinds of

dates are fixed points: anniversaries (e.g birthdays) and Christmas!

Inthistimeofpoliticallyshiftingsandsanduncertainty,ChristmasDaystandsoutlikeasolid, secure beacon, a fixed point whichwecanallrelateto.Join us then, to celebrate and give thanksthatwe’ve survived the highs and lows ofthis turbulent year and look to the newyearwithrenewedhope.

Christmas Fantasia is a programme ofseasonal music and readings, somethingold, something contemporary. New tosome,comfortinglyfamiliartoothers.FromPalestrinatoJingleBellsthere’ssomethingforeveryone.Theperennialchoralfavourite‘FantasiaonChristmasCarols’ byKing’sLynn’sadoptedresident Ralph Vaughan Williams is acentrepiece around which seasonalreadingsofDickens,MadeleineL’Engleandothers are embellished by the singing ofpopular and familiar carols for all, to raisetheroofoftheMinster. Immerse yourselves in thesoundsofthesplendid Minster organ with its recentadditions of new pipes, put through itspacesbyourownBenHorden.Ohyes,don’tforgetthere’llbemulledwineand mince pies too, available during theinterval.

OurthanksgotoPennyMatkin,the‘go-to’person for this concert. Ring Penny on01553 672416 to buy tickets. £12 inadvance and £15 on the door. Childrenunder12free.

Thankyouforbeingonourmailinglist.Pleasebeassuredthatyourdetailsaresecurewithusandwillnotbegiventonorusedbythirdparties. Ifyourdetailsareincorrectoryounolongerwish to remain on our mailing list, please contact us via the websitewww.kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.uk

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HIGHLIGHTSOFSMPFUNDRAISINGQUIZNIGHTAdrianJohnsonwrites:King’sLynnFestivalChorusheldtheirfirstMusicQuizNightonSept18thattheEaglesGolfCentre,TilneyallSaints.Questionsweremainlyon50sand60spopularmusic.Theatmospherewasfriendlyyetcompetitive.Only6pointsseparatedtheteamsattheendofthequiz.All teams showed theirmusical knowledgewith theeventualwinning team, theFOURTOPS, scoring53pointsoutof60.TheywerepresentedwithatrophyprovidedbyDewhurstTrophies.Aneveningbuffetwasprovided, arafflewasdrawn,withproceedssharedbetweentheFestivalChorus’SMPFUNDandGuideDogsfortheBlind.Commentsabouttheeveningwerepositive,withaviewforfuturequizzesinthefuture.Mythanksgotoalltheparticipantsandallwhocontributedtosuchasuccessfulevening.Here’stothenextone……

PARACHUTEJUMPINGPennyMatkinwrites:I’vealwayswanted todoa tandemparachute jump, somyhusbandoffered togiftme that formy65thbirthday.Thiswasanopportunitytodosomefundraising,especiallyasKLFCareraisingmoneyfortheSMPfund.The jump tookplace inBecclesona cloudyMondaymorning.Wehad tobe thereat 8.30a.m., unsurewhetherthejumpwouldhappenastherewastorrentialrainallweekend.Aftera2-hourwait,(whichdidn’thelpnerves!)itwasallsystemsgo…Theplane climbed to12,000 feet, and strapped toa verynice youngman calledHal,we fell outof the

planetowardsahugepillowofclouds.The feelingwas incredible! Freefalling and apartfrom the noise of the wind, totally silent. Theplanewasaspotinthedistance.Wetwirledandturneduntil itwastimetodeploythebigparachute(atabout5,000feet)–we shotupbackintotheskyasaresult.NotsureifIenjoyedthatbitthough.However,wethenfloatedgentlybacktoearthwherewelandedsmoothly, albeit in a slightly undignified fashion,onourbottoms!Would I do it again? Perhaps not next week, butwhat an event to have had the opportunity toexperience!Soahuge ‘thankyou’ tohusbandTimfor fundingit,andtoeveryonewhosponsoredme.I’veraised£840todate. Theamazing generosityofeveryonestillastonishesme. Thefundswillbedivided between our SMP fund and CancerResearch.

