We’re launching a new group – and it’s already got the first ‘gig’ lined up!
Our Folk Chorale will be an occasional group for confident singers. We have three rehearsals in the coming weeks. The chorale will be learning songs by heart and performing without music. The songs are complex arrangements for mixed voices. There are no auditions, but, as project leader Paul says, “be prepared to work hard!”
The first performance will be during an all-day event on Saturday 12 October is a unique re-enactment of the bellringing competition which was sung about in the Devon Bellringing Song.
A coach journey will follow two teams of bellringers from the Devon Association of Ringers as they ring the bells at the five churches in West Devon and East Cornwall that are mentioned in the song. It was collected in 1890 by Dartmoor’s famous song and tune collector, Sabine Baring-Gould and the event is part of the Baring-Gould Centenary Programme, marking the 100th year since he died in 1924.
The Chorale is led by our experienced musician, Paul Wilson: “We’re delighted that some of the singers who’ve joined the Chorale are new to Wren. The Chorale is something very different for us. We’ll be working at a quicker pace and singers will be asked to give a little more time to learning words and getting ‘off the page’ to communicate more directly with the audience. Songs will be taught by ear with scores, lyrics and sound files provided as learning resources.
“We’ll be learning two or three famous bellringing rounds in rehearsals, and I’m doing a new arrangement of the Bellringing Song, so that the score resonates with the bellringing, echoes it, if you like. We’ll be singing those at the beginning, middle and end of the day. And we’ll throw in a bellringing round or two on the journey, which the Chorale might share on the coach as we travel.”
The rehearsals are on three Saturdays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Ebenezer Hall, Okehampton, with professional leader Paul Wilson. The dates are 14 & 28 September and 5 October. It’s £40 to join the project (£25 reduced price). There are no auditions.
If you want to know more, call us at on 01837 53754 or email us at [email protected] . Or visit our website: www.wrenmusic.co.uk/event/folk-chorale/2024-09-14
There’s more about the bellringing re-enactment day, One Day in October, here: www.wrenmusic.co.uk/event/one-day-in-october – the public can also book their seats on the coach via this page.
It’s going to be exciting!
