St Oswald Singers – 30 years and counting

There remains an element of debate as to when the St Oswald Singers first started. The assumed start date was the Westbury roof appeal in 1985, but some founder members seem to think it was earlier. After that appalling name stuck (once uttered Peter Steer, there was no going back), the more marketable sobriquet Razor Sharp (thanks Barbie) enabled a more flexible approach to concerts. The strapline ‘Versicles, canticles and test pieces’ is also now part of the furniture.

The current and original members got back together in Westbury in October to raise money for the church again, complete with Wind in the Willows and lots of cake. We were also joined by the next generation of singers to help boost us in the second half.

Briefly shown also Sarah’s 50^th party the day before to get us in the mood, and the now usual Advent gathering at Compton Greenfield.

Who knows where we will be (of if we will be) in 2045. Hopefully we might still be singing.

 

Arrival of toad

Wind in the Willows

St Oswald Singers

A 70’s theme…

A 70’s theme…

George and the Dragon

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Lewtrenchard revisited

With all the kids in Spain, there was an unmissable opportunity to do something whilst they were away. That was a visit to Lewtrenchard Manor, our honeymoon hotel, and still in the hands of the original owners (after a brief, sad episode in the hands of Von Essen). Our visit coincided with a tour of the house and gardens, which filled in several missing details of an extensive history, much of it intertwined with Rev Sabine Baring Gould (of ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ fame), whose ancestors owned the estate for many years and which he spent much time improving. A few days away at this place seemed like much longer, and a great opportunity to meet up with a fellow St Oswald…

Tour of the gardens with the Head Gardner

This lawn is better than ours…

Church next door has an opulent interior

Lewtrenchard – must be the Jopsons…

Advent concert with the St Oswald Singers

The Ozzies got together once again to sing a concert of varying musical styles at Compton Greenfield. Getting together occasionally, combined with our fourth visit to Compton Greenfield, means that music cannot be recycled that easily and the old repertoire has to be considered to see what we can get away with… Tertius Noble never sounded so fresh, and due to forgetting the copies we were forced to sing ‘I’m Sitting’ without copies. Of course we had to sing My Evaline – again!

Next year will be the 30th year since our founding back in 1985 and it is always excellent to meet up again, reminisce and check each other’s eyesights – all getting progressively worse. Larger copies next year for sure!

The seasonal hue in the last photo is due to the rather elderly heaters with electric bars that adorn the high walls of the church!

The evergreen Compton Greenfield

‘Never knowingly over-rehearsed’ applies…

Just quorate – as ever

St Oswald Singers visits Dursley

The St Oswald Singers kicked off the 2014 ‘Music for Elevenses’ concert series in St James the Great, Dursley. An engaged audience listened to a programme of songs featuring the Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s (engaged in that we had an audience member stand up and give her story of attending one of the featured shows in 1945…!). A warm reception followed by an excellent lunch  at the Old Badger Inn at Eastington.

St James the Great, Dursley

I’m sitting on top of my gal

We’re a dear old couple and we HATE one another

Let’s face the music and dance!

Rowing home at Hurstbourne Tarrant

Music for an Autumn Afternoon – 26 October

From Barbershop to Bach and all points in between. Join us for an informal concert featuring choral music, a cappella and accompanied, together with pieces for solo organ and piano on Saturday 26 October in St Peter’s Church, St Mary Bourne between 4.00pm and 5.00pm.

Featuring the singing group the St Oswald Singers (founded in Bristol some 30 years ago and with links to St Mary Bourne) together with a guest piano solo from Livi Anning, the concert will include a mix of musical styles including sacred and secular, mixed and men’s voices and audience participation.

Tea and cake will be served in the interval. No tickets required, but donations on the door will be welcome to support Livi Anning in her efforts to raise funds for her trip to Uganda in February.

