Recent Events ...and not so recent ones
Church worship evening
Tuesday 5th November 2024, James St Church, St Mary's
Over the years there have been many places where we have gone to sing, and subsequently stopped going for any one of a number of reasons.
This is the case with James St. Church, a small inner city church in Southampton.
Now they have started to hold monthly worship evenings with different folk doing the leading in a variety of styles.
Cue the gospel choir.
James St. Church
Whilst we have led Taize style worship events, this gave the opportunity for a wider range of music within a worship context.
The congregation outnumbered the choir by about 2 to 1 which is always a good thing, and there was much enthusiastic singing along, particularly with the traditional gospels.
Your correspondent suspects that a future visit to James St will not be delayed so long as last time.
Here are a few of us in front of the gazebo.
This remarkable event has been running for about 16 years now with musical acts performing in locations all over the city centre
This year it is fully stretched over the two days of the weekend.
We were allocated a slot at 2pm on
the Sunday at King John's Palace.
The weather leading up to the event was wet and windy, so a small gazebo had been provided in case this continued. As it was the weather was dry but cold and windy, so we thought that our set would be best appreciated if we stood outside the shelter.
A small appreciative crowd sang along where they could, mostly I expect to try to stay warm.
Music in the City
Sunday September 29th 2pm King John's Palace
All Aboard revisited
Saturday 31st August 2024 5pm Janaway Green, St. Denys
Amusing factoid:
The What3Words identifier for this location is ///shakes.song.vocal
Which is pleasingly appropriate for a choir event.
After the postponement of the All Aboard event in June the outdoor festival went ahead on the lawn between Janaway Gardens and the river, rebranded as the Janaway Jamboree.
There was a variety of activities in progress when we appeared, but the weather was once again not kind, it being unseasonally chilly and blowy.
For this reason the was a smaller audience than expected, but we sang about a 40 minute set and did see a few folks singing along and also a bit of dancing which is always good to see.
At 1pm we commenced the concert with a brief talk on the history of the gallery itself given by one of our number, then it was straight into the songs.
On arrival there were about fifty chairs set out with a solitary lady waiting in one; whether in excited expectation or trepidation it was hard to tell.
Once again we found ourselves at the Art Gallery. When we played our last concert there we thought we had just squeezed it in before the major repair work commenced, but we found that this won't affect the main hall of the gallery until later in the year.
Lunchtime Concert at the Art Gallery
Saturday 20th July 2024 1pm
Click the picture for more about the gallery
As we sang the audience began to arrive, led by director Penny's daughter, whom it would be unkind to call a stooge, but she did cheer enthusiastically at the end of each song which helped set the tone.
We sang a range of our usual repertoire, including some slower numbers to take advantage of the gallery's magnificent acoustic.
As 2pm neared there was just time for one more song. What shall we sing? Needless to say there were more suggestions from within the choir than time available so we asked the audience "Slow or Fast?"
They chose "Fast" which was just as well because all our remaining numbers were upbeat. We finished with This Little Light of Mine which seems to be ever popular, probably due to folk remembering it from when they were young.
All in all a really nice way to end end the term, even though no-one complimented us on our shiny shoes.
We sang a Sunday afternoon concert at this care home. We were scheduled to go there last Christmas but a covid outbreak in the home prevented it.
We were pleased to not outnumber the audience, and even had a bit of singing along to the more well known numbers.
Snowdrop Place Care Home
Sunday 30th June 3pm
Pavilion Rd Hedge End
A kind lady in the front row complimented us not only on our pink-and-purple kit but on the gentlemen's shiny black shoes. It made the effort of polishing them for every gig over the last 25 years worthwhile.
All Aboard Festival
Saturday 15th June afternoon
"Pizza Pontune", Priory Rd
An introductory video about All Aboard
After a dreadful weather forecast of high winds and intermittent heavy rain this community event was officially postponed, but the good hosts in Priory Rd had already cleared out a large workshop at the bottom of their garden and there was a clear desire to actually get some music in (and some drinks).
