It may be almost Halloween but, like the shops, we are already preparing for Christmas! We are looking forward to familiar favourites and also to the sparkle of some new Christmas musical magic.

Those of us travelling to Malta have also been working very hard to ensure our Malta audiences will receive musical treats, not tricks!.

For your diary – please especially note the section rehearsals:

Please notes changes entered 22.10.13, revised 11.11.13 and marked *

September Rehearsals and Malta Schedule

Rehearsal plans

Concert preparation: We are busy working on our contribution to the September 15th Scarecrow Festival Concert. Details of the rehearsal at home links can be found here.

8th September: We expect to rehearse in two parts: a) revision for the September Concert, b) revision for the Malta trip. Those not attending the Malta trip should be able to leave this rehearsal a bit early.

15th September: pre-concert rehearsal at 6.30 pm – meet in Church Halls -as least initially

22nd September: We expect to rehearse in two parts: a) new pieces for Christmas, b) revision for the Malta trip. Those not attending the Malta trip should be able to leave this rehearsal a bit early.

All members should bring

• Sing Sing Hosanna,
• Christmas Lullaby,
• Angels’ Carol,
• In the bleak midwinter,
• The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
• When a child is born,
• The very best time of the year,
• He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (ladies only)

Members travelling to Malta should also ensure they have this additional music with them.

• Pacem 
• As the Deer Pants 

29th September: No rehearsal

Please see the August update for other news about concerts and rehearsals over the year.

Malta music

Members travelling with the Choir to Malta should look at the Malta programme 2013 so that they can add these pieces to their rehearsal folder.

Please find links below to support home rehearsal for most of the September programme  (including single part midi files for Teddy Bear’s picnic).

We will have group rehearsal as normal on the 1st and 8th September.

Please also note we hope to have an additional group rehearsal at 6.30 on the 15th September – meet in Church Halls, at least initially

The Holy City : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuY0cCKL9sQ

Teddy Bear’s Picnic (find those bananas!) :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgN37bnGVyI

you might also like to try the single part MIDI files here

Blue Skies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMvHxgRtNOo

Reasons to be cheerful – the new choir season is here! 

It may be almost time to pack away the sun lotion but you will have all the warmth you need from catching up with your friends at the Bothwell Philharmonic Choir.

We start back on Sunday 25th August at 7 pm in Bothwell Parish Church halls as usual and we will also have the opportunity to hear a recording from the Spring Concert. Please bring the following music for the rehearsal:

• The Holy City
• Brother James’ Air
• Teddy Bear’s Picnic
• Blue Skies
• Rhythm of Life

It is worth noting that rehearsals between now and the Malta trip will not be exclusively for repertoire for Malta. We also have the Gala Concert on the 15th September to prepare for and it is hoped we can begin one or two Christmas pieces. It would therefore still be beneficial for all choir members to attend rehearsals, whether travelling to Malta or not.

We will also have some news regarding ladies choir outfits at the first rehearsal, so full attendance would be very much appreciated. If you are unable to attend please do forward your apologies in order that any important information may be passed on.

We are delighted to learn that Jim Crawford (our previous President) has now been discharged from hospital and hope he will soon be fit to join us again. Jim sends his grateful thanks for the thoughtful messages and visits he received from members of the choir.

Key dates for your diary going forwards are:

Concerts

• Our Gala Concert – Bothwell Scarecrow Festival  – Sunday 15 September 2013– Bothwell Parish Church 7.30pm
• A special Organ Fund-Raising Concert to support the new organ at St Bride’s Church in Bothwell – 15th November 2013
• Our Rotary Carol Concert – Sunday 8 December 2013 – Uddingston Old Parish Church 2pm
• Our Christmas Spectacular Concert – Thursday 19 December 2013 – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – 7.30pm
• A Special Joint Concert with St Andrew’s School, Buenos Airies – Friday 24 January 2014 (venue tbc)

Rehearsal notes

• No rehearsal Sunday 29 September
• Evening rehearsal as normal Sunday 8 December 7pm

And of course -for those lucky enough to have booked their place, the much anticipated Malta Trip – Monday 14th – Saturday 19th October 2013 

In case anyone missed our AGM you can find our Musical Director’s Report by clicking to the right page here

Read our reviews for the Spring concert can be found here

Please can members who are touring with us to Malta remember that payment for Bus travel is due at the start of the new 2013 season.

