A complete unknown

Posted on February 27, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged 1960's, a complete unknown, biopic, blowing in the wind, Bob Dylan, Film, Life, Music, Songs, Time3 Comments

I just went to see “A complete unknown”, a biopic of Bob Dylan early career up until he started using electric guitar at the Newport folk festival in 1965.

It showed his collaboration and love of Joan Baez and his other girlfriend Suze Rotolo. There was wonderful singing in the film by all the cast. A lot of songs that I only vaguely remember from the 1960’s because I was only a young child. But certain songs like “Blowing in the wind” are strong memories. I also remember Joan Baez songs as my hubby used to play them a lot. Time plays tricks with memories but so much came sweeping back into my mind as I watched the film.

Music is a wonderful form of communication. This was a brilliant film. If you can go and see it. X

Choir tonight

Posted on February 19, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged extended, Fun, Languages, Library, monthly meeting, Music, Singing, Songs, Traditional1 Comment

Tonight’s choir practice was a monthly event, based at Hanley Library in Stoke on Trent. I almost missed it because of my car problems but friends gave me a lift. It was due to be the last practice but the librarian has got extra funding for an extra 3 months. X

We sing various songs including north American Indian, south African and Maori pieces as well as traditional English songs, sometime we tackle Welsh songs like Canon Lan. We had a cheerful evening, I even tried to play the kazoo. It’s good to socialise and singing is good for mental health and memory.

Nursery rhymes remembered

Posted on January 13, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Childhood, Manchester, Memories, Nursery rhymes, nutmeg, Opie, Pear, Poem, Poetry, Salford, seesaw, Songs, TimeLeave a comment

I had a little nut tree

Nothing would it bear

But a silver nutmeg

And a golden pear

The king of Spains daughter

Came to visit me

And all for the sake

Of my little nut tree.

Funny how your mind looks for something interesting when it’s got nothing to do. I used to know a lot of nursery rhymes when I was a little child. This one I would say is well known? But who knows this one that I used to sing when I was on a seesaw.

Seesaw, Marjorie Daw

Jenny shall have a new master,

She shall have but a penny a day

Because she can’t work any faster!

I want to try and remember more. A couple in Manchester or Salford? Collected a lot of rhymes and children’s songs in the early 1900s. I think their surname was Opie. I’m sure there’s more information about it on line. They found that a rhyme sung in the south of England could travel to the North of Scotland in about two weeks by word of mouth (pre telephone).

Long day

Posted on September 30, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Choir, Enjoyment, Joy, Life, Memories, Music, Poem, Poetry, Rhyme, Singing, Songs, Time, TiredLeave a comment

Been to choir twice today

Morning songs, evening tunes

Now I’m tired and so I lay

On the chair, ready to sleep.

Music gave me a good day

Raised my spirits up in joy

Made me feel less dark I’d say

Summer returned

When that music did play…

War of the worlds

Posted on September 22, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2067, forever autumn, Justin Hayward, Memories, Music, Richard Burton, Songs, War of the worlds2 Comments

What’s your all-time favorite album?

‘The chances of anyone coming from Mars are 100 to 1 they say’. I think that’s how one of the pieces of music starts.

I’m not good at remembering music, but I really enjoyed this album. It was songs interspersed with narration by Richard Burton. It was very atmospheric, the voice of Burton was really extraordinarily in telling the tale of the invasion of Earth by Martians. The songs include Forever Autumn sung by Justin Hayward in 1978. I think that is my favourite song on the album.

I have to admit looking it up on YouTube because I couldn’t remember the title. But hearing it took me back to the student flat where I sat with a cup of tea going cold as I listened to my friend playing the album on a cassette player that they had copied it to.

Hearing it again gave me goosebumps. I’m glad this prompt came up and reminded me of good memories.

Went singing!

Posted on February 6, 2023February 7, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Australian, Choir, Chorus, Ghana, Illness, lungs, Music, Sea shanties, Singing, Songs, world music6 Comments

I went back to choir practice tonight after about six weeks off. My chest infection seems to have finally subsided and I’m just left with a tight feeling in my chest and my voice is a bit growly so I was coughing a bit after trying to sustain notes.

I did have fun, we sang some sea shanties, including Haul away Joe. A Ghanaian song, a song from Australia and one about a Low bridge on the Erie canal.

Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Bass singers were all there and we harmonised really well together. I’m really sorry I missed the Christmas Carol pub crawl and the Wassail in January. I’m glad to be back!

Sunday entertainment

Posted on July 2, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Bethesda Chapel, Eventbrite, Hanley, Music, Poems, Poetry, Songs, Stoke-on trent, Sunday, WordsLeave a comment

Animal Apocalypse, a musical look at the plight of our planet. It should be very moving and thought provoking.

Bethesda Chapel, Albion Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. A methodist Chapel that is being restored to its former glory.

Today at 3pm. 3.7.2022 Tickets through Eventbrite or by donation at the door.

Featuring words, music and poems. With Sean O’Callaghan and the Clay Chorus. Devised by Robert of Etruria and Gred Stephens. Choir leader Kate Barfield.

We have been rehearsing for this for several weeks now. It’s come together really well, with the choir learning harmonies to some new and old songs, and the readings touching on the statistics of environmental issues together with classic poems and words. Should be a good event.

Old songs

Posted on May 7, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Adverts, Martin, Music, old music, Sinatra, Songs, Television, Time, WritersLeave a comment

I keep hearing old songs on modern adverts on TV. I guess because some old songs are going out of copyright. Imagine an electric car being sold with Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra singing in the background. Or is it because musicians are selling off their play lists so advertisers can use them. I’m sure I’ve heard a few David Bowie songs on ads recently? It’s a funny old world, and songs that were written and recorded before most people were born are out there now….

Stoke Sings choir festival.

Posted on January 25, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Cheshire, Choir, Choirs, Fun, Life, Music, Singing, Songs, Staffordshire, Stoke sings, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

Sixteen Choirs, including the Deaf links Choir and the Intertheatre choir got together in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent today at the Victoria Hall. The reason? It was a splendid Choir festival for choirs around Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Workshops on sea shanties, music from the shows. Gospel singing and African music were some of the wonderful things we learnt. The teachers were so enthusiastic and so we’re we as pupils. Then later we learnt a new song to sing at the Finale.

There was a concert in the evening when all the choirs performed. An eclectic mix of Bond themes, a song from sister act, old songs by Robbie Burns because it is Burns night tonight. Lots of beautiful melodies and friendly people. Finally we sang auld land syne and said farewells to new friends. A grand day out.

Music and singing

Posted on June 18, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged A capella, Blogging, Choir, Education, Enjoyment, Fun, Learning, Life, Music, School, SongsLeave a comment

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I’ve been to a choir workshop on Sunday where we learnt songs and short pieces over a four hour period, then tonight I was learning songs for the penkhull mystery play which is being accompanied by Clay Chorus, a choir I’m part of. I’m a member of the cast of the play, so I might not actually be singing all the songs but it’s good to learn them.

It is quite tiring doing so much singing. It takes concentration and the ability to listen closely to your fellow choir members and the choir leader. We learn a capella so we often don’t have any accompaniment.

I also went to a concert on Saturday night and later today I will be watching a live broadcast of the Pirates of Penzance at our local cinema.

Music can transport your mind, calm stress, but also excite and enthral. Music can be raucous, noisy, loud, rhythmic and ugly. It can also bring tranquility and peace.

I think music should be taught more, to all ages and abilities. It should not be elitist and should not be for the privileged few. Music broadens the mind and the senses.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Songs