Winter Magic Songlist (TBC) - Sat. June 20th 09

Already Been to the Water
On My Way
One Morning Soon
Go Down Moses
Fire Keeps on Burning
I Want to be Ready
Well well well
Amazing Grace (version with same line 3x)

with also
Freedom Road
Up Above my Head
as reserves...

We'll be on at 12 (midday) after the parade so will need to meet at St Hilda's at 11am to warm up, break for parade then back into the church by 11.50.

Extra practice Sat 13th June - ?

There's still one Wednesday evening left but I'm hoping those who plan to come to Winter Magic can make an extra practice this Saturday afternoon. I need to know asap (before Friday evening) who could come to that because if only 5 of you say yes there's not much point... so please EMAIL ME yay or nay (no need to say why) whether you can make it to:

My place (78 Meeks Cres Faulconbridge) at 3pm Saturday 13th (for approx. 1.5 hrs)

Ta, Katie

MARKETS gig CALLED OFF 23/05/09

Sorry guys, it's pouring here, there's no shelter to sing under at the Markets and won't be many people there either I'd guess! We'll reschedule and I'll let you know the next available date. Hope to see you Wednesday night..

Katie

TJN by my Zoe (aged 6)

Faulconbridge Markets - May 23rd 11am

(cnr Grose Rd and GWH Faulco)

We'll meet at 10.30 to warm up at MY PLACE, 78 Meeks Cres Faulco (around the corner from the school) - turn into Grose Rd then first left is Meeks and I'm near the corner. This way (a) I can't be late & (b) we have somewhere private to warm up. We'll leave my place by 10.50, only a 1.5 min walk to school (or a 40 sec dash if the bell goes while you're brushing your teeth..) but that leaves us time to get settled. If running late, just enter via main carpark gate on Grose Rd and find us in the main 'market square'.
Parking may be a pain because of markets so leave yourself enough time to park & walk.. or it's a downhill 20 min stroll from Faulco station (or 30 min uphill from Springwood!)

We can sing as long as we want - I'm thinking about 1/2 hour would be nice. If we can get an impromptu 'workshop' happening, even better.

This gig is more about promoting US than anything else so bring big smiles, I'll bring sandwich board and promo flyers! Also bring money for fair trade coffee, fresh baked bread, cheap potplants and useless bits of rusted junk spread out on a blanket....

See you there!

Katie

Wed 5th Nov - from Sue

Hi everyone -

It was terrific to have a large number of tenors again this week, and the return of most of the altos (except for Mary, who is still partying in Melbourne after the Cup).

Julie is due to have her baby any day, and we all wish her well for the imminent birth.

We warmed up by singing “Amen” which was very uplifting. It is terrific to join in and sing with such a diverse group.

We practiced a couple of old numbers. Trish conducted and taught us the chorus of a new song “Go Tell it on the Mountains” We were divided into four groups. The alto’s sang the melody, and stepped out the beat, to assist the tenors with their challenging part . This prompted much laughter from the altos. The final result sounded terrific. Trish did a fantastic job conducting. Trish also sang the versus with great gusto.

We discussed upcoming events during our tea break. We are singing at Springwood 15th November in the 'town square' at 10am - meeting at 9.30 outside the church hall for a quick warm-up. The repertoire will be finalised this week at practice.

Two functions to be held in December:
Dec 1st(?) at Boddington for Marianne, and ...
A sing along with other local choirs on December 7th.
(Please advise Katie of your availability)

See you this Wednesday!

Important dates:

* additional rehearsal on Monday 16 June at 7.30, Pres Church unless otherwise notified - check your emails Sun night!

* Winter Magic performance is 2.30pm, 21st June, St Hilda's

* Tony Backhouse workshop(s): spread the word!
August 17 - Afternoon workshop, 3-5 pm Blue Mountains
August 21 Evening workshop, Wollongong
Contact Katie:mcrobert_scott@optusnet.com.au

JOY & JUBILATION!!! from Trish

Many years ago in the US, the comedian Carol Burnett had a weekly variety show on TV (perhaps it was aired here??). She ended each show with a simple song:
I'm so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh and sing a song.
Seems we just get started and before you know it,
Comes the time we have to say "So Long"...
Isn't that the way Wednesday night feels? Wouldn't it be wonderful if each week had an abundance of Wednesday nights!!!!!!
We had a great attendance with all parts well represented. Sorry to say that some members have fallen victim to that awful flu and we wish them speedy recoveries! Every voice and personality was missed.
I am taking this opportunity to thank you all. I felt so blessed and priviledged to be allowed to sing "Jacob's Ladder". Let me tell you a bit about what that song means to me. All through my childhood, my Mother's mother was a very integral part of my life. I spent every week-end with her and the majority of my school holidays too. As she taught me to sew and quilt, we would also sing all the hymns she had ever learned. "Jacob's Ladder" was 'bout our favourite! Mama Nora taught me that this was the anthem for her own personal "Woman's Movement"...one that she embraced long before it ever became a "movement"!!! (My Grandfather died with pneumonia in 1928 shortly after the birth of thier 7th child.) It is a song of struggle,perserverance, strength and hope. In 1973, Mama Nora finally reached the top of the ladder where she smiles upon me and remains my inspiration for a life well lived. So, my new and dear friends, if I were never able to sing it again, I am well pleased that you have allowed me to honour her even if for just this moment.
Don't forget the extra practice on Monday, 16 June along with our standard Awesome Wednesday!
See y'all real soon!!!!
Trish