When the first of us arrived at the venue we had to shelter from the rain under a tarpaulin which had been spread above the front of the building as one of the previous musicians performed to an otherwise full building.
This wasn't the smallest venue we have ever had - that was some years ago in a front room of a house where we had an audience of one housebound lady.
The large workshop with one of the previous acts performing
As there had been quite a bit of overrunning; when our turn came we sang a short set of gospels and standards which went down very well amongst the audience who were enjoying the singing, the beers and the pizzas which were being cooked al-fresco in a wood fired pizza oven in the next door garden.
Birthday Party!
Portswood Church Saturday 27th April.
One of our newest choir members held a large birthday party at Portswood Church, and asked us along.
The birthday girl appeared
to be making a bid for
the record of being the most
photographed woman in town as she circulated the room with a camera-armed friend in tow being snapped with just about everybody there.
The church was full and buzzing with conversation, so we were in no danger of outnumbering the audience as we do on occasion.
Of course we sang Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday, and several other well known numbers, encouraging the party goers to sing along which by and large they did.
Click the pic for details from the SCYS facebook page
This was a big musical event being run by Southampton City Youth Sinfonia .
There was the 90 piece orchestra themselves, who certainly made a lot of noise, (good noise, because these are skillful musicians) and a number of other adult and children's choirs who joined in to sing on the last two pieces.
Make some Noise
Tuesday 19th March 2024 7:30pm
Central Hall, St Marys St. Southampton
A photo of the event will be added when available
We found ourselves standing on the stage at the Central Hall where the choir began all that time ago, which was a strange feeling, and reminded us that the last time we'd been there was to support the London Community Gospel Choir several Christmases past.
With the Art Gallery soon to be closed for renovations we took this opportunity to give a short concert.
Lunchtime Concert at the Art Gallery
Saturday 9th March 1 pm
Our experience last time was that the audience quite liked being able to sit down for the concert as chairs were provided for the first time at one of our visits.
However the chairs slowly filled up as folk came to listen, many singing along with us on familiar gospel numbers.
So chairs were once again provided and when the concert started we were in the familiar position of outnumbering our audience.
All in all it was a good event, the magnificent acoustics of the venue making us sound better than perhaps we really are, but who doesn't like a bit of architectural assistance?
Sunday Church Service
Winchester Prison Sunday 3rd March 2024
After our Christmas visit in December we made a return trip to Winchester Prison to lead a Sunday morning church service with an Easter theme.
Due to the nature of HMP Winchester most often there are hardly any inmates who were present on our previous visits, meaning that whilst it's not new for us seeing us is a new experience for them.
On our two most recent visits there have been external circumstances which prevented many of the inmates attending, this time there were no such and the chapel was full with an enthusiastic congregation many of whom came up and chatted with us afterwards.
Mayflower Court Care Home
Portswood, Southampton. Saturday 10th February 2024 2pm
Our first outing of the year was at this rather large care home in Portswood. We sang in their comfortable library. We are quite used to outnumbering our audience, but rarely with so few of us on show.
The nine of us sang a range of standards, gospels and hymns and there was a bit of singing along by those residents brave enough to listen to us.
There is a large garden to the rear of the home which can be seen in the picture above, and a suggestion was made that we might return in the summer for an outdoor concert.
Glo oooooo oooooo oooooo oooooo ooooooria!
South Western Arms, St. Denys. Friday 22nd December 2023
If one trip to the pub is fun, then two must be twice as much fun.
This time at the South Western Arms, which the more astute reader will realise is next to the railway in St. Denys.
On Monday at the Wellington Arms we had outnumbered the customers two to one. Not on Friday. We were far fewer, the pub was heaving, and lots of folk had turned up for the event bedecked in Santa hats and Christmas jumpers. Looked like a good start.
South Western Arms Facebook page:
The way we run these sessions is to hand out lists of songs on which the customers tick off their favourite carols and songs, whereupon we sing them. Simples!
