[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Shama is from Bangladesh. She loves choral Singing, but wonders if all choral music is religious:   “I love Singing and have been Singing sinc...

Setting by D W Solomons of a poem by Marie Keyser, for two equal voices Elle est près du fleuve dormeur debout It stands by the sleepy river mais le saule incliné toucherait de sa cîme l'eau But the bending willow would touch the Water with its very...  moreSetting by D W Solomons of a poem by Marie Keyser, for two equal voices Elle est près du fleuve dormeur debout It stands by the sleepy river mais le saule incliné toucherait de sa cîme l'eau But the bending willow would touch the Water with its very top L'église vieille dit les heures de l'île où la nuit descend The church - an old church - tells the hours from the island where the night descends Je la vois encore son toit de gris dans le gris de l'eau. I can still see it, its grey roof in the grey of the Water pressens dans la tour de bois ma demeure la folie I have a presentiment in the tower of wood of my dwelling place, of madness la folie le silence of madness, of silence clos clos vigilance Closed in, closed in but keeping watch Oh Ne pas altérer ce qui reste, et le doit. Oh never change what remains and should remain "Was bleibt aber stiften die Dichter." What remains, however, is the stuff of poetry.  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Whether it’s bringing up a family or long-term illness or a bad Singing experience, many people find it hard to get back into Singing when they...

Announcing a new study which explores partcipation in choirs and Singing groups. This is a new research project from Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. The study asks why people sing in choirs and what the experience of Singing has been duri...

HeartSong Sing For Your Heart A Singing Group for Cardiac Friends You can forget your troubles, you live in the moment and enjoy the Singing – beautiful! – J Singing is a gentle form of cardio-vascular exercise with many wellbeing benefits: Encou...  moreHeartSong Sing For Your Heart A Singing Group for Cardiac Friends You can forget your troubles, you live in the moment and enjoy the Singing – beautiful! – J Singing is a gentle form of cardio-vascular exercise with many wellbeing benefits: Encourages deeper breathing – promoting respiratory health Releases stress – potentially lowering blood pressure Lifts the spirits – releasing happy hormones Brings us together – in a creative activity Boosts memory skills – it’s brain gym Can be Seriously Good Fun! Sessions include gentle warm up exercises and Singing of songs from around the world All taught by ear – no previous musical ability required. Open to all cardiac patients, their friends and family. Lead by experienced Singing facilitator Katie Rose It doesn’t really matter how you sing, you sing for the enjoyment and the fun of it and you feel safe - D Join us for Happy Healthy Harmonies Sessions take place bi-monthly Holwell Village Hall Pirton Road, Holwell, Hitchin, SG5 3SS...    less

Singing at the Seaside 17-24 September 2023 Agon Coutainville Normandie,France  HeartSong Singing Retreat Holiday on the Normandy Coast     Nurture your creativity, wellbeing and sing from the heart   breath in the fresh ...

  TIM KNIGHT MUSIC Singing HOLIDAY ‘DALES ESCAPE’ Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July 2019 NEWFIELD HALL, AIRTON, NR MALHAM, BD23 4AA We are delighted to invite experienced singers to take part in our next Singing holida...

I wrote this in 1976 for the six Singing students of Pat Scanlon, a colleague of mine at West Heath School, who died from complications of Hodgkins Lymphoma. The first performance was at her memorial service. This performance, however was part of the me...  moreI wrote this in 1976 for the six Singing students of Pat Scanlon, a colleague of mine at West Heath School, who died from complications of Hodgkins Lymphoma. The first performance was at her memorial service. This performance, however was part of the memorial service in St Martin in the Fields, for Ruth Rudge, who was a very distinguished and lovely lady, and also my first boss. The ladies of the Occasional Choir, whose beginnings were as the Madrigal Choir at West Heath, which I co-founded, all those years ago, are the singers, including one of the six that took part in the very first performance. I am conducting, and Penny Walker, who now directs the choir is accompanying. Unfortunately less than half the singers are visible in the video.  less

Soul of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Water from the side of Christ, wash me Passion of Christ, give me strength. Hear me Jesus Hide me in Thy wounds that I may never leave Thy side From all the evil that surrounds me, defend me A...  moreSoul of Christ, sanctify me Body of Christ, save me Water from the side of Christ, wash me Passion of Christ, give me strength. Hear me Jesus Hide me in Thy wounds that I may never leave Thy side From all the evil that surrounds me, defend me And when the call of death arrives Bid me come to thee that I may praise thee with thy saints Forever.