If you thought that completing two very successful acoustic-style concerts at the start of September meant that we'd get a bit of a return of a "silly season" here at KTB Music Theatre Chorus as a reward... yeah, that's what we were thinking, too, but we were all wrong. So, so wrong. We should have known something was up the second Katy asked/told us to hand in everything that wasn't related to snow, reindeer, sleighs, and so on.
"If you're good this week, I'll bring Elf next week," said KTB, with the tone of a teacher who knows full well that bribery may be effective on occasion, but also that there's times it just won't wash. We are - as always - doing all of this prep for a reason, and it's honestly very exciting: we're holding what this writer can only describe as a "mega concert" to kick off our festive season, on 28 November, at Chorley Town Hall. All of the KTB Music choirs, plus local primary school children, plus Chorley Silver Brass Band. Honestly, what more do you need to welcome December in style?
I've mentioned in the past that there are weeks when we spend an entire rehearsal working in-depth on only a couple of songs. This was one of those weeks, starting off with "Rudolph" (Robbie Williams). This is a "hot potato" kind of song, with each section quickly dipping in and out of the main lyric line before dropping back to harmonies. It's always lovely to hear each section's part in isolation, and then finally get to hear how it all comes together.
It's always important when we're doing these note-bashing evenings that we're all on the same page, especially with songs like these, where we really have to listen to the other sections to help pick up our cues. Enter "White Winter Hymnal" (Fleet Foxes), which is a stylistic, dark fairytale-esque look at childhood that even the original lead singer admits is difficult to sing live due to the repetitive (and earworm-inducing) lyrics. It's another a capella number, however this one is far less exhausting for our Katy than 'Drunken Sailor'. Apparently this song was trending online last year, around the time when a small group of us performed this as a semi-chorus piece at our Chew's Yard gig. Maybe we'll inspire its return?
We wrapped up the rehearsal with another run-through of "Rudolph", just to double-check that it was actually sinking in, and it's definitely starting to sound like something quite special. We can't wait to hear how it sounds when everyone joins in with us in November.
It was quite a short evening as far as blogging material goes, but believe me, we worked every minute of that rehearsal. With the cold mornings now starting, jumpers being pulled out of storage, and a definite chill in the air as we left the Studio, this writer might actually have to embrace the arrival of autumn. And the tinselly music that comes with it when you're in Performing Arts Land.
I even bought my first festive gift of the year this week, and I think that's a record for me. Stay warm, germ-free, and elf-ready, dear readers! Elf Watch is in progress...
Written by Aeryn Isherwood