Funnily enough almost everyone chose Ding Dong Merrily on High - they just love the long Gloria in the chorus.
Anyway the singing was enthusiastic and by the time we came to the Twelve Days of Christmas they were rocking.
A really good way to get in the festive mood.
Carols at Snowdrop Place Care Home
Tuesday 19th December 2023
We had anticipated visiting this care home for the first time to spread a little Christmas cheer, but an outbreak of covid in the home gave us pause for thought.
Whilst there were only 3 cases we were still going, but at 6pm the number had risen to 9 and in addition one of our number who had been singing with us on the previous evening at the Wellington Arms had also become ill, so at a record short notice we decided to cancel.
We definitely owe them a visit.
A trip to the pub
Wellington Arms, Shirley. Monday 18th December 2023
The last choir practice of the year was exchanged for a session in the pub.
16 of us went to the Wellington Arms and led a small but crucially, not diminishing group of customers who variously joined in the carolling.
Afterwards the landlady gave us a large tray of mince pies.
Now, your correspondent's wife makes the best mince pies in the world so he almost never eats commercial mince pies.
On this occasion, seeing the scale of the pie pile he thought he might just indulge,(it would be churlish to allow them to go to waste after all) only to find that the choir had hoovered them all up whilst he was talking to a customer.
Ah well.
Wellington Arms Facebook page:
Radio Solent
Tuesday 12th Dec 2023
We were asked to turn up to their premises to perform one song for recording.
Alliteration was the order of the day.
Songs in the Studio perhaps?
Wassails in the Workshop maybe?
Renditions on the Radio?
As we often say, everyone wants a choir at Christmas, and this day was no exception.
As is often the case, Radio Solent broadcast a different carol each day in the lead up to Christmas, but this year there was a twist...
As it was to be a Carol it therefore had to be in the Car Park, which caused the recording engineer some headaches. We needed 4 takes to get a reasonably clean recording without fire engine sirens, traffic noise and loud squawking seagulls, to say nothing of our own singing.
A Car Park is possibly not the most salubrious gig venue we have ever had, with ironically a "Strictly No Parking" sign behind us
Performed here by the Zambian Vocal Group whom we think are the original artists.
The good burghers of the Solent region were thus able to hear our version of
Gloria in the Gallery
Southampton Art Gallery Saturday 9th Dec 2023
The Gallery do quite like extra activities going on, and on this occasion there had been a concert by a flute choir in the morning before our spot.
The goose, as they say, is getting fat, and so it's off to the Art Gallery with its magnificent vaulted ceiling which makes us sound a lot better than perhaps we really are.
Ordinarily, without chairs, the audience would drift away as the strain of standing became too great, but this time there were still plenty left at the end, with some standing behind the chairs.
Christmas. The time of year everyone loves a carol.
We sang for about an hour of our Christmas repertoire, and in a master stroke the staff had put out about 30 chairs, and Lo and Behold (to use a seasonal term)
folk started to fill the chairs in eager
anticipation of the jollity to come.
Sunday Church Service
Winchester Prison Sunday 3rd December 2023
After our visit in July we made a return trip to Winchester Prison to lead a Sunday morning church service with a Christmas theme.
Once again the the congregation was smaller, only about 40 this time on account of an incident in the prison so fewer inmates were able to come. This reminded us just how difficult life must be inside.
We used a mixture of well known carols for communal singing as well as a few of our own arrangements which we sang to the congregation.
We led some prayers and a Bible reading as is normal in such gatherings.
There was much enthusiastic singing, and in chatting afterwards the men were appreciative of us coming.
Baptismal Service
Saturday 11th November 2023
St Margaret Mary Roman Catholic church in Park Gate has a modern building and is very light and airy. We were engaged to sing at a family baptismal service, and it was one of those occasions where even though we were low on numbers the choir still outnumbered the congregation, including the baby who was very cute.
We sang a mixture of hymns, gospels
and the song Sizo Hamba Naye from Eswatini which is in the Swati language, and translates as "We will walk with God, my brothers"
which is very appropriate for a baptism.
