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Showing posts with label Oban Gaelic Choir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oban Gaelic Choir. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Oban, Saturday, 20 November – join Oban Gaelic Choir for a Blast!
Hi there again
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Please click on the image for a larger view.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Oban Gaelic Choir has a website now
Hiya
Oban Gaelic Choir has a beautiful website, very well laid out and full of useful and interesting information, not least about its venerable past.
Among many other things, it says there:
"The Lovat and Tullibardine Shield, the coveted trophy for the premier choirs’ competition, was inaugurated in 1903 and was first won by Oban Gaelic Choir two years later. Since then, we have lifted the trophy no less than 8 times, the last being 1994."
If you go to the choir's website, you will see that we are currently having a well-earned break from choir practice. But that does not mean that we are inactive: members of the choir have been working very hard on their Gaelic, with monthly workshops on a Saturday (funded by Clì Ghàidhlig, the 21st century voice of Gaelic learners, or Clì Ghàidhlig, Guth Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig anns an 21mh linn).
And many of us will be packing shoppers' bags at Tesco's in Oban on 30th December in a fund-raising effort. See you there!
Oban Gaelic Choir has a beautiful website, very well laid out and full of useful and interesting information, not least about its venerable past.
Among many other things, it says there:
"The Lovat and Tullibardine Shield, the coveted trophy for the premier choirs’ competition, was inaugurated in 1903 and was first won by Oban Gaelic Choir two years later. Since then, we have lifted the trophy no less than 8 times, the last being 1994."
If you go to the choir's website, you will see that we are currently having a well-earned break from choir practice. But that does not mean that we are inactive: members of the choir have been working very hard on their Gaelic, with monthly workshops on a Saturday (funded by Clì Ghàidhlig, the 21st century voice of Gaelic learners, or Clì Ghàidhlig, Guth Luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig anns an 21mh linn).
And many of us will be packing shoppers' bags at Tesco's in Oban on 30th December in a fund-raising effort. See you there!
Monday, October 19, 2009
In case you were wondering...
In case you were wondering, no, the Oban Gaelic Choir didn't win any trophies in the Royal National Mód last Friday. I think the best we did was coming 4th in the whole-choir Puirt a Beul, so-called mouth music consisting of two linked-up and very fast songs (a Strathspey and a Reel) with very silly content. I found it very challenging to learn all the words, and learn to say them as fast as required to make the songs danceable.
We were facing a number of excellent choirs, some 16 or so of them, so coming 4th is no mean feat.
The Ladies didn't do too badly, either, singing two lovely songs, but we didn't win a prize.
If you're interested in all the results, click here.
And the whole choir must have been tired by the time they went on mid-Friday afternoon for the big, televised event on the main stage because they came second last of eight or nine choirs. As I didn't sing in that one (each choir was only allowed 30 singers on stage, and there were 33 of us), I decline any responsibility ... ;)
It was very disappointing to be asked not to sing, but the up-side was that I was able to listen to all the choirs. There were some fantastic performances and some wonderful voices. Some choirs have lots of very young voices, excellent Gaelic speakers, great dynamics, great stage presence. I'm afraid Oban will have to shape up in a big way to outdo any of them.
For me the best moment came last, with the great Massed Choirs event on Saturday morning. Corran Halls car park was packed with people, some 600 singers maybe, and a lot of onlookers. We sang six or seven songs, each conducted by a different conductor/conductress, and that was a fabulous experience. The sun was out and warming our heads if not our feet, lots of people had stood along the parade route from Station Square to the Corran Halls, cheering the winners, the also-rans and the losers, and the town felt fantastic.
All in all, well worth it!
Yesterday, I gave myself some time off by joining a group of women from Oban Walkers. We went down to Tarbert, took the ferry over to Portavadie on Cowal and did a lovely circular walk there, rounded off by a pot of tea at the spanking new Portavadie marina, a very elegant place that would make a perfect conference venue. I do hope they can generate the kind of business this sort of place requires. I felt right at home there -- need to find me a wealthy sailor, I suppose, to be able to return on a more frequent basis...;)
The day started inauspiciously, with rain pouring down in bucketloads, but by the time we came off the ferry, the clouds had lifted and we had just five minutes of smirr, perhaps, for the rest of the day. Absolutely lovely, and exactly the right temperature for walking. No midgies, either...
