Wrablers Rehearsal Minutes 5 Nov 2013
Venue: Kathleen’s office Lend Lease Building, 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, NW1 3BF.
Chair – Juliana 07812 208 878
Attendees- JB, JL, KM, LS, WT, SS, SL, RM, SE, MM, DD,
Apols: JP (at bonfire with children)
The Songs:
1. Ding Dong Merrily On High – some refreshing needed as to structure of the song. Refer to JB’s previous email. Daniel to learn Alto for the Men’s Glorias with Matt on Tune, Seb on Bass and Robin on Tenor for the Glorias. Men to sort our how they will do their E’en so here below, etc, verse, although just two parts will be acceptable as texture.
2. Stormy Weather – Mens’s Dod Dos were pretty good, though other peeps had not learned the Do Dos, for reasons best known to themselves. (Sigh) Daniel was patience personified and after 40 mins the song was ‘in one piece’ and sounding the best it has done so far. It’s not an easy song. Needs more work and it will be lush.
Break – we all signed a card to send to Mercedes on the occasion of her twins’s jubilant birth on 30 Oct
3. In Dulci Jubilo – W tutored us re the words. The song was brought down a tone, and then back up by a semitone – final pitch tbc. The Sops acutely felt the absence of Jill. Again, parts were under-learned by some peeps, (sigh) so the song was raggedy. But sounding promising by the end.
4. Fairytale of New York – Much improved since last week, particularly by the men, and by the addition of Louli’s whistle. Folk were encouraged to listen to the Pogues version to inhabit the lilt further. An ending was experimented with, consisting of :
The Boys of the NYPD choir, etc followed by
whistle, joined by all la la la-ing along with whistle, then into
The Boys of the NYPD choir again, to end.
AOB
1. New group of 4 repertoire setters identified themselves:
WT, RM, DD & SL. Thanks, team!
2. Kathleen explained the understanding by which we are allowed to use the Lendlease floor which is designated as a building site (we were in the company of some fine light fittings tonight), and beyond. (I confess I didn’t listen carefully to all the detail as I was too worried about upcoming item 3, so please correct me if wrong). The gist was that we are welcome to stay and spaces will be found for us as we go along, and we are invited to sing at a social evening at some point and are invited to ‘recruit’ from the assembled. K also was hoping that we would be able to use Lendlease for Sat 9 Nov, which she has since confirmed for 10am to 5pm on Sat 9 Nov. Well done Kathleen, and thanks!
3. JB broke the news that Nolias11 has closed down, which had come to light upon sending Jade the draft flyer for comment. Daniel explained that the family had regrettably come to the decision to sell up following a year of hard work 24/7, after which the family was under strain. Sad for them, and sad for Wrablers too, stranded without a venue, indeed all dressed up for the Ball and nowhere to go. It was agreed that the show must go on even if we had to hire a space and split the cost amongst 12 of us. Various venues were mentioned, particularly New Unity Hall in Upper Street, used by Songlines in summer 2013. WT had it under investigation. All to go and think of venues overnight. (Now read on in the Addendum after the AOB)
4. Louli met Rachel King formerly of Songlines at a party and Rachel is ‘thinking about’ joining us. Great news. Great range (ie, she can sing sop), very nice person. Nice one, Louli, thank you.
Addendum to Minutes
Some members repaired to the Green Man as it has become our default debrief pub. Following a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio respectively, WT and JB made their customary visit to the Ladies’, where they happened to encounter Cheryl, the friendly barmaid who has noted Wrablers’ presence in the pub over the last few weeks. WT told Cheryl that Wrablers had just lost their gig venue and did she happen to know of any alternatives? [WT does this sort of thing whilst under the influence of SB. It’s good. JB] Cheryl happened to know the Green Man has a very nice function room with bar right there and showed it to WT & JB. KM and Simon A, last remaining Wrablers in pub by then also had a look and gave their approval. Wheels were set in motion and the following day the Green Man was booked for Wrablers Snow Ball gig on the new date Tue 10 Dec (because the 3rd was not available.) Well done team!!