Author: K O'Neill

I am a classical music enthusiast and a lover of choral music in particular. I run the Polyphony Down the Pub social/singing night, probably the most thrilling singing-Renaissance-motets-in-the-backroom-of-a-pub experience you could ever hope to have.

Other opportunities for singing this December (and beyond)

Thank you to everyone who has kindly agreed to sing at our Trafalgar Square set this coming Sunday (there’s still time to sign up if you fancy some singing carols interspersed with Victoria, Palestrina, Bach and of course Gumpelzhaimer!).

You might also be interested in a couple of other drop-in groups who provide opportunities to sing Renaissance repertoire.

The London Motet & Madrigal Club, a singing group with a venerable 80 year history, are next due to meet this coming Saturday evening (December 17th) in the City of London, with a line-up that includes Guerrero, Byrd and Handl among many others. They meet regularly once a month throughout the year and you can pay to participate on a per session or annual basis.

(Just as we went to press, the LMMC cancelled their December 17th event but they’ll be back in 2023!)

If you’d like the chance to sing this music in a liturgical setting then look no further than the Lisson Grove Choir at the Church of Our Lady, St John’s Wood, (youngsters in comparison with the LMMC, with a mere 50 years of history behind them!).

They invite competent sight-singers to join them for performances of Renaissance masses and motets at services throughout the year. You can next join them to sing Victoria, Rore, Palestrina and Praetorius at Midnight Mass on December 24th and/or Byrd, Victoria and Morales on Christmas Morning. (Such treats!)

Full details for both groups can be found via their websites (links above) so do get in touch with them if interested.

Cheers

Kevin

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Let’s try that again, shall we?

Can you believe it’s almost a year since I ruined literally everyone’s Christmas by reluctantly having to cancel our carols at Trafalgar Square?

So here’s a bit of early seasonal joyousness for you – we’ve blagged a spot again this year and this time I promise it’s going ahead, rain, snow or bubonic plague! (Cheery.)

The date is Continue reading Let’s try that again, shall we?

Can you believe it’s almost a year since I ruined literally everyone’s Christmas by reluctantly having to cancel our carols at Trafalgar Square?

So here’s a bit of early seasonal joyousness for you – we’ve blagged a spot again this year and this time I promise it’s going ahead, rain, snow or bubonic plague! (Cheery.)

The date is Continue reading Let’s try that again, shall we?

Seasonal singing on the South Coast

As promised, we’re putting on another Christmas Special down in Brighton, on Sunday December 22nd.

Booking goes live via this link at midday this coming Sunday (December 15th). You most definitely will not want to miss it, so get those mouse fingers ready.

By the way, a few PDtP London folk have expressed interest in coming along, so just to confirm, everyone is very welcome to join in the festive fun. (You might even want to make a day of it and enjoy the marvellous Christmas shopping opportunities that Brighton affords – there are many superb independent shops are within a pebble’s throw of the venue, which also happens to be next to the station.)

Speaking of London folk, thanks again to all who came along to last week’s London Christmas Special. Through your generosity we raised over £300 for the Choir with No Name.

Apologies to those who were hoping for London carol singing opportunities this week. Despite our best efforts we just couldn’t secure a suitable location. However, there is a slim chance that we might be able to do something in Central London in the early evening of Monday the 23rd. Very close to Christmas I know, but bear it in mind if you are still going to be in town as our public carol/motet singing is always a highlight of the season. 

Full details to follow if/when we have confirmation.

Cheers

Kevin

Many Happy Returns of the Day! (or How in the heck has this nonsense been going on for 5 years?)

5 years ago today, almost to this very minute, I was sitting very much alone in the large, empty room upstairs at the Horse & Stables pub when I posted this tweet Continue reading Many Happy Returns of the Day! (or How in the heck has this nonsense been going on for 5 years?)