2019/20
Karen writes:
This has turned out to be a most unusual year – a year of two halves. The first half busy as ever, with many new things on the agenda. The second half virtual rehearsals in isolation, keeping everyone connected.
Our session commenced on Monday 2nd September, directly after four Summer Meetings which were well attended. Terms of fifteen, twelve and ten weeks were booked at SDTA Studios. We held our Annual General Meeting on Monday 9th September during rehearsal. Tom Malone, an inspirational Chair, retired after four years, and Secretary Joanna Redman recently took up employment in the Netherlands. Ordinary member Peter Chua retired from the Committee. Fiona Rickards was elected Chair, Bridie O’Dowd re-elected Treasurer, and Trish Caird elected Secretary. Iain Armstrong continued as ordinary member. Dave Watson has since joined the committee. As Musical Director, Harry reports to and attends all meetings. It is a small and focused group which continues to astonish us with much hard graft behind the scenes and tremendous ideas for social and singing activities. Sincere thanks to the retiring committee, to the current committee, to Maureen R for auditing the accounts, and to those many folk who have taken on non-committee roles enabling the smooth running of the choir and its rehearsals.
Voicebeat and sister choirs performed at the first ever “Glasgow Shanty Day” aboard Tall Ship “Glenlee” on Saturday 21st September. Our very own Tom Malone was responsible for this event for the Clydebuilt Festival. On the following Monday Voicebeat and Madrigirls hosted a well-attended workshop in Glasgow University Chapel with Swedish Folk’apella group “Kongero”, who finished the evening with a delightful concert. Voicebeat’s Weekend Away to New Lanark took place on the first weekend of October, where a goodly number enjoyed a relaxing though somewhat dreich weekend self-catering at the Wee Row Hostel. Particular thanks to Bridie and Nik for the delicious fare, Bridie again for a great quiz night, and Harry for a splendid programme. The rain held off on Saturday afternoon while we explored the Falls of Clyde.
This was to be a particularly poignant weekend. Within a few days our very own “Mr Voicebeat” was taken from us. On Thursday 10th October David Stevenson suffered a fatal heart attack on his way home from Govanhill Voices. We all feel his loss very keenly. David joined Voicebeat early in 2007. He served on the committee from 2007 until 2017 in various posts including Treasurer and Quartermaster, the role he made his own and took with him into retirement. He was a great support, working alongside three Musical Directors and at least five Chairs, bringing tremendous talent and commitment to Voicebeat which proved integral to its survival at one time. He was also a founding member of Govanhill Voices. Voicebeat was honoured to help with funeral arrangements and the beautiful wake at Renfield St Stephens where his many friends from music and theatre paid tribute. Since then, Harry has revived songs brought to the choir by David, including his own composition “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night” for the “Sing me a new song” project which celebrated the opening of the refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand in 2015.
Voicebeat was invited to Dave W’s retirement party at Drygate Brewery, singing for our supper our rendition of The Selkirk Grace. On Saturday 30th November we enjoyed what is now a well established tradition, the Tron Panto “Cinderfella” and a pre-theatre table at Esca. Christmas kicked off the following day with a half hour slot for “Winter Wonderland”, not at the stage in Vinicombe Street where the tree was lit, but opening an afternoon of entertainment near to the Hanoi Bike Shop in Ruthven Lane. Our term concluded with the usual Folk Carols workshop, led by three members of Muldoon’s Picnic, and a lovely afternoon of singing in Dram! on Woodlands Road on Saturday 14th December.
Our first outing of the New Year was as participants in the second ever Queen’s Park Wassail, where we all blessed the apple trees with cider and song, and enjoyed some Morris dancing. We enjoyed a Gaelic Psalm singing workshop with Mairi Morrison on Monday 10th February. Harry’s Decade Celebration, dubbed “Carry on Campbell”, took place at The Butterfly and Pig on Friday 28th February. Yes, believe it or not, Harry had now led Voicebeat in an official capacity for ten years. The evening was compered by Nik Chenery, accompanied by well chosen photos projected on the wall. Nik, Karen and Harry gave addresses at the beginning, Karen attempting to give an account of the picture when Harry first came on board to help us at the start of the 2009/10 session, and the following three years in which Voicebeat grew into the fantastic choir it is today by his establishing traditions such as termly workshops, catch-up sessions, summer meetings, weekends away, recording sessions for CDs, and our renowned summer concerts. Furthermore, accomplishing all this himself, with no regular co-leader while hardly missing a rehearsal. Moreover, Harry, who by his own admission had never led a community choir before Voicebeat, was soon to acquire five! Harry was quizzed on his Voicebeat knowledge, and then gave us his songs of the decade. Hannah baked a lovely cake in the shape and colour of Harry’s cap. Tributes and turns were then performed by Voicebeat members old and new, and a very nice evening had by all.
