Desert Island Discs Ep.3
In their own words...
The song I have chosen to share with the choir is 'Stranger on the Shore' played by Acker Bilk.
This song has been important to me since I first listened to it when I was 7. I loved the haunting melody and I felt that something inside me was blossoming when I heard the song. This 'something' was my early lesbian feelings. The song still moves me today and connects me to my younger self.
I have lived in Hastings and been a member of Hastings and Rother Rainbow Alliance since 2008. I organise a lesbian book club, walking group and history project for Rainbow Alliance. I now live with my partner in Ore. I previously lived in London where I was a Primary/Special Needs teacher. I did educational research at Goldsmiths and had a book published on young children and gender identity. I enjoy reading, writing, walking by the sea and in the country, chi kung, birdwatching, music and singing around the house.
Bar Age 7
All Choired Up blog #11
I wanted these two songs to be added to the blog because I love how they make me feel uplifted and hopeful, a feeling we can all use right now. But also because they show what’s possible with just the human voice (and a bit of mesmeric body percussion in the case of White Winter Hymnal!). I hope you love them as much as I do and that you find yourself singing along around the house, in the bath, out on your daily walk, doing the housework…
Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Songsheet - Light of a Clear Blue Morning
White Winter Hymnal - Pentatonix (Fleet Foxes Cover)
To bring this blog post to a close, here's a wonderful poem written by choir member Emma Silvester for our special Irish Night down the pub!
All Choired Up - Irish Pub Night
On this blog post, we are sharing 2 Irish songs we’ll be singing at the Irish Night this coming Monday March 15th. Below you’ll find the lyrics to both songs: The Rattling Bog and The Parting Glass. Plus two separate videos of The Parting Glass. One is a teaching video and the other is my performance of the song to enable you to learn the song more effectively. I haven’t included a video of The Rattling Bog as it’ll be very easy to pick up on the night, and there are many versions online should you wish to have a listen beforehand!
The Parting Glass
The Parting Glass songsheet
The Rattling Bog songsheet
Something to get you in the mood...
Here's The Parting Glass being sung in an Irish pub in Derry City, Northern Ireland. It’s a lovely version in glorious multi layered harmony. The atmosphere in the pub must have been phenomenal!
Desert Island Discs Ep.2
In their own words...
My favourite song would be Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera – the Michael Crawford version. I love the live theatre and have really missed it this year! In fact, thinking about it for this blog has brought tears to my eyes. One of my favourite musicals is PHANTOM. If you have never seen it live you have missed one of the wonders of the West End Theatre land. It is so enchanting and magical. I have seen it live about 6 times and have even been told to be quiet by audience members when I started to sing along! I might be the only Yorkshire Phantom! All Phantoms are different but Michael Crawford is my favourite. I know that as I move to Battle this winter the London musicals will be the one thing I miss. If any fellow members want to do trips up to theatreland in the future - let me know. The Phantom has some amazing singing and special effects; I never tire of it. It is set in Her Majesty’s Theatre that lends itself to the eeriness of a story about an Opera ghost. The going back in time and the transformation of the theatre to tell the story is very clever and the chandelier is magnificent and the centre piece of the whole thing truly magnificent – I am now singing along!
Desert Island Discs Ep.1
In their own words...
Angela has nominated Yellow by Coldplay. I was reintroduced to this song just recently when I picked it up on a pavement in St Leonards amongst lots of CDs being given away for free. I just love harmonising with this song. I have never really done any harmonising before but since joining All Choired Up I have been All Fired Up! I am really looking forward to doing more harmonising with our new found choir in 2021 as the world needs more harmony. It would be great if we could sing Yellow by Coldplay as a choir in 2021. We could do our own arrangements. Well Carol can do it and we can sing! The photograph above was taken on the 26th Oct 2020 - the same day that All Choired Up met up face to face for the first time in the church hall. It is a rather large picture of my body and soul having fun in the sea at St Leonards as part of the Groyne 41 group.
Thank you for sharing your Desert Island Disc with us Angela. A Happy New Year to you all!