| Archive for holidaychat.myfreeforum.org A holiday community. |
| Acorncup |
Music - Karl Jenkins - The Armed Man **report**In July I am taking part in a "Really Big Choir" performance of this work in the Albert Hall.I have been listening to my CD of it over the weekend, and I am getting excited about it. I think it will be a very moving experience. The concert willl raise money for Alzheimer's disease. Karl Jenkins wrote Adiemus, which I am sure you all know. The Armed man was commissioned by the Royal Armouries to commemorate the Millenium, and it is a very powerful piece, dealing with the history and morals of war. It was written before September 11th etc. 
here is a link to a tuneful section of it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSaYSKnAI7Q&feature=related and this is the opening section, beginning with marching feet.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezFNIyyGT2o Both sections are conducted by the composer. here is a link to the Really Big Choir http://www.trbc.co.uk/news2.php?event=55 I think the tickets for the concert are virtually sold out. I have taken part in several of these concerts, over the years, the most moving was in 2005, just a few days after the July 7th bombings. Everybody turned up too, although the organisers had been considering cancelling it. |
| Pam7 |
 Thats amazing Acorn!  Must admit..I've never heard of Karl Jenkins.
Both pieces are really powerful stuff..and very moving!!!
You can 'feel' the emotion can't you?? |
| Alsacienne |
I love his works, though sometimes Classic FM gets a bit carried away over a week!! Definitely easy on the ear, and satisfying for the voice.
WELL DONE YOU - enjoy your concert xxxxx |
| medot |
ha ha ha ha...i have no idea why...but when i hear big choirs like this...and marching bands.... i start getting all emotional and cry!!!
ooo have a great night acorn....just the sort of thing i'd love to go to. |
| Acorncup |
I've been and gone and done the singing and come home again 
it was a fantastic day 
and I will post some piccies and do a report later on....got to go out now... |
| medot |
ooo cant wait to hear about it.
pleased it was a great day...xx |
| Acorncup |
Here as promised is my report.
We set off in the minibus at 8.30 am, and arrived at the Albert Hall a couple of hours later. My hubby went off to go round the book and CD shops (and discovered in London that Sunday opening hours are 12.00 – 6.00). We queued up to get into the Hall…it is VAST inside, for those of you who have never been there…and it was quite a walk round to our seats, which were actually in the choir section, right next to the organ! Here is the view to one side, sorry the pics are a bit fuzzy because my automatic camera couldn’t cope with the artificial light in the hall. . 
and this is the view to the other side 
There were nearly 3000 singers, the dress code is that sopranos wear blue, altos wear red, and the men wear black and white. (a lot of people change just for the evening, but we weren’t supposed to take photos then). In the second picture you can see that the arena (central area) was 1/3 taken up by tenors, and 1/3 by the orchestra (chairs only visible in the pic)……this arena is normally full of audience seats, or of course for the prom concerts, it is where the promenaders stand. After an introductory speech from the organisers (it was in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, and some people were sponsored to sing!) we had a first rehearsal with piano accompaniment. It was amazing to hear 3000 voices! The singers came from 67 different choirs from all over the UK, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. There was even a choir from Portugal, and lots of individual singers. Then it was lunchtime, and miracle of miracles, it was dry and sunny, and we enjoyed a picnic in the park. 
In the afternoon we had a rehearsal with the orchestra and soprano soloist. The orchestra was fantastic with a large percussion section. I was glad I had practised my part well, because I was able to enjoy it, instead of having to keep my head buried in my score. I still had to count lots to make sure to come in, in the right places though! Then there was another break. My hubby came back to the Hall, and we had planned to go to a Cuban restaurant we had visited last time we’d been there 3 years ago, but sadly it had closed down, and after walking around looking for another restaurant we both fancied, and which wasn’t already full, we ended up in Tescos in Kensington High Street, buying sushi, wine, posh crisps and cherries for another picnic in the park! The park was great, and there were loads of people out enjoying the late afternoon sun. but even so, it wasn’t crowded. We headed back to the Hall in good time, (hubby had a ticket for the performance), and the Hall looked really good with the proper lights on (shame I couldn’t take any photos).The hall was pretty full, which was great. The first half of the concert consisted of a couple of extracts from “The Planets” and also the 1812 overture complete with cannon effects! When the organ played we nearly jumped out of our skins as we were close to the pipes! It was very loud! After the interval it was time for our performance. It was very exciting, and also very moving, as the work which was commissioned by the Royal Armouries for the Millennium, has sections starting with the glory of war, to the excitement of battle, the realisation if its horrors and a hymn for peace. My legs were numb at the end from standing up still for so long, of course we can’t fidget in the quiet bits! But it had been a tremendous experience. We wended our way out, and got the minibus home (thanks to one singer’s hub who drove it for us, much easier than the train…). We got home at midnight, had a cup of tea and went straight to sleep. But even now the music is going through my head. 
Roll on next year’s singday
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| Silverpixie (Admin) |
What a fabulous experience Acorn, and an excellent report, thank you for sharing your day with us. I would have loved to have been in the Albert Hall to hear it.
You are so brave to get up and sing in public. Have you any idea how much money was raised? |
| medot |
oh that sounds fantastic.......pleased you enjoyed it so much....xx |
| da mama |
thank you for the pics and the report acorn
sounds like a fantastic experience and to have good weather was a bonus pauline xxxxx |
| Alsacienne |
Great report - I feel that I'd taken part myself! Can individuals come or do you have to be part of a choir? |
| Acorncup |
Individuals can come too, I have put a link to the "really big choir" website in my first post.
But if anybody reading this does want to come, I'm sure my choir can order an extra ticket, then they can sit with us 
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