Afterwards the child's mother gave us each one of these 'favours' containing sugared almonds and chocolate eggs which is apparently a tradition in some places.
Singing at Northlands Care Home
Saturday 15th October 2023
We sang about an hour long short concert for a number of residents in the dining room. This turned out to be about 16 who sang along and clearly appreciated our mix of gospels, African songs and spirituals.
Not that King John, well, perhaps that King John,
but more like this:
Upon arrival we thought that there was no electrical supply for our keyboard in this medieval location, and because the event was seriously short of stewards there was no-one to disabuse us of this idea.
Thanks to the previous act, Uke Box Glory for
playing on whilst we sorted ourselves out.
Once again we took part in this remarkable event. There were hundreds of acts and dozens of venues.
We were allocated a spot at King John's palace, which has
obviously had some raucous music there before because
the roof has been raised.
Music in the City
September 23rd King John's Palace
A small but appreciative audience (including some former choir types whom we constantly try to lure back into the fold with promises of cake) heard our eclectic set of songs, even asking for an encore.
Uke Box Glory FB page
Click here to see the Daily Echo's report on the event, including an actual picture of the choir in action amongst the sea shanty singers and others.
There was about an hour to fill between guests appearing and the dinner, and the set list chosen by the bride herself was warmly received, Bev joining in with us for about half of the numbers, and a few guests could be lip read singing along as well.
It was a real delight to sing at Bev and JP's wedding reception. Bev has been a member of the choir for ages, and so we were more than pleased to do this for her.
The bride and groom's outfits were stunning, by the way, and a possible template for some new choir costume.
Wedding Reception
The Winchester Club Saturday 15th July 2023
Sunday Church Service
Winchester Prison Sunday 2nd July 2023
After our visit in November we made a return trip to Winchester Prison to lead another Sunday morning church service.
There was a smaller congregation than last time because there was a clash with families visiting day but the couple of dozen there clearly enjoyed the event.
We used a mixture of well known songs for communal singing as well as some where we sang to the congregation.
It's so much easier when the congregation sings along enthusiastically.
It was good to chat with the men afterwards as well.
Scones and songs
St. Mary's South Stoneham Sunday 25th June 2023
Ah, one of the fine combinations of life! A concert of jolly songs old and new, gospel and standard, coupled with tea, scones and cake.
What a fine way to spend a few hours on a sunny Summer afternoon!
We sashay'd up, we sang, we scoffed and we sang again.
There was a satisfyingly large audience including a number of former choir members who were all keen to sing along when we sort of forced them to.
The Gospel medley round was particularly chaotic, but in a fun way with choir members leading groups of the audience from within.
A few days after the event we were told that a sum of about £400 was raised for the inevitable church roof fund which was particularly pleasing.
Lunchtime Concert at the Art Gallery
Saturday 1st April 2023
One of our choir members works in the Museums service, and so he's able to get us a spot to sing in this lovely space.
They do quite like extra activities going on, so there's not that much persuasion.
We sang for about an hour of our regular repertoire, and a fair few folk stopped by to listen, some for the whole concert, and some chatted afterwards which is always nice.
This time we had arranged for a small film crew from Shedlight Productions
to make a short film of us. Shedlight are a small company whose goal
is to help people communicate their goals by way of film, and in our case
there were a few mini interviews and then some footage from the concert, focussing on our very own Easter song "Love Arose". The film can be viewed from the Home page.
Singing at a care home
Saturday 25th March 2023
Our first outing of 2023 saw us visiting the Hampton Lodge care home in Southampton.
We sang a short concert for as many of the residents who were able to get to the day room.
Guessing what the audience would appreciate we sang a variety of gospels and some hymns, and there was a bit of singing along.
Afterwards a few of us visited one of the residents whom we have known for many years, but was too frail to come to the day room, so we sang a private concert for her in her room.
