As regulars here will know, my am dram performances often pepper this blog. It’s a while since I’ve been in an actual show, my last being The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 2010 which was obviously so outrageous I can’t show my face in town again. But our little group, Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (SADOS), do concerts from time to time and this keeps my hand in, so to speak.
You may remember our Christmas concerts last year where I spoiled the song from Wicked, ‘One Short Day’, by singing ‘one short day in the haemorrhoid city’ instead of ’emerald’. Our MD still hasn’t forgiven me as there is much corpsing whenever we sing that number. It was included in the set we did for a group of WI ladies on Monday night in the Village Hall in Pinchbeck, near Spalding. I was under strict instructions not to set everyone off again.
We’ve had a good laugh, as usual, during rehearsals but things always suddenly seem serious on the night itself when butterflies and inability to eat any tea seem to be the curse of most of us luvvies. My contribution to the concert this week was a duet with our MD, Craig. We sang ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story. I was practising it in the kitchen in front of Dougie at the weekend. His comment was ‘ooh it’s very high’ which was a real confidence booster, though, to be fair, I was screeching a bit and he could only hear one side of the duet so it was inevitably lop-sided.
One of my favourite numbers in the concert is a four-part harmony arrangement of The Sound of Music: it’s absolutely spine-tingling when we all hit the right notes. Another favourite is ‘You’ll Never walk Alone’ which had such relevance this week with the Hillsborough inquiry revelations. I was pretty choked up singing that one, so was grateful it was a chorus number.
Having won over the ladies in Pinchbeck, we have to do the same again with a shorter set on Saturday night at All Saints Church in my own town, Holbeach, as part of their Arts Festival. The first half of the concert features the Holbeach Town Band and then SADOS sings songs from the shows in the second half. So will be warbling my duet again.
I wrote earlier this week about the immense power of music: how I discovered via a chance encounter with jazz drummer Ronnie Gardiner, the health benefits music can bring to those with brain injuries. During that meeting Ronnie and I both recalled a video we had seen on YouTube showing an old man suffering from dementia, and the way music had changed his silent, insular world.
If you have time, take a look at this video and you will see something quite remarkable.
I give you….Henry.
(If you can’t view the video below, here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM )
Wow that's really amazing. Bless him.
I must admit I've been a bit lax with music in our house. Our sound system is so feckin' complicated that I usually don't bother with it. The kids are all very musical though and every time I have music on in the kitchen it usually sparks some sort of improv show!
I always get told to turn the music down – probably because it's not to their taste!
That one always chokes me up – love it! More proof that music is more powerful and evocative than we usually give it credit for. Hope all your tummies are doing well – I remember those days: no fun before, but glorious afterwards! Hope you'll share your four-part harmony arrangement of 'The Sound of Music' – a capella, I presume?
Break a leg….
I've watched it a few times now and I get choked too!
Yes, a real buzz afterwards and the urge to eat loads. We have done the Sound of Music arrangement a capella in rehearsals but the backing track is lovely and tends to keep us together so I think it will be played. Our whole concert is sung to backing tracks rather than just a piano: takes a bit of getting used to but some of the accompaniments are gorgeous – the Tonight one I sing to is a full orchestra, sounds great.
I always cry at The Sound of Music – usually right from the start. There's something about those harmonies…Good luck with Tonight….there'll be no turning back, the minutes seem like hours, the hours go so slowly…,oh god I've forgotten the rest! I'm taking my 12 year old to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the weekend.
You'll be great!
The lyrics you mention are the ones I remembered,probably from the film, but the lyrics I sing are different, maybe from the stage show? I sing about the world being a star and suns and moons being all over the place!
Let me know how JC Superstar goes.
I've done a lot of singing in my time too, so I know all those jittery feelings you mention. They are all worth it in the end though.
The vid is lovely. My dad always enjoyed the sing alongs at the care home even when he was in the last stages of dementia. Music can cross all the communication limits that strike when dementia, Alzheimer's etc hit.
I do wish the jittery feelings would disappear though. Just before my song on Monday, my heart was hammering in my chest, made it hard to get the first note out.
I think it's becoming more recognised the value of music in helping many conditons. It seems to help make connections in the brain. Great it was able to give your dad some joy.
What a marvellous video. Tear jerking!
I know, I cry every time I watch it.
Fantastic video – what a transformation! Good luck with your performances, or should I say break a leg!
Glad you like the video. I think I initially saw it on Russell Howard's Good News show a few months ago.
Thanks for the break a leg, I need it!
You owe me a box of tissues!
Sorry! 🙂
What a fantastic life affirming video!
Yup, it's a good 'un.
Ooh good luck! I am going to watch the video tomorrow when I am on my own as by the sounds of it will make me cry… Happy singing! 🙂
Hope you don't get too tearful, Emma!
My kids showed me this video some time ago and isn't it wonderful?
…I watched the new choir programme with Gareth Malone last night and even that made me cry at the end!
Break a leg Trish.
I watched the choir programme too. Would love to be involved in something like that. Always had a thing about Gareth too 😉
What a powerful video. And here´s to a powerful performance from the SADOS on Saturday night. It all sounds like great fun – makes me wish I had the slightest scrap of musical talent :/
It is good fun, until it becomes real, like it does this morning, and then I want to hide under the duvet!
Golly!
Over here rehearsals start next week. Hello Dolly this year. I'm unconvinced..
But then I'm also (despite having met B singing (both of us, not just him) still at that stage of parenting where a bit of blessed peace is all the music I'm after most of the time! Actually the interesting thing is that now that I'm down to one child only in the mornings for two and a half hours (L at school, S and A at nursery) I do find myself turning it on, where I haven't for the last five years…
Our lot are doing Jack the Ripper next year. Don't think I'll audition, still enjoying not doing a full musical.
When Rory was little I didn't do much singing. Once he started school it all came back to me.
That's awesome! Reminds me of that movie, Awakenings, with Robin Williams. Music is powerful!
You're right, it is like Awakenings, and that was based on true story, wasn't it. Fascinating how we can tap into forgotten memories like this.
A clip of you both singing "Tonight" would be much appreciated, but please, no "Edelweiss"
We are always hopeless at getting video of our performances. Will see what I can do!
We do have Edelweiss in the set…
What an extraordinary video – absolutely incredible! The power of music should not be under-estimated…
It's great, isn't it! Just makes you realise what can be achieved with simple measures.
SADOS, really?
Too funny.
My favourite is Les Mis. Can your put that on next year and I'll def. pop over to see it. Can't wait for the movie at Christmas, the previews are amazing. I have seen that video that you posted before. It's so moving.
It's great that you have so much fun tho'. Keep it up.
I know, SADOS, what a name!
We do have some Les Mis in our set – Empty chairs, I Dreamed a Dream, Bring him Home and Master of the House. I'll get you a ticket, Clippy!
Wish I could sing (in public), I really would have butterflies if I knew I had to sing in frnt of people with the voice I have!
and the video–wow, just showed it to my 14 yo and we were both so moved we sat silently for a moment. Thanks for that.
I do get butterflies, terribly. Funnily enough, I'm far more nervous doing a concert that actually acting on stage in a musical where I can hide behind the character I'm playing. Also nerves far more of a problem the older I get!
So glad you both enjoyed the video xx
"You'll never walk alone" is an all-time crowd pleaser and cryer. I boohoo every time I hear it. Must be wonderful to sing so well and with others. I pretend I can but the kids are always sniggering and snorkeling when I sing along to the radio…