Crossing the Bar


I had bought my friend Ruth a ticket to her favourite chorale group The Spooky Men for her birthday . With her all communed up in Scotland I was in two minds driving a hour West to see them last night, but having managed to get a work friend Steve to take the spare ticket I went. 
It was a great concert, set in the historic Capel Jerusalem in Bethesda. 
Funny, innovative, odd and at times incredibly moving , The Spooky Men , perform their own songs about such varied subjects of sad audience members, eyebrows, Men’s Groups and politics ( Vote The Bastards Out being a highlight) 
But they peppered the humour with some truly beautiful singing , with a couple of Ukrainian folk songs and the sublime Crossing The Bar being true standouts.
I could hear several of our choir members singing in the audience as like me, they went to support Conductor Jamie ( sans his RAF moustache ) who is a guest choir member on The Spooky men’s Uk tour.

Jamie is on the far left
Ps . Remember that I’m taking Janet my sister to London for her birthday treat? 
Well the RMT has decided to strike that day ! 
Heyho

32 comments:

  1. Beautifully achingly perfect; thankyou for sharing this x

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  2. Bless you and your bear hiney... I guess the trick is to stay close to home and no air flying...unless you take up the art, like the flying nun.

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    1. Sally field that’s going back a bit

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  3. Lovely song and singing! Glad some choir members turned out in support of choirmaster Jamie!

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  4. Crossing the Bar was beautiful. I looked up the lyrics which were just as beautiful as the singing. But. All that being said, I had to look up 'Vote the Bastards Out!' A song for our time, isn't it?

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    1. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vote+the+bastards+out+spookymen

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  5. You're having an awfully long streak of bad luck with the travelling. How frustrating.

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  6. Anonymous4:02 am

    I cannot believe that I have never heard this before. It brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful! Cannot comment under my google account for some unknown reason!


    Jo in Auckland

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    1. My settings default back to anon commenting occasionally .
      I’m having trouble commenting on many other blogs too, which frustrating

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  7. so beautiful and so gentle. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. had to look this up....by Alfred Lord Tennyson. (think I've found the words for my funeral) Not yet...I hope. 74 soon.

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    1. It’s incredibly simple but so moving

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  9. Sounds like a great night, very moving. Vote the bastards out - trouble is, the bastards always seem to get voted in! I'm with Gemma's person, best to stay close to home for the time being. Can't fly, can't travel by train, petrol prices sky rocketing. A good pair of walking boots is recommended, as that's the only way we're going to go anywhere soon! xx

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    1. Vote the bastards out
      https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vote+the+bastards+out+spookymen

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  10. Love the Spooky Men, Crossing the Bar is on my funeral music list, and I'm with Happy Hooker on the bastard's always getting voted in!! There is a youtube video of The Spooky Men singing Crossing the Bar in the Lady Chapel, Ely. Recorede during a music workshop there. Sublime! Jan Bx Kisses to the doggies and catxxx

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    1. Jan it’s on mine too now , I’m hoping our choir gets to practice it

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  11. Anonymous7:52 am

    Oh my goodness John, that song has had me in tears, just so beautiful. Thank you
    Briony
    X

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  12. Brought back so many memories John - it had me in tears.

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    1. Yes I was moved in a similar way pat

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  13. The magic of a live performance

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  14. Beautiful performance! I can't believe the trains are not reliable too. FYI - Just last night I heard the airlines everywhere are also having trouble managing baggage. You might not see your bag for a week or two. They recommend having only a carry-on bag. At least we've been warned.

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    1. Oh I just know something will happen on the family holiday plans, but I’m still hoping someone can’t be that unlucky

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  15. Great you could be there for Jamie's performance. I'm sure he appreciated it. These transit strikes are a real drag.

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    1. Loyalty within a choir is an odd phenomenon

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  16. Oh I'm back as me! I watched this video again today; I'm not having a great time of it work wise and it's very frustrating and getting the better of me. Also its an anniversary of my sisters death this week so I am a bit weepy anyway. But listening to this again had me howling and I have found it quite cathartic, despite the blotchy face, snotty nose and swollen eyes.

    Jo in Auckland

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  17. So, I’m going to monitor the plans you make and will cancel mine for any of those days.

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