Our second Catch-up Rehearsal of the 2019/20 session was held on Saturday 7th March. Many thanks to Bridie for hosting these sessions, and for her delicious baking.
The highlight of the term was the Ceol is Craic “Gaelictronica” concert with Barbara Morgenstern at the Centre for Contemporary Arts theatre on the evening of Saturday 14th March. A memorable evening, the last of its kind was preceded by sound checks and rehearsal that afternoon, and a long session with the composer on the evening before. Here we sang our Gaelic psalms with Mike as precentor, and Barbara’s arrangements of some traditional sayings in Gaelic and Scots. It was like a dream really. Barbara caught the last plane to Berlin that night. On Monday 16th March we held our last live rehearsal in the SDTA Studios before Covid-19 restrictions. 18 members were present, and the guys outnumbered the ladies. That evening all who were present were determined to carry on singing.
Monday 23rd March and our first virtual VB rehearsal, using the video-conferencing tool Zoom, as the United Kingdom entered “lockdown.” Virtual rehearsals continued thanks to Harry throughout the usual Easter Break. April 2020 would have seen us complete four fantastic years of meeting at SDTA, where our booking is being held open until we are able to return. Rehearsals in lockdown have been supported particularly by the longer-standing members, but have attracted new people as well. One good thing about on-line rehearsals is that our overseas members can now drop in, and it has been lovely to see Maddalena and Joanna. Virtual rehearsals continued until the close of summer term on Monday 29th June with requests and turns as is traditional. By common consent, the length of rehearsal has been reduced from two hours, and we now finish at 8:30pm.
Zoom was also the platform for the first Oban International Shanty Festival at Home, organised by our own Tom Malone. Among the performers were Muldoon’s Picnic, and it was attended virtually by some of us and later available on You Tube.
Throughout the last session we have welcomed many new members including students, and have had the pleasure of singing with folk from Egypt, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, Wales, and Shetland! Among the folk who have lived abroad we have “honorary” Australian, Belgian, Dutch, German, Swiss, and Thai among us. Many songs this session have been of a nautical nature, like our jolly “Pique la Baleine”. Another emerging favourite might be a 17th Century processional hymn in the Quecha language of Peru, “Hanaq Pachap Kusikuynin”. Our newly performed carol of 2019, “Taladh Chriosda” has surfaced from Voicebeat’s early years to great acclaim. We have sung in Basque, Gaelic, Lingala, Quecha and Scots, to name a few languages. Altogether it has been a particularly memorable year for Voicebeat.
Karen Ewing (Archivist)
This has turned out to be a most unusual year – a year of two halves. The first half busy as ever, with many new things on the agenda. The second half virtual rehearsals in isolation, keeping everyone connected.
Our session commenced on Monday 2nd September, directly after four Summer Meetings which were well attended. Terms of fifteen, twelve and ten weeks were booked at SDTA Studios. We held our Annual General Meeting on Monday 9th September during rehearsal. Tom Malone, an inspirational Chair, retired after four years, and Secretary Joanna Redman recently took up employment in the Netherlands. Ordinary member Peter Chua retired from the Committee. Fiona Rickards was elected Chair, Bridie O’Dowd re-elected Treasurer, and Trish Caird elected Secretary. Iain Armstrong continued as ordinary member. Dave Watson has since joined the committee. As Musical Director, Harry reports to and attends all meetings. It is a small and focused group which continues to astonish us with much hard graft behind the scenes and tremendous ideas for social and singing activities. Sincere thanks to the retiring committee, to the current committee, to Maureen R for auditing the accounts, and to those many folk who have taken on non-committee roles enabling the smooth running of the choir and its rehearsals.
Voicebeat and sister choirs performed at the first ever “Glasgow Shanty Day” aboard Tall Ship “Glenlee” on Saturday 21st September. Our very own Tom Malone was responsible for this event for the Clydebuilt Festival. On the following Monday Voicebeat and Madrigirls hosted a well-attended workshop in Glasgow University Chapel with Swedish Folk’apella group “Kongero”, who finished the evening with a delightful concert. Voicebeat’s Weekend Away to New Lanark took place on the first weekend of October, where a goodly number enjoyed a relaxing though somewhat dreich weekend self-catering at the Wee Row Hostel. Particular thanks to Bridie and Nik for the delicious fare, Bridie again for a great quiz night, and Harry for a splendid programme. The rain held off on Saturday afternoon while we explored the Falls of Clyde.
This was to be a particularly poignant weekend. Within a few days our very own “Mr Voicebeat” was taken from us. On Thursday 10th October David Stevenson suffered a fatal heart attack on his way home from Govanhill Voices. We all feel his loss very keenly. David joined Voicebeat early in 2007. He served on the committee from 2007 until 2017 in various posts including Treasurer and Quartermaster, the role he made his own and took with him into retirement. He was a great support, working alongside three Musical Directors and at least five Chairs, bringing tremendous talent and commitment to Voicebeat which proved integral to its survival at one time. He was also a founding member of Govanhill Voices. Voicebeat was honoured to help with funeral arrangements and the beautiful wake at Renfield St Stephens where his many friends from music and theatre paid tribute. Since then, Harry has revived songs brought to the choir by David, including his own composition “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night” for the “Sing me a new song” project which celebrated the opening of the refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand in 2015.