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The detailed programme is as follows:

First half – Sacred

Magnificat from the Service in D – Herbert Brewer

This is the Record of John – Orlando Gibbons

Organ TBC

For the Beauty of the Earth – John Rutter

Beati Quorum Via – Charles Villiers Stanford

Lobet Gott in Seinen Reichen (Cantata no 11) – Johann Sebastian Bach

Piano Primavera – Ludovico Einaudi

Tea and cake will be served in the interval

Second half – Secular

Teddy Bear’s Picnic – John Walter Bratton

Medley from “Les Miserables” – Schoenberg

My Evaline – A E Hall

I’m Sitting on Top of the World – Henderson

I’ve been to a Marvellous Party – Noel Coward (featuring Barbie Davies)

Moon River – Henry Mancini

Have Some Madeira, M’Dear – Flanders and Swann (featuring David Hunter)

The way you look tonight – Jerome Kern

Let’s face the music and dance – Irving Berlin

Finally; For Everyone, Jerusalem

St Oswalds at Portishead

The latest gig for the St Oswalds was in Portishead in aid of the Za Foundation. This impressive organisation does good work in South Africa and Somerset and seems very successful in raising funds for the cause. Following the concert and a long drive around a local housing estate, we ended up at the Royal Inn in Portishead, with its amazing views out front.

In concert at Portishead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The groupies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Royal Inn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the main man

 

St Oswalds visit Compton Greenfield again

Compton Greenfield

The St Oswald Singers revisited Compton Greenfield again for an early advent concert with a mix of music, sacred and secular, together with readings and trumpet solos. The hospitality was very warm, the audience very engaged and the atmosphere very cosy in this small but perfectly formed church. For those of a hardier disposition, there were a couple of recordings taken on a rather wavy iPhone, so excuse the shakiness. ‘I’m sitting on top of the world‘ (always remembered for bringing a noisy bar to a hush and then fevered enthusiasm years ago during a Children in Need appeal) and ‘The Carol Singers‘, done in perfect momerzet accents.

Rehearsing at Compton Greenfield

A barbershop quartet for now

St Oswalds singing at Rhandirmawyn

The St Oswalds/Razor Sharp got back together again to sing at a reunion afternoon concert at Rhandirmawyn (second home of Nigel and Barbie). Wonderful to visit this spectacular location, with a friendly welcome from the locals and a very special pub on the way home at Cilycum. Hard to believe it is 27 years since we first sang My Evaline – we must learn something new soon. (Also good to be joined by the next generation of singers – your turn next time, perhaps!). Footnote – apparently, today is St Oswalds day!

Razor Sharp, 27 years on

The venue

The next generation enjoying the Olympics…

Neuadd Fawr Arms at Cilycwm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spot the four in today’s photograph…

St Oswald Singers return to Compton Greenfield

26 years after we first got together, the rump of the St Oswald Singers got together for a very convivial afternoon of singing to help raise funds and awareness for Compton Greenfield Church just outside Bristol. Rather concerning was the need to get larger copies for the singers as our collective eyesight has deteriorated so much we could no longer read the original copies that had our names on. However, the notes seemed to flow and the passing of the years did nothing to dampen our enthusiasm for singing together. Well done Sarah!

If anyone can stand it, a couple of recordings were made (on an iPad, in the dark, with a slightly large cover). Amongst others, we sang Lobet Gott and My Evaline (click on the title to jump to YouTube; My Evaline takes a while to get going due to getting notes in advance for the next piece…).

Compton Greenfield Church

Did I leave my glasses here?

Barn dance and barbershop

Many thanks to everyone that came and supported the barn dance and barbershop 50th birthday party on 15 October. It was wonderful to see so many family and friends and, thanks to the generosity of people attending, we managed to raise £430 on the night to help with our work in Uganda. This will go towards helping defer any unexpected costs so that Dodie can continue to guarantee that 100% of all money that is raised for Uganda will go directly to good causes.

Take your partner by the hand

Dosado your partner

Not over-rehearsed, this one...