It’s just two years since I joined the choir
But we have not sung properly together for going on ten months now.
I am missing it so.
When the choir “ got” a song, and when I say “ got” I mean when we nailed it, Jamie our 1940’s RAF moustached choir master would often encourage us to to leave the circle in which we sing to experience the harmonies from another perspective .
“ Walk around and listen” he would say and although I often find physical movement within choir embarrassing , when I finally did so, I was always amazed by how beautiful we could sound
Just thirty people , most of us with no experience in music.
All singing quite beautifully together
I’m finding Tuesday zoom choir meetings somewhat difficult. Singing alone in the kitchen, to a prerecorded track isn’t the same as choir and again my natural ability to become easily embarrassed can take over from the raw confidence singing within a group can give you.
I miss the solidarity of being part of a whole.
I miss the psychological boost of endorphins when my natural shyness starts to disappear in melody
Does that make sense?
I miss those voices around me.
I miss being enveloped in the magic of the noise we can make
I miss those acoustics of the village hall that makes us sound so much better than we are
This song, Baba Yetu is the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili
I would love for us to sing it when we meet up, again, properly.
I agree with you John. Shamefully I will admit to ‘giving up’ on my choir once it went online. The notion (and the act )of singing alone in my lounge room, watching our conductor and listening to the recorded backing seemed artificial and in practice was horrendous Nobody seemed ‘natural’ there wasn’t that sense of ‘one’.
ReplyDeleteSo I just stopped tuning in on a Wednesday evening. And yes I miss it.....very much
It must be hard to sing alone in a kitchen. I would probably give up.
ReplyDeleteI will never give up choir but zoomi almost have
DeleteYes, that's what I meant
DeleteYesterday on You Tube I watched Annie Lennox with a choir sing Dido's Lament. It was absolutely beautiful, think you would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that John. Have you tried wearing headphones so you hear the music but much less of yourself? That might help - although nothing helps with the sense of isolation does it. (( hugs ))
ReplyDeleteYes, I can understand, too. I belong to a harp group who can't meet up indoors, but some or us are going to take the harps up onto a local hill to play carols, next Wednesday...hope it doesn't rain...or snow! Keep your group solidarity going however you can; walk up the Gop in socially distanced groups?
ReplyDeleteThat would killl off a few if the older members
DeleteI love the African inate sense of rhythm John - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWish I possessed it pat
DeleteAs a musician, yes, I understand. When the weather was warmer I used to take my banjo out in to the garden to perform. I was a bit worried but the neighbours insisted they enjoyed it! One is selling up, though. I warned them not to tell anyone looking round that they're neighbour played the banjo.
ReplyDeleteWe met and sang outside which wasn’t the same either.a, OST touching shoulders connects you
DeleteGary Barlow on the radio this morning said to make music without people close by is difficult and it does not flow, so you are in good company with your views.
ReplyDeleteMe and Gaza eh?
DeleteOh John how I agree and commiserate with you and others who echo your feelings. I have struggled to enjoy the zoom singing. It is good to see the faces but not hearing their voices drains all the pleasure from singing. I am trying to continue just to support the choir but our attempt at carols had me in tears. The whole point of a choir is to sing together.
ReplyDeleteIn January, via Zoom, we will start to rehearse Durufle's Requiem - gorgeous but fiendishly difficult, which we've never sung before. I cannot imagine why our director chose it and despair.
Has your choir sung with unmuted microphones? If so, is it a hopeless cacophony?
In the vast nave of Exeter Cathedral we could distance but it is too expensive to hire.
On a more positive note I'm also a Rambler. We can meet outside so are planning a Carol Walk over Dartmoor - praying for good weather!
I think we will all feel like new boys on the first day back
DeleteThe 'Swahili' is very musical in itself. Lovely song.
ReplyDeleteAfrican songs are very lilting
DeleteMy favourite national anthem since I heard it for the first time has always been South Africa's 'Nkosi Sikele', music composed by black South African Enoch Sontonga who died in 1905 at the tragically young age of 32. It's so simple yet so incredibly powerful, it never fails to make my eyes mist up - or more.
DeleteI can understand how a Zoom experience would fall short. Hopefully we're all on our way to being reunited!
ReplyDeleteYes.the physicality is lacking
DeleteIt does make perfect sense. I think part of the pleasure of a choir is to join with others in harmony. Zoom choir is kind of like singing along to a film, I would think.
ReplyDeleteOr having sex with a condom on
DeleteOur lovely Cornish choir, Loveny MVC, used to sing an African trilogy which included the stirring African National Anthem. Goosebumps all over whether being with them in an ancient stone church or a great hall. As an ardent follower, I was word perfect in all those African songs (but only mimed them so as not to spoil people's enjoyment!)