Right at the beginning of our walk, by the derelict buildings of Polphail, we came across a couple of "incomers" from down south (aka Englishmen). Local photographer Philppa Elliott has taken some stunning photographs of the site that has been due to be demolished for some time. It's a right eyesore but home to a bevvy of bats that are becoming increasingly scarce in these parts. Environmentalists will have an interesting time finding them a new home.
Now that life is "back to normal", I'm trying to catch up on all sorts of things. Hoping to get my accounts sorted for the past financial year before I take off for a longish networking weekend in Edinburgh.
Oh, and I am looking for a new house. My flat is lovely but there are new young neighbours and I'm exhausted by their comings and goings all night, especially on weekends. And the downstairs people are still making my life a misery, especially by leaving their dog alone on weekend nights. Last Friday/Saturday I didn't get any sleep at all until 5am! It's making me depressed and only just barely able to function properly. And the flat has several shortcomings (lack of sound insulation, very narrow hall, small kitchen and bathroom) that I'm hoping a new house won't have.
It feels overwhelming at the moment -- I was hoping to stay here for several years, not merely some eighteen months, which it will be come November 8!
We were facing a number of excellent choirs, some 16 or so of them, so coming 4th is no mean feat.
The Ladies didn't do too badly, either, singing two lovely songs, but we didn't win a prize.
If you're interested in all the results, click here.
And the whole choir must have been tired by the time they went on mid-Friday afternoon for the big, televised event on the main stage because they came second last of eight or nine choirs. As I didn't sing in that one (each choir was only allowed 30 singers on stage, and there were 33 of us), I decline any responsibility ... ;)
It was very disappointing to be asked not to sing, but the up-side was that I was able to listen to all the choirs. There were some fantastic performances and some wonderful voices. Some choirs have lots of very young voices, excellent Gaelic speakers, great dynamics, great stage presence. I'm afraid Oban will have to shape up in a big way to outdo any of them.
For me the best moment came last, with the great Massed Choirs event on Saturday morning. Corran Halls car park was packed with people, some 600 singers maybe, and a lot of onlookers. We sang six or seven songs, each conducted by a different conductor/conductress, and that was a fabulous experience. The sun was out and warming our heads if not our feet, lots of people had stood along the parade route from Station Square to the Corran Halls, cheering the winners, the also-rans and the losers, and the town felt fantastic.
All in all, well worth it!
Yesterday, I gave myself some time off by joining a group of women from Oban Walkers. We went down to Tarbert, took the ferry over to Portavadie on Cowal and did a lovely circular walk there, rounded off by a pot of tea at the spanking new Portavadie marina, a very elegant place that would make a perfect conference venue. I do hope they can generate the kind of business this sort of place requires. I felt right at home there -- need to find me a wealthy sailor, I suppose, to be able to return on a more frequent basis...;)
The day started inauspiciously, with rain pouring down in bucketloads, but by the time we came off the ferry, the clouds had lifted and we had just five minutes of smirr, perhaps, for the rest of the day. Absolutely lovely, and exactly the right temperature for walking. No midgies, either...
Right at the beginning of our walk, by the derelict buildings of Polphail, we came across a couple of "incomers" from down south (aka Englishmen). Local photographer Philppa Elliott has taken some stunning photographs of the site that has been due to be demolished for some time. It's a right eyesore but home to a bevvy of bats that are becoming increasingly scarce in these parts. Environmentalists will have an interesting time finding them a new home.
Now that life is "back to normal", I'm trying to catch up on all sorts of things. Hoping to get my accounts sorted for the past financial year before I take off for a longish networking weekend in Edinburgh.
Oh, and I am looking for a new house. My flat is lovely but there are new young neighbours and I'm exhausted by their comings and goings all night, especially on weekends. And the downstairs people are still making my life a misery, especially by leaving their dog alone on weekend nights. Last Friday/Saturday I didn't get any sleep at all until 5am! It's making me depressed and only just barely able to function properly. And the flat has several shortcomings (lack of sound insulation, very narrow hall, small kitchen and bathroom) that I'm hoping a new house won't have.
It feels overwhelming at the moment -- I was hoping to stay here for several years, not merely some eighteen months, which it will be come November 8!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Oban Gaelic Choir at Clan MacInnes Homecoming in Ballachulish, Argyll
Hiya
Last Sunday, the Oban Gaelic Choir joined Taynuilt Gaelic Choir (Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt) to sing one of the loveliest Gaelic songs from this area. It celebrates Ballachulish Glen (Gleann Bhaile Chaoil). We sang Norman Adam's 1990 arrangement. The conductor was Taynuilt's Ann Barlow.
