Christmas Cheers, Yes, I know it's a bit early.... Options

[dacapo]

An excellent idea, although I doubt I'll be in quite the right mood to celebrate Christmas in October!

I try to avoid even using the C word until after the autumn half-term break. Perhaps we could have a banned list of all the most familiar carols and seasonal items (e.g. Jingle Bells) and encourage people to find more unfamiliar repertoire.
I'll start it:
Good King Wenceslas
Hark! the herald angels sing
O come, all ye faithful
O little town of Bethlehem
Once in royal David's city
Silent night
The first Nowell

I always get to Christmas and wish I'd practised some Christmas style music, this year I shall start at the end of August. Does anyone know of a nice piano arrrangement of "In the deep mid winter"? I used to *love* singing that when I was a choirboy!!

If you mean "In the bleak midwinter" there are at least two settings, one by Gustav Holst with all the verses sung to the same music, and a more varied one by Harold Darke. Why not start now and make your very own piano arrangement (that way you can show off all the things you do best!).

On the chocolate question my vote goes to Green and Black's dark chocolate, or even better their Maya Gold (dark plus spices and a hint of orange). I used to think it wasn't possible for chocolate to be too dark, then someone gave me some that was!

[StuMac]

An excellent idea, although I doubt I'll be in quite the right mood to celebrate Christmas in October!

I try to avoid even using the C word until after the autumn half-term break. Perhaps we could have a banned list of all the most familiar carols and seasonal items (e.g. Jingle Bells) and encourage people to find more unfamiliar repertoire.
I'll start it:
Good King Wenceslas
Hark! the herald angels sing
O come, all ye faithful
O little town of Bethlehem
Once in royal David's city
Silent night
The first Nowell

I always get to Christmas and wish I'd practised some Christmas style music, this year I shall start at the end of August. Does anyone know of a nice piano arrrangement of "In the deep mid winter"? I used to *love* singing that when I was a choirboy!!

If you mean "In the bleak midwinter" there are at least two settings, one by Gustav Holst with all the verses sung to the same music, and a more varied one by Harold Darke. Why not start now and make your very own piano arrangement (that way you can show off all the things you do best!).

On the chocolate question my vote goes to Green and Black's dark chocolate, or even better their Maya Gold (dark plus spices and a hint of orange). I used to think it wasn't possible for chocolate to be too dark, then someone gave me some that was!

Yes you're right, it's in the "bleak" mid winter!

I'm not too sure that arranging music is a thing I do at all, let alone best!

Actually "in the bleak midwinter" was the first melody (and still one of the few) that I could pick out on the piano just after i started lessons. I think the melody had really got stuck in my mind from choir days.

Will have a look for a piano version - and start practising well in advance so I can play it at Christmas!!

[dacapo]

I always get to Christmas and wish I'd practised some Christmas style music, this year I shall start at the end of August. Does anyone know of a nice piano arrrangement of "In the deep mid winter"? I used to *love* singing that when I was a choirboy!!

If you mean "In the bleak midwinter" there are at least two settings, one by Gustav Holst with all the verses sung to the same music, and a more varied one by Harold Darke. Why not start now and make your very own piano arrangement (that way you can show off all the things you do best!).

Yes you're right, it's in the "bleak" mid winter!

I'm not too sure that arranging music is a thing I do at all,

Yet?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

...let alone best!

Little misunderstanding there. I was thinking that if you made your own arrangement it could include all the piano technique things that you do best (and carefully avoid the others!).

[Suepea]

An excellent idea, although I doubt I'll be in quite the right mood to celebrate Christmas in October!

I try to avoid even using the C word until after the autumn half-term break. Perhaps we could have a banned list of all the most familiar carols and seasonal items (e.g. Jingle Bells) and encourage people to find more unfamiliar repertoire.
I'll start it:
Good King Wenceslas
Hark! the herald angels sing
O come, all ye faithful
O little town of Bethlehem
Once in royal David's city
Silent night
The first Nowell

I always get to Christmas and wish I'd practised some Christmas style music, this year I shall start at the end of August. Does anyone know of a nice piano arrrangement of "In the deep mid winter"? I used to *love* singing that when I was a choirboy!!

If you mean "In the bleak midwinter" there are at least two settings, one by Gustav Holst with all the verses sung to the same music, and a more varied one by Harold Darke. Why not start now and make your very own piano arrangement (that way you can show off all the things you do best!).

On the chocolate question my vote goes to Green and Black's dark chocolate, or even better their Maya Gold (dark plus spices and a hint of orange). I used to think it wasn't possible for chocolate to be too dark, then someone gave me some that was!

Have you tried green and Black's Cherry dark chocolate? Yummy!

[dacapo]

On the chocolate question my vote goes to Green and Black's dark chocolate, or even better their Maya Gold (dark plus spices and a hint of orange).

Have you tried green and Black's Cherry dark chocolate? Yummy!

I was given a G & B Easter egg with two bars of chocolate, one with almonds and one with dark cherries. I didn't much like the strong contrast in taste between the chocolate and the much more tart cherries. My husband and son finished that one. As this sub-thread has made very clear yet again there's no accounting for taste! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think I remember a chocolate preference thread on the Café a while back. Is there a diversion sign to route this onto it??

[AmandaL]

Sorry to break up the chocolate party, but please could we try and keep this thread relevant to its original intentions.

Having discussed this (potential) musical social gathering with several people, it would seem that a SUNDAY in OCTOBER would be preferable for many. With this in mind I have decided to rename it 'Autumn Colours'

[skylark]

With this in mind I have decided to rename it 'Autumn Colours'

What a lovely idea! So all the music would around this theme?

Do you have a particular date in mind yet?

[sarah-flute]

Autumn colours sounds like a lovely theme (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[TSax]

Ooh, Sunday in October, there's a good chance I'd be able to make that. Must resurrect "Autumn Leaves"!

[AmandaL]

With this in mind I have decided to rename it 'Autumn Colours'

What a lovely idea! So all the music would around this theme?Do you have a particular date in mind yet?

If participants wish to play music related to autumn, great, if not, then it doesn't matter. Play whatever you want - providing the piece doesn't exceed the 5 minute maximum length.

I just want the event (if it goes ahead) to be very informal and enjoyable, rather than the more formal format that Adult Learner concerts usually have.

If people would like to post their availabilty, it would help gauge the best weekend to book.

[barry-clari]

A Sunday in October......

erm... could do the 7th, 14th, 21st or 28th.

Oh good, that's all of them.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[JudithJ]

This is a lovely idea. I realise that many people are busy in December; however, I would love to do this on a Saturday in early December if possible.

However, if you're looking at October, then I could do any weekend but the first.

(Good luck organising so many diaries!)

[AmandaL]

(Good luck organising so many diaries!)

Including my own. This is why I need to look so far ahead - as a freelancer, weekends tend to bring the bulk of playing work and I tend to get bookings coming in several months in advance, especially from regulars. Organising something like an adult learners concert a couple of months before it happens, is not an option for me.

[janexxx]

A Sunday in October......

erm... could do the 7th, 14th, 21st or 28th.

Oh good, that's all of them.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Me too

That's the benefit of doing this so early!!

[dacapo]

With this in mind I have decided to rename it 'Autumn Colours'

If any of the pianists are ready for some swift fingerwork they might like to try Chaminade's Automne which used to be very popular but I haven't heard it for ages.

If people would like to post their availabilty, it would help gauge the best weekend to book.

In principle I would be happy to help with any necessary accompanying. I'm not available on the 14th, and am very likely to be away for some of our half-term week which has 21st and 28th at either end, but won't know until nearer the time if we shall be away for either of the Sundays.