We are busy preparing for our final music extravaganza of the season – our  Spring Concert on 31st May.

Building on the the success of our recent concerts, we are looking forward to another great programme. However, despite all the hard work so far,  we can’t sit back just yet, as the new music means there is still quite a bit of work to do.

Mark sends his thanks for your good wishes and we are really pleased he is now back with us. He appreciates all the homework people have been doing to make sure we are ready for the 31st and hopes that folk will continue to keep working with the links below.

Group Rehearsals:

In a change to previous announcements, we are now planning to rehearse on every Sunday until the concert including the 26th May. An additional rehearsal is planned for Thursday 30th May ( not Tues 28th after all, despite messages to the contrary on Sunday). This will be at 7 pm in St Bride’s Church, Fallside Road, Bothwell, until at least 8.30 pm.

On the 31st itself, we will gather and gown at St Bride’s, at 6.30 pm in the Sacristy, (while the school choir is rehearsing in the Church) to rehearse briefly at 6.45 pm. Doors will open to the public at 7 pm and the concert will start at 7.30 pm. Please note that only performers will be able to access the Church before 7 pm. Dress code for the concert is the usual ‘Spring Concert’ attire -see here for details.

Home Rehearsal Links:

For ease of working, rehearsal links for this month’s pieces (except for Brother James’ Air -please contact us if you find a good link) are shown again below.

Rutter’s  Clare Benediction

The Holy City

Cantique de Jean Racine (Faure/Rutter)

Lamb of God, Twila Paris

and one with a 4 part harmony for notes at least (even if some are flat)

The Gift of Music

Teddy Bear’s Picnic (now fixed -find those bananas!)

you might also like to try the single part MIDI files here

Blue Skies

Rhythm of Life, please also see another version further down the page

and another version  here to try

How Much is that Doggie in the Window? (at 2 mins 42 seconds into the clip)

June is Bustin’ Out All Over -please also see further down

have been trying to find a version that is choral rather than solo -this seems to be the only one out there, not always easy to hear the parts and is forever stopping and starting, but perhaps better than nothing to rehearse with:

Message from Musical Director:

”Dear Members,

 Many thanks for your attendance at the concert on Sunday evening. The singing was superb and the feedback from the audience was that the programme was ‘just perfect’. I was delighted with the performance from the choir and I am sure you will agree Geoffrey’s playing along with Aileen and Suzanne’s contribution made the whole evening simply superb.

 Have a well-deserved Easter break and I look forward to welcoming you all back on Sunday 14^th April in preparation for our concert on the 23^rd April and for our Spring Concert. Many congratulations again.

 Mark”

Fantastic news! The concert on the 24th March raised £2000 for the Restoration Project!

Concerts:

We are preparing for the Concert in Aid of Christian Aid on 23rd April. The provisional programme can be viewed here: New Kilpatrick Programme 2013

Our Annual Spring concert will be on 31st May. The provisional programme can be viewed here.

Group Rehearsals:

As per previous member notices and updates, we will next meet on April 14th. April 21st. Please bring ‘Gloria’ by Vivaldi, ‘Wherever You Are’, and ‘Look at the World’.

Extra rehearsals, before the Annual Spring Concert, will take place on 28th and 30th May.

Home Rehearsal:

Please see the links below

Rutter Clare Benediction

The Holy City

Cantique de Jean Racine (Faure/Rutter)

Lamb of God, Twila Paris

Vivaldi Gloria

“Wherever You Are”

The Gift of Music

Teddy Bear’s Picnic (now fixed!)

Blue Skies

Rhythm of Life

How Much is that Doggie in the Window? (at 2 mins 42 seconds into the clip)

June is Bustin’ Out All Over

This Nearly Was Mine

Members who have been asking when this annual fantastic exhibition of rising talent will take place, should note it will be held at

Craigholme School (72 St Andrew’s Drive, Glasgow G41 4HS)

on Thursday March 14th at 7 p.m. (Tickets £3).