MUSICAROUNDTHEHARPSueStewartwrites:A good crowd turned out on the afternoon of Saturday September 28th to listen to a truly upliftingselectionofmusicforharp,voiceandrecorders.TheharpistwasAlanHeathwho,withJennyVickers,sangfolksongsfrombothsidesofthePond, including SallyGardens,WalyWalyandScarboroughFair. Alanalso sang some fromhishome territory in theDeepSouth. The recorder group (JennyVickers, JohannaWillson and Charles Levien) played some arrangements of Spirituals, and some Elizabethan Dances.JohannasangaDutchFolkSong(Ikzouweleenswillenweten,bythelateDutchcomposerJulesdeCorte),withAlanimprovisingontheHarpandJennyandJohannasangaduetwithAlanontheharp.Theaudiencewasveryappreciativeandmostgenerousraisingover£400fortheStMatthewPassionFund,forwhichwesay-manythanks.

Penny enjoying her birthday treat.

OTHERNEWSWORKSHOPREHEARSALWITHPAULSMITH,VOCES8FOUNDERANDCEOOnasunnyeveninginSeptember,inStNicholas’ Chapel,weweretreatedtoanevening’sworkshopwithPAUL SMITH, co founder and current CEO of VOCES8 (whowould be joining us for the concert in earlyOctober.)ItwasaprivilegetogainaninsightintohowandwhyVOCES8aresorespectedamongtheirpeersandhavegainedsuchsuccessintheirindustry.There wasn’t enough time,obviously, to go througheverypieceofmusicwewouldbe singing in theconcert.However,whateverpieceweworkedonwithPaulwashoneduptoanother levelof finesseandawareness.

Sometimewasspentonthe5Spiritualsfrom‘AChildofourTime’byTippett, workingonensembleandinterpretiveaspectsthat,insomeplaces,broughtanewperceptiontoit.Bach’s ‘Singet dem Hern’ is achallenging2choirworkinwhichwe were encouraged to thinkorchestrallyasinBach’s baroqueorchestral sounds – trumpets,strings-likeaconcertogrosso. One conclusion drawn from thiswork, rightly or wrongly: thatBach perhaps wasn’t assympathetic to vocalists as hecouldhavebeen,bytreatingtheirvoices as instruments poweredonlybybreathing!

OurthankstoTomwhobroughtPaultous–anadvantagetobehadwhenthey’vebeenatUniversitytogether!GraceNg

CONCERTREVIEW-500YEARSOFCHORALCLASSICS,6thOCTOBERKLFCANDVOCES8EverychoirlikesagoodreviewandtheonefromTheLynnNewsreporterAndyTylerwasamoraleboosting,hip-hooraytypeofcritique.Herearesomeexcerpts:

“ConcertsgivenbytheKing’sLynnFestivalChorusarealwaysspecial,buttherecentcollaborationwiththeprestigious British VOCES8 vocal ensemble, surveying and celebrating 500 years of choral classics, wassomethingelse!……. The works were performed either by the Chorus alone, VOCES8 alone or a combination of both. Mostmemorable was a beautifully judged and moving performance of Allegri’s famous ‘Miserere’ and ‘FiveNegroSpirituals’fromTippett’schoralmasterpiece:‘AChildofOurTime’.BothworkswereperformedwithChorusandVOCES8inperfectharmony!………. The splendidmusical celebrations concludedwith ‘Yesterday’byTheBeatlesasamovingencoreand theconcertwasmentionedonBBCRadio3.”

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‘SINGFORSHELTER’ATTHECOLISEUMYodahGallowaywrites:

InourlastnewsletterIwroteaboutthenationalprojectthatKLFCandotherkeensingerswereinvolvedin.Theaimwastoraiseawarenessandhelpreducetheplightofthehomeless.AlexWoolfcomposedaveryspecialsongforthecharitySHELTERtitled“APlaceToCallHome”andwesangthistoanoutdooraudienceinKing’sLynninthesummer.Asaclimaxto thatendeavour, inOctober, someofourSing forSheltersingersgatheredwithover2000othersingersfromacrosstheUKinLondon’sColiseumtheatretomakearecordingofthatsong.

Wesangourheartsout,accompaniedbytheEnglish National Opera Orchestra and theENO Chorus.We were also joined by guestsoloists: Sir Bryn Terfel, Lesley GarrettandAliceCoote.Whatexcitementandwhataprivilegetobeinvolved with such a worthy cause. Ithoroughlyenjoyedthedaythatendedwithmeeting Alex in person, giving us theopportunity to thank him for all his efforts.We must also thank everyone who helpedKLFCSingforSheltersingerstoraise£405forShelter.Welldoneeveryone!The single “A Place to Call Home” will bereleasedon6Decemberandwillbeavailableto purchase and stream on all musicdistribution sites including Spotify, DeezerandAppleMusic.We are keeping our fingers crossed that itwillbeaChristmashit!