A night of adventure! (from Veronica)

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

A night of adventure! Bleak, cold and raining – a night when most would huddle at home under a doona or before the fire, hot chocolate in hand. But not so for Joyful Noise! 16 (yes 16!! - our biggest turnout yet, this term) brave souls ventured out into the night, arriving at the hall only to find we were locked out! Our intrepid leader, Katie, reviewed all points of entry, but to no avail. We did the only thing we could: sang under the carport! It was far from an ideal situation, although Katie did note there was an interesting resonance caused by the adjacent toilet block! Just before hypothermia set in, one of the newcomers to the group, who happened to be the Director of Blue Gum Lodge in Springwood, kindly offered a hall at the Lodge. We gladly took up the offer, and, after belting out a few rounds of “Let’s Go” (appropriate!), continued the night in most comfortable surrounds (they even had a cappuccino machine, but fortunately it was switched off, otherwise the tea break may have become very extended!).

Not only was our newcomer very generous, he was a MAN! Yes, we have our first man in the group, Peter, sounding terrific with the tenors/basses.

Rehearsals are progressing well towards the Winter Magic performance at St. Hilda’s. It was decided to hold an additional rehearsal on Monday 16 June (so during that week we’ll meet on both the Monday and Wednesday, with the performance on the Saturday 21 June).

All in all, the damp night did not dampen our spirits and a good night was had by all. See you next week!

Veronica

Wow! What a night! from Marianne

Away for a week and it felt like a long time, so much happens in a week around Joyful Noise, particularly when you have live wires like Trish who has made us song shawls with the choir's new logo sewn on them each individualised with beads. For one who has difficulty threading a sewing machine this was the first wow of the evening.
We revised Nobody's fault and The Welcome Table. More Than We Can See was the new song for the evening a beautiful "soul feel" song that begins:
The older I get the more I realise what I don't now yet
other lines:
there's more than we can see and understand
the circle has no end and no beginning.
I felt such solace as this is a personal experience - the older I get!! Wow!
Bev has created a data base of member's contact and skills info, Wow!
We are all contributing $5 for printing costs of flyers and song sheets.
Rachel Hore is conducting a workshop, June 14th, at Richmond, (contact rachelhore@ozemail.com.au or just turn up)
Winter Magic performance is 2.30pm, 21st June, St Hilda's
Next week we will confirm extra rehearsal times.
Katie is still in recovery from her lung infection and I'm sure the joyful lung exercise of this evening will contribute to further healing!
However I'm feeling as I arrive, I leave open-hearted and revived. Wow!
regards Marianne

Onwards & upwards

Tonight was a very encouraging and enjoyable evening, thanks to the magic combination of faithful regulars and new faces. Considering the mix was about 50/50, the blend of voices was impressive indeed, and - as always - the group reminded me just how much FUN this all is.

I've felt tremendously blessed recently that people have been so supportive, positive and resourceful when to me the way forward for the choir was no longer clear. So thanks to all of you who've stepped up to the challenge of reinvigorating the group - and thanks to those who turn up each week and lift your hearts and voices, it truly is a joyful experience.

We sang 'Come Along' (of course), 'Nobody's Fault but Mine' (great effort for a new song, it rocks along!), 'No No' and 'Lord I've Been Changed'. Trish brought along some impressive improv skills, Amy-Beth, Veronica and Mary fitted in as though they sing in a choir every week, Julie and Kristy bravely stepped out of their comfort zones and Belinda, Patti, Bev, Marianna and Liz were the foundation rocks the songs needed to stand strong. What a team!

Looking forward to next week..

Katie :)

Welcome!

Welcome to The Joyful Noise Gospel Choir's blog site.We're a small community choir based out of Springwood, in the NSW Blue Mountains. We meet weekly to sing, (Wed, nights 7.30-9pm in school term) but this sometimes seems like a thinly veiled excuse for a chat over biscuits and a cuppa! Our repetoire is mostly old-fashioned gospel, the kind of stuff that can be sung in 3 or more parts without the aid of music (or sometimes even written words... sorry guys) - mostly the kind of stuff that makes our hearts sing and our spirits soar. Most of us were not experienced singers when we first came along, and we always welcome newcomers of any age, ability, race, gender, belief, size and even hair colour. If you'd like to know more, contact me (Katie) on 02 4751 8971. 'Til next post, be joyful! :)