Castle Carols Project, SW Shropshire

Subject: Castle Carols Project, SW Shropshire
From: Trevor
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 07:22 AM

We thought you might be interested to know about a new musical project planned for South Shropshire later this year.

The Sheffield Carols tradition is mentioned extensively on the forum and we want to start something along these lines in our part of the world (Bishop’s Castle to be precise) for Christmas 2018. As there is no firm local tradition for this kind of thing, we’ll have to start from scratch.

Our local hero John Kirkpatrick will be selecting hymns, carols and anthems from the vast Village Carol repertoire, as well as including a good number of similar tunes with a Shropshire connection. John will lead the sessions and will prepare recordings of the carols, with the piano accompaniment, and with each harmony line picked out. Words of the carols will be provided but there will be no written music - it will all be picked up by ear, helped in this case by listening – repeatedly! – by accessing a special ‘members area’, on the Castle Carols website.

This is open to anybody of any age and of any experience who simply enjoys singing. The aim is not to form a choir, or to be in any sense a performing group. The aim is to have a good sing, and explore together a style and repertoire that is probably unfamiliar to most of us. Male and female voices can mix in any of the parts so that the sound will be completely different from that generated by the usual strict division of labour in a conventional choir.

There’s more information on our website here , and you can contact us at [e-mail].

Merry Christmas!!

Subject: RE: Castle Carols Project, SW Shropshire
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 08:12 PM

As the man who instigated the Carols in August series at Whitby Folk Week, which in turn has spawned other associated events, I am delighted that the great JK has taken up the baton.

The initial impetus for this was the enormous amount of work done by Ian Russell ably assisted by Norma.

We, as a lot of people know, spend the balmy days of December to February here in the UK in the antipodes where the weather is kinder to our aging bones.

So, we will not be there for what we are sure will be a great event and just say "ENJOY".

Subject: RE: Castle Carols Project, SW Shropshire
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 03:14 AM

Here in Stroud we have had regular December Sunday singouts. When I asked which Kilmore Carols were which they insisted they were all from other Hallamshire villages.

get to the Prince Albert by 12pm, there is barely enough standing room. There is often a single December Wednesday singout as well. Words provided in a little booklet.