OURNEXTCONCERT

Christmas Fantasia Saturday21stDecember

EarlybirdticketsareavailableviaChorusmembersorbyringingPennyon01553672416.

Alternativelyemailyourrequeststosecretary@kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.uk.orvia

ourcontactpageatwww.kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.uk

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King’s Lynn Festival Chorus

Christmas Fantasia

Saturday 21st December 2019 4.30pm

King’s LynnMinster

Conductor: Tom Appleton Organist: Ben Horden

A Concert of festive music and readings with audience Carols and mulled wine.

Featuring Vaughan-Williams’ “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”

Tickets £12 available from 01553 672416 & choir members

or £15 on the door (doors open 4pm) Children under 12 free

@kl_festchorus www.kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.uk King’s Lynn Festival Chorus is a registered charity No 292455

COMINGIN2020

Bach’sSTMATTHEWPASSIONSaturdayApril4th2020StNicholas’Chapel

Oneofthebrightestjewelsinthecrownofthechoralrepertoire.Notalwaysperformedbyamateurgroupsbecauseoftheexpenseinvolvedwithdouble

orchestrasanddoublechoirs.TICKETSONSALEINDECEMBER

fromTheKingsLynnCornExchangeBoxOfficeon01553764864or

bookon-linehttps://www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/whats-on/

LOOKOUTFORTHEEARLYBIRDOFFERS!

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LASTBUTNOTLEAST…

WearealwayssadtoseepeopleleavetheChorusbutunderstandablyithappens-formanyreasons.Likewisewearealwaysdelightedtowelcomenewmembers.

Wethoughtwewouldadda‘helloandgoodbye’sectiontosayaverybigthankyoutooldandnewchorusmembersSTARTERSDiHilton,KellySouthby,NicolaHancock,PeterHancock,AlanLongcroft,HannahNorwood.LEAVERSGraceHume,TonyGlennWealsosadlyhadtosayafinalgoodbyetoavaluedandwellthoughtofchoirmemberandfriend,HelenLodgewhopassedawaythissummer.

Asexpected,therehavebeensomechangesontheKLFCcommitteesinceOctober’sAGM.SueStewartandHelenHerberthavesteppeddownfromtheirrolesassecretaryandlibrarianrespectively.TheybothgavemanyyearsofsupportanddedicationtotheChorusandweareverygratefulforeverythingtheydid. It’snotgoodbyethoughastheycontinuetosingwithuswithouttheorganisationalhassles.Wewelcometothe2019/2020committeeournewLibrarianJimMcGarrickaswellasJanWillsonandGinaHart.So the full line up for the 2019 / 2020 committee is now:VeronicaHutchby, Chairman;WendyHendrie,Secretary; JeanCombeer-McGarrick, Treasurer; JimMcGarrick, Librarian; YodahGalloway,ViceChairman;JaneWilson,MembershipSecretaryplusMikeWalker,GraceNg,PennyMatkin,JanWillsonandGinaHart.

NEWMEMBERSarealwayswelcomeandwhatbetterway to start theNewYear thana resolution to re-commit to a hobby that has lapsed perhaps, or to help improve on yourmental wellbeing by having acoupleofhoursof‘metime’.Join in with like-minded colleagues, with a common interest, learning from each other and from ourprofessionalsTomAppletonandBenHorden,exploringthehighwaysandbywaysofthechoralrepertoire.Itwouldhelpifyoucanfollowamusicscore(it’snotcompulsory)andkeepatune. Ourprofessionalsarealwaysonhandtohelpandassessourvoicestofindourbestrangeandtopointusintherightdirectionifweneedextrasinginglessons.It’sagreatwaytomakenewfriendstoo,especiallyifyouarefairlynewtothearea.

Rehearsals begin on Monday 6th January 2020 at Springwood High School at 7.15p.m, ending atapproximately9.40p.m.

Lookforwardthisnewtermtoeitherlearningoneofthegreat masterpiecesofthechoralrepertoire,orifyouarealreadyfamiliarwithit,exploringthefinerpointsofBACH’SST.MATTHEWPASSION.

Pleasecontactsecretary@kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.ukorvisitourwebsite

www.kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.ukandusethecontactspage.Alternatively,getintouchthroughFacebookorTwitter#kl_festchorus

SeeyouinJanuary.

KLFCNewsletter62019.Editor:YodahGalloway

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