Yours truly was there, largely eclipsed by the conductor. :)
Here's the link to the video on youtube.
Enjoy.
Last Sunday, the Oban Gaelic Choir joined Taynuilt Gaelic Choir (Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt) to sing one of the loveliest Gaelic songs from this area. It celebrates Ballachulish Glen (Gleann Bhaile Chaoil). We sang Norman Adam's 1990 arrangement. The conductor was Taynuilt's Ann Barlow.
Yours truly was there, largely eclipsed by the conductor. :)
Here's the link to the video on youtube.
Enjoy.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Success for the Oban Gaelic Choir
Hiya again and fàilte!
My Gaelic is still very limited so this is as far as my use of Gaelic will go here. But I am learning, and I am making progress, slowly, slowly...
Oban Gaelic Choir with Conductor, Sileas [read shEElas] Sinclair just left of centre, holding the cuach
(or Coisir Ghaidhlig an Obain) attended the Perthshire and Angus Provincial Mod (or Mod Ionadail Shiorrachd Pheairt agus Aonghais) at Aberfeldy and -- came home with a trophy!
Unless I'm totally mistaken, it's the May Mitchell and Frances Matheson Cuach, which we won in Competition 61 – Four-part Harmony, "Puirt a' Beul".
We are, however, sharing the prize with Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir. As they have lots of Gaelic Native Speakers, we did not do too badly and are on the right track. A competing singer told me she felt we should have won that prize outright. But I know we didn't have all the words spot-on, so we're not quibbling with the judges' verdict.
The Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir generously gave us the trophy to take to Oban, where it will be on display during the National Mod in October.
It's a great boost and I'm really pleased to have been there. I'm sure the Choir will work very hard to get those words out at exactly the right time and with exactly the right degree of clarity. We would never have done it, of course, without the skilful assistance of Donna, our Gaelic tutor. And, needless to say but I'll say it anyway, Sileas received a roar of applause from us all.
It was a fantastic day out, great craic, a lovely ride with a pleasantly quiet driver at the wheel.
My Gaelic is still very limited so this is as far as my use of Gaelic will go here. But I am learning, and I am making progress, slowly, slowly...
Last Saturday, just over half of the members of the Oban Gaelic Choir
Oban Gaelic Choir with Conductor, Sileas [read shEElas] Sinclair just left of centre, holding the cuachUnless I'm totally mistaken, it's the May Mitchell and Frances Matheson Cuach, which we won in Competition 61 – Four-part Harmony, "Puirt a' Beul".
We are, however, sharing the prize with Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir. As they have lots of Gaelic Native Speakers, we did not do too badly and are on the right track. A competing singer told me she felt we should have won that prize outright. But I know we didn't have all the words spot-on, so we're not quibbling with the judges' verdict.The Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir generously gave us the trophy to take to Oban, where it will be on display during the National Mod in October.
It's a great boost and I'm really pleased to have been there. I'm sure the Choir will work very hard to get those words out at exactly the right time and with exactly the right degree of clarity. We would never have done it, of course, without the skilful assistance of Donna, our Gaelic tutor. And, needless to say but I'll say it anyway, Sileas received a roar of applause from us all.
It was a fantastic day out, great craic, a lovely ride with a pleasantly quiet driver at the wheel.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
First strawberry harvest
Hiya again
It's been longer than I care to admit since I posted here. Truth is, my involvement with the Lynnside Community Garden project has taken up as much time this past week as training for the MoonWalk in Edinburgh, making sure my translation business keeps going and growing well, and rehearsing with the Oban Gaelic Choir for our performance at the Oban Mod later today -- in preparation for the Royal National Mod, which will be held in Oban in October.
But I have cause to celebrate:
These are the very first fruit of my labour in the flower and now fruit border at the base of the house I live in. They sit in a small white fired-clay bowl one of my nephews once made years and years ago. I have to go and taste them.
It's been longer than I care to admit since I posted here. Truth is, my involvement with the Lynnside Community Garden project has taken up as much time this past week as training for the MoonWalk in Edinburgh, making sure my translation business keeps going and growing well, and rehearsing with the Oban Gaelic Choir for our performance at the Oban Mod later today -- in preparation for the Royal National Mod, which will be held in Oban in October.
But I have cause to celebrate:
These are the very first fruit of my labour in the flower and now fruit border at the base of the house I live in. They sit in a small white fired-clay bowl one of my nephews once made years and years ago. I have to go and taste them.
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