ReplyDeleteYes we sing that too
DeleteThat was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
The lead singer is a dish
DeleteI can't imagine how difficult it must be to 'give it your all' as part of the choir whilst standing alone in your kitchen. I do hope you can all get back together again early-ish in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn’t really a moan just a sense of longing
DeleteI know, I got that 🤗
DeletePerhaps you should all zoom from the bath or shower?
ReplyDeleteOr toilet?
Deletejust beautiful! have you ever listened to missa luba? it's the latin mass sung in congolese.
ReplyDeleteNow there’s a thought
DeleteThis experience could result in a deeper understanding of the psychology of group activities, there is something deep in the group dynamics. We do things in functional groups, that we would we not naturally do solo, how do we get the same effect in a virtual group?
ReplyDeleteIt makes perfect sense. One of the things I miss most about living in NC are the jam sessions - which obviously are not being held right now - at music stores and coffee shops where local musicians would get together and play, anywhere from 3 to 30, all skill levels welcome. There is nothing like making music together.
ReplyDeleteCompletely understand missing that moment when your voice blends in perfect (and sometimes imperfect) harmony that takes your own voice to a better place. Just looking at the faces of the Angel Choir in the video reminds one of the joy of communal singing.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Cadogan Hall is a reminder of all the wonderful music I've heard there. I've always scheduled my visits over the Pond to include at least one trip there and one to Wigmore Hall.
Wishing that you may soon safely lift your voice in song with others in the village hall.
I love singing in a choir. The drawback for me is when a music director's ambition exceeds his singers' abilities. Then it is nothing but frustrating. Sad. And that's when it stops being an adventure and becomes a bit of a slog. I do miss that sense of community, though. And I can see why you miss singing with your choir.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think we are in this group, well I bloodyvwell hope not
DeleteSinging alone in the kitchen may not be the same, but I find the bathroom usually offers superior acoustics. Perhaps try the next Zoom meeting from the tub?
ReplyDeleteTHAT WOULD BE FAB!
Deletehopefully next year will be better for all of us. and we can join in our fave activities then.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyous song you shared! Thanks for the morning smile! Anticipate the fun of singing together again!
ReplyDeleteYou can’t help but smile when you sing this
Deletehttps://enchantmentathamilton.org/20200601ForTheLongestTime.mp4
ReplyDeletejust heard this today - (how timely)
Keep your chin up. Love you and your musings.
Let’s all keep our chins up x
DeleteI have suddenly started missing family in a deep way. I’m thinking the dark nights and seasonal memories are giving this feeling a boost.
ReplyDeleteWould it help your zoom choir meetings if you sang to a soundtrack of voices...like singing in the car to a cd of a favorite song?
This choir made me happy with its tempo. Very beautiful voices too. Thank you.
We are the last leg of the awful year, that’s why it’s hard me thinks xx
DeleteWe are getting there
I wonder if 6 of you could sing safely in your field John x
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you are so sad, John. I'm alone here with my doggy; it is cold and after the snowstorm, quite icy out, so we are homebound. Lucky for me I do not sing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure things will improve in the new year or new future; I think we may have to learn to find joy in what we have left of our former worlds/ lives.
lizzy x
I’m not sad, just missing things x
DeleteSo sorry you're missing your choir. I can understand how a zoom choir doesn't quite hit the mark. We all need to physically be with and connect with others. One day soon I hope. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious song and I appreciate your posting it for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm a petite woman and for whatever reason, was shy when I was growing up. When I went away from home to nursing school, one of our early instructors told us that there was no place in nursing for being shy. You had to have a manner that assured patients and others that you had the situation under control and that they could ask you a question about anything without you fainting or turning purple. In the decades since, I talk to folks in the grocery store and everywhere else. No biggie.
You're a wonderful person, John, with no reason to be shy or embarrassed. You're a unique individual (just like everybody else) so sing out. Even in your kitchen, you're an essential part of the whole.
Perhaps the choir needs to "meet", stay 6' apart, and sing together, put masks on, and hug?
Big hugs!
I get that you miss it. I miss going to church in person. Zoom church service is not the same.
ReplyDeleteThere is little in life that lifts my spirit like song in communion with others. I hear you, brother John. Sing when you can, as you can. Be well.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
Www.Idleeyesandadormy.Com
Sassy ear welcome x
DeleteMissing the camaraderie, friendship and physically being in the same space all together singing is traditional choir. Zoom choir clearly is no substitute.
ReplyDeleteChoirs are so uplifting I'm now hooked on listening to them online, thanks for posting this wonderful song a first for me and it led me to the Angel City chorale and so it goes it becomes a chain of good music.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will soon be able to sing in the choir John.
I was in a musical in high school, and that's a wonderful way to get over shyness. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd hitchhike to Broadway or Hollywood, and try to break into show biz.
ReplyDeleteThere was a woman who sat behind me who sang beautifully and confidently. What I noticed is that when she was in church, I was a much better singer. I sang louder because I could. When I could hear only my voice, I reverted back to my normal singing. Have you tried headphones during these zoom classes? So that you are being enveloped once again by the voices around you?
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