Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK EIGHT - PEOPLE WE KNOW
This week we featured performances by people who have worked with Tonic Choir.
|
Monday May 4
Brian Kay Brian was a founder member of the King’s Singers, a hugely popular singing group which continues to this day, though with a different line-up. He led a Tonic rehearsal at Grimsdyke School in 2019 as part of our preparation for the Really Big Chorus’ Carmina Burana. About 40 Tonic members enjoyed a wonderful session with him and we therefore felt a special connection when he conducted us and about 1,000 other singers and full orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Brian on the Good old Days in 1977 He is the one on the far right as you look at the screen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-uerz7g-w Photos at the Royal Albert Hall https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonicchoir/albums/72157709683574357 |
|
|
Tuesday May 5
Helen Chadwick Helen has run several sessions for Tonic and also performed for us on one of our residential weekends. I worked with her at the Royal Opera House (Paul Hamlyn Hall, rehearsal photo included here) in 2008 on The Singing Circle. The music for this was composed by Helen and very well-received (3 performances all with standing ovations). My favourite piece was ‘The Unbroken’. The words are by Rashani, an amazing lady who I subsequently met when she came to London and a number of us got together to perform the song for her. Before listening to the song, I suggest reading the words. The Unbroken Words: https://rashani.com/arts/poems/poems-by-rashani Song: https://helenchadwick.bandcamp.com/track/the-unbroken The song can be played without payment. |
|
|
|
Wednesday May 6
Pete Churchill Pete has run several very successful choral jazz workshops for us. At the last one, in 2019, he also gave us a terrific 40 minute solo performance. On this track he plays piano and sings one of his own compositions. You may recognise it as it was one of the songs he taught us. People will come and people will go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwtAi7BP_Ew |
|
|
Thursday May 7
Nadine Benjamin From that first project back in 2011, Nadine has been a good friend to Tonic Choir. Her successful career progression has been followed by many of us. A party of Tonic members watched her recent debut at the English National Opera followed by a leading role at Opera Holland Park. Of course, she sang with Tonic in 2019 during our Spring Concert. Here are two tracks from her 2019 CD. Vissi d’Arte (from Tosca, Puccini) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVbsITjakLk Quando M’en Vo (from La Bòheme, Puccini) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuR5pX1UX2o |
|
|
Friday May 8
Ruth Sillers In 2018, Ruth took part in our Flying with Feathers show for RAF100 at Bentley Priory Museum. The whole show was recorded and is on-line. Here is a link to one of Ruth’s excellent contributions: https://musicforchoirs.weebly.com/noor-inayat-khan.html For Tonic Jukebox, Ruth has provided us with a recording of 3 short love poems. You will find the audio file under Ruth's photo. Sonnet 43 - How Do I love Thee - Sonnets from the Portuguese - Elizabeth Barrett Browning Sonnet 14 - If Thou Must Love Me - Sonnets from the Portuguese - Elizabeth Barrett Browning How Like A Fire Doth Love Increase - Pamphilia to Amphilanthus - Lady Mary Wroth Ruth’s CD, War Girls: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose by Women in the 1st World War at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/audiobook/war-girls-anthology-poetry-prose-by-women-in-1st-world/id492018981 |
|
|
Weekend May 9/10
Philip and Bryan Of course, you have also worked with us two. It has been 11 years now for many of you and you still get our names wrong. We might have to resort to badges. In 1992 we were booked to do a cabaret and this was our finale. We expect you to marvel at the intricate choreography (!), and at how young we look! One Step (music and lyrics by Maltby and Shire) https://youtu.be/d6HRDjyMRXU |
|