Royalty (week 7)
This is the last week of our royalty theme which (as planned) coincides with the celebrations for HMQ at the end of the week. Hope you have enjoyed the collection so far. This week we have 4 kings and an anthem for Britain by Britten.
Monday May 30
King Arthur (Purcell)
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 33)
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers.
King Arthur is a semi-opera in five acts with music by Purcell and a libretto by John Dryden. It was first performed at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset Garden, London, in 1691. Here are three excerpts, two of which (*) we sang at Tonic Choir in 2011.
Fairest Isle
I sang this (aged 12) in a small group in my first concert at secondary school.
I remember it clearly as I had a high temperature but nothing was going to stop me taking part.
Perfomance
*See, see, we assemble (shivering chorus)
Recording
*Your hay it is mow’d
Recording
Tuesday May 31
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 9)
The Pirate King's song
The Pirate King's song from The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Performance of The Pirate King's song from Opera Australia
Pirates was my last opera at school (1970) and I played Major-General Stanley. Would you like to see photos of me in the role? Of course you would. In the first photo you can clearly see our Pirate King, played by a 15/16 year old Jacek Strauch. He has since had a successful operatic career in mainland Europe. Here is a clip of him in Rigoletto.
King Arthur (Purcell)
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 33)
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers.
King Arthur is a semi-opera in five acts with music by Purcell and a libretto by John Dryden. It was first performed at the Queen's Theatre, Dorset Garden, London, in 1691. Here are three excerpts, two of which (*) we sang at Tonic Choir in 2011.
Fairest Isle
I sang this (aged 12) in a small group in my first concert at secondary school.
I remember it clearly as I had a high temperature but nothing was going to stop me taking part.
Perfomance
*See, see, we assemble (shivering chorus)
Recording
*Your hay it is mow’d
Recording
Tuesday May 31
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 9)
The Pirate King's song
The Pirate King's song from The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Performance of The Pirate King's song from Opera Australia
Pirates was my last opera at school (1970) and I played Major-General Stanley. Would you like to see photos of me in the role? Of course you would. In the first photo you can clearly see our Pirate King, played by a 15/16 year old Jacek Strauch. He has since had a successful operatic career in mainland Europe. Here is a clip of him in Rigoletto.
Wednesday June 1
Vainement, ma bien-aimée
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 71)
Le roi d'Ys (The King of Ys) is an opera in three acts and five tableaux by the French composer Édouard Lalo. Apart from the overture, the most famous piece in the opera is the tenor's aubade in act 3, "Vainement, ma bien-aimée" ("In vain, my beloved").
An aubade is a morning love song (as opposed to a serenade, intended for performance in the evening). Aube is the word for dawn in French.
There are many recordings on-line but this one of Juan Diego Florez is special. Many of us were in the audience at the Royal Festival Hall on 20 January 2011 (the date of this recording) for a quite superb concert. It was an early Tonic Choir outing. If you listen carefully you can hear us clapping. Thanks to Bryan for suggesting this one.
Performance
Thursday June 2
Nat King Cole
I make no apologies for including this wonderful singer for the fourth time on Tonic Jukebox. He previously featured in week 25, week 48 and LOVE week 4. His distinctive velvety voice is recognisable after just a few notes.
Here are two more of his most famous numbers.
Unforgettable
The Very Thought Of You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVNRRs-Xl0k
Friday June 3
Shifting Sands
On 29 March 2012, Philip and Bryan were presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee tour. Her Majesty was visiting Harrow and one element of the day was a performance by a 150-strong choir representing 10 adult choirs (including Tonic Choir) and 3 schools. This choir had been organised and rehearsed by Bryan and Philip.
Bryan had been commissioned by the London Borough of Harrow to write a new piece, a choral fanfare, which received its first performance. The organisers also requested a performance of Shifting Sands, part of Bryan's choral song cycle, Voices That Should Be Heard. The words for this piece were written by Philip. (Words here)
On the day, Bryan accompanied while Philip conducted. This was followed by a presentation to the Queen during which she asked Philip and Bryan questions about the choir and the pieces of music that she had heard.
This live recording was taken using a mobile phone on the floor, in the alto section (by Susan Mount I think). It has not been made public before now.
Performance
What better way to end our 7 week royal journey than with our National Anthem? I rather like this arrangement which is by Benjamin Britten.
It has a spine tingling opening and is all the better for it.
National Anthem (Britten)
Vainement, ma bien-aimée
(previously appeared in Jukebox week 71)
Le roi d'Ys (The King of Ys) is an opera in three acts and five tableaux by the French composer Édouard Lalo. Apart from the overture, the most famous piece in the opera is the tenor's aubade in act 3, "Vainement, ma bien-aimée" ("In vain, my beloved").
An aubade is a morning love song (as opposed to a serenade, intended for performance in the evening). Aube is the word for dawn in French.
There are many recordings on-line but this one of Juan Diego Florez is special. Many of us were in the audience at the Royal Festival Hall on 20 January 2011 (the date of this recording) for a quite superb concert. It was an early Tonic Choir outing. If you listen carefully