Voicebeat was invited to Dave W’s retirement party at Drygate Brewery, singing for our supper our rendition of The Selkirk Grace. On Saturday 30th November we enjoyed what is now a well established tradition, the Tron Panto “Cinderfella” and a pre-theatre table at Esca. Christmas kicked off the following day with a half hour slot for “Winter Wonderland”, not at the stage in Vinicombe Street where the tree was lit, but opening an afternoon of entertainment near to the Hanoi Bike Shop in Ruthven Lane. Our term concluded with the usual Folk Carols workshop, led by three members of Muldoon’s Picnic, and a lovely afternoon of singing in Dram! on Woodlands Road on Saturday 14th December.
Our first outing of the New Year was as participants in the second ever Queen’s Park Wassail, where we all blessed the apple trees with cider and song, and enjoyed some Morris dancing. We enjoyed a Gaelic Psalm singing workshop with Mairi Morrison on Monday 10th February. Harry’s Decade Celebration, dubbed “Carry on Campbell”, took place at The Butterfly and Pig on Friday 28th February. Yes, believe it or not, Harry had now led Voicebeat in an official capacity for ten years. The evening was compered by Nik Chenery, accompanied by well chosen photos projected on the wall. Nik, Karen and Harry gave addresses at the beginning, Karen attempting to give an account of the picture when Harry first came on board to help us at the start of the 2009/10 session, and the following three years in which Voicebeat grew into the fantastic choir it is today by his establishing traditions such as termly workshops, catch-up sessions, summer meetings, weekends away, recording sessions for CDs, and our renowned summer concerts. Furthermore, accomplishing all this himself, with no regular co-leader while hardly missing a rehearsal. Moreover, Harry, who by his own admission had never led a community choir before Voicebeat, was soon to acquire five! Harry was quizzed on his Voicebeat knowledge, and then gave us his songs of the decade. Hannah baked a lovely cake in the shape and colour of Harry’s cap. Tributes and turns were then performed by Voicebeat members old and new, and a very nice evening had by all.
Our second Catch-up Rehearsal of the 2019/20 session was held on Saturday 7th March. Many thanks to Bridie for hosting these sessions, and for her delicious baking.
The highlight of the term was the Ceol is Craic “Gaelictronica” concert with Barbara Morgenstern at the Centre for Contemporary Arts theatre on the evening of Saturday 14th March. A memorable evening, the last of its kind was preceded by sound checks and rehearsal that afternoon, and a long session with the composer on the evening before. Here we sang our Gaelic psalms with Mike as precentor, and Barbara’s arrangements of some traditional sayings in Gaelic and Scots. It was like a dream really. Barbara caught the last plane to Berlin that night. On Monday 16th March we held our last live rehearsal in the SDTA Studios before Covid-19 restrictions. 18 members were present, and the guys outnumbered the ladies. That evening all who were present were determined to carry on singing.
Monday 23rd March and our first virtual VB rehearsal, using the video-conferencing tool Zoom, as the United Kingdom entered “lockdown.” Virtual rehearsals continued thanks to Harry throughout the usual Easter Break. April 2020 would have seen us complete four fantastic years of meeting at SDTA, where our booking is being held open until we are able to return. Rehearsals in lockdown have been supported particularly by the longer-standing members, but have attracted new people as well. One good thing about on-line rehearsals is that our overseas members can now drop in, and it has been lovely to see Maddalena and Joanna. Virtual rehearsals continued until the close of summer term on Monday 29th June with requests and turns as is traditional. By common consent, the length of rehearsal has been reduced from two hours, and we now finish at 8:30pm.
Zoom was also the platform for the first Oban International Shanty Festival at Home, organised by our own Tom Malone. Among the performers were Muldoon’s Picnic, and it was attended virtually by some of us and later available on You Tube.
Throughout the last session we have welcomed many new members including students, and have had the pleasure of singing with folk from Egypt, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, Wales, and Shetland! Among the folk who have lived abroad we have “honorary” Australian, Belgian, Dutch, German, Swiss, and Thai among us. Many songs this session have been of a nautical nature, like our jolly “Pique la Baleine”. Another emerging favourite might be a 17th Century processional hymn in the Quecha language of Peru, “Hanaq Pachap Kusikuynin”. Our newly performed carol of 2019, “Taladh Chriosda” has surfaced from Voicebeat’s early years to great acclaim. We have sung in Basque, Gaelic, Lingala, Quecha and Scots, to name a few languages. Altogether it has been a particularly memorable year for Voicebeat.
Karen Ewing (Archivist)
