What a year this has been, what a rare mood we’re in, why it’s almost like•••••••• we ‘re on a roller coaster ride to the high county, where the music is sweeter and worthy patrons fall over one another in their eagerness to hand over another cheque to Mo, and so be associated with the finest in the land.
This edition of ‘The Orpheans’ will hint at our activities; a dip into the past with Pat Smith and searching for hidden treasures in Southern France.
There is an excellent précis of the Tuscany tour by Dot Smith and for a rattling good read we recommend that you enjoy Margaret Gabe’s full account on the choir website, of the delights and vicissitudes – including the wet bits too. Then there is the perfect after Christmas dinner quiz, our bulging mailbox – a real carry on – Tiffin ‘A Sunday afternoon must’, there are the Leigh Orpheus Ladies - where would we be without them? Colin helps us through some strange symbols. Ralph Vaughan Williams travels through Essex “Bushes and Briars” and how can we learn the words with ease, there
is poetry too and how about a visit to a male voice choir in France who actually sang at the 1867 Paris exhibition that is even before the Eiffel Tower was started? It’s all there in this sparkling edition of ‘The Orpheans’. What alot of talent we have attracted, they can even sing too!
We have the ever faithful and hard working Martin and his special column plus news from the Secretary Tony Grellier. The other moguls are sitting tight, but what a splendid job they are doing.
Thanks are extended to many people for their contribution to the year. The new committee has added a new dynamic to the choir and others deserve special thanks such as Peter Thomas who has produced a very fine DVD of the Tuscany tour which rivals any professional DVD I have seen. The music team as ever have surpassed themselves. (Where does David get all that energy?) There is too much for this edition so sorry if your piece was left out, it may well appear in the future. Have a good read at this festive time and let us all enjoy a very Happy Christmas and a joyous New Year.
John Smith
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