Singalong at the Art Gallery
Saturday 17th December 2022
Our final outing of the year saw us at the Art Gallery which has a high vaulted ceiling, and has a really long acoustic.
It really is a lovely place to sing.
One entertaining facet of this gig was that as soon as your humble correspondent arrived, with wife and former-choir-member-from-five-years-ago-daughter in tow, the solitary alto present grasped aforesaid daughter and pressed her into being a ringer for this gig (not a bell ringer).
There were a few new songs which have been added in the 5 years since she was last in the choir, but her presence was gratefully received, and who doesn't like singing in a choir at Christmas?
We sang for about an hour of our Christmas repertoire, entertaining a few folk who were taking a break from the hurly burly of Christmas shopping. Although I said 'singalong', there wasn't actually any singing along, though anyone was welcome to do so.
The church was full of about 30 Christmas trees each decorated by one of the many local groups
Christmas Tree Festival
Sunday 11th December 2022
St. James Church West End
On this occasion there was a very small audience, or rather, a congregation as our set was billed as Carols among the Trees, and included Bible reading, poetry and prayers, provided by the St. James staff.
It was intended to round off the festival which had been running for the weekend.
Charity concert
Thursday 8th December 2022
St. James Rd Methodist church
Maggies is a charity which provides cancer support and information, and we were asked to sing at their fund raising concert.
There was an audience of about 50 who enjoyed the event, making it a pleasant experience for us as well.
The West End Singers were scheduled to sing in the second half of the event, including the community singalong carols, so we were free to perform our more unusual Christmas repertoire.
Sunday Church Service
Sunday 27th November 2022
Winchester Prison
After a fairly long planning phase we finally visited Winchester Prison to lead a Sunday morning church service. We'd done this once before, more years ago than your humble correspondent wishes to recall.
There was a congregation of about 40 who clearly enjoyed the event, making it a pleasant experience for us as well.
We used a mixture of well known songs and a few of our own arrangements, including the singalong Gospel Medley which was particularly well received.
It's so much easier when the congregation sings along enthusiastically.
it was good to chat with the men afterwards as well.
Music in the City
Saturday 24th September 2022
God's House Tower Southampton
We sang a range of gospel and other songs to an audience of about 40, containing a number of former choir members.
The afternoon saw the world premiere of the song "Love Arose" an upbeat gospel Easter number written specially for the choir by our director
The 14th annual Music in the City festival saw us singing in upstars space in God's House Tower, alight and airy space where there was an art exhibition
The sun shone brightly through the glass roof and it was a very enjoyable afternoon.
There was a bit of singing along going on which is always gratifying, and Mark from the Psalm Drummers provided rhythms which improved the sound greatly.
Taize Service
Friday 17th June 2022
This was a quiet contemplative church service in the small chapel of All Saints in Winchester Rd Southampton.
The service marked the end of a week of prayer,
and the choir led in some Taize style worship.
It was very good to have our director, Penny
back at the helm after a long illness.
Carols on the street
Wednesday 22nd December 2021
It seems like only a year since we were singing carols at the end of Brownlow Gardens in Southampton, which is because it was. This time about 10 choir members joined the fun.
Once again plenty of residents came out to join in and there was some raucous carolling including the well known carol While Shepherds Watched their Flocks to the equally well known tune of 'On Ilkley Moor bar t' 'at.
After this we beetled off to a back alley in Shirley to do another set with diferent locals, all illuminated by mobile phone lights, and a few sparklers. We were accompanied by our choir director playing the keyboard from her summer house in the back garden with a loudspeaker standing in the alley which worked quite well.
There are no photos of these events as it was rather dark in both locations.
The service was
streamed online
here
Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 19th December 2021
A fairly modern carol service at Holy Saviour, Bitterne, which, despite the billing, had very limited candles because the vicar had discovered that the disposable face masks some people wear are very flammable so extra flames seemed a risk too far.
We sang African Noel, a song in the Kituba language , Good News, a gospel number and a gospelly version of the carol Away in a Manger.
