By #lovingeveryminute of School for Wise Children with Emma Rice this month, being put through my paces by the brilliant MD Ian Ross (previously of The Globe and Kneehigh) and getting to play double bass.
So thrilled to have been allowed this time to create ambitious compositions with brilliant musicians, and can’t overstate the value of being critiqued and directed by Emma Rice (Visionary! and SO bloody astute), Ian Ross (better at all the music than you’ll ever be) and Simon Baker (when he described how he had designed the hidden mic system at The Globe, I actually cried. Probably from jealousy that I don’t always get to work with him.)
Yesterday I got to observe Jessica Cottis rehearsing Shostakovich No.10 withTrinity Laban Symphony Orchestra. I was inspired and invigorated by her conducting, which was exceptional, but also by her ear for the impetus and drive in the bass parts.
Sing for Freedom Choir, who I direct, had a magnificent gig as part of ‘Singing our Lives’ at The Barbican, where they performed alongside Woven Gold, The Mixed Up Chorus, and The Royal Opera House Community Chorus. The event was to mark Refugee week 2018, and we performed this DRC worship song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijwjDGJkA2M which BROKE MY BRAIN in the prepping of it. The choir members all knew it and naturally clapped a syncopated 4/4 pattern whilst singing, but it took me forever to work out how to direct it. It’s in 3. gaaaaaah. The non british national members of my choir, who are all new to choral singing, and mostly have never made any music formally can, every single one happily hold down a solid 2 or 4 groove whilst singing in 3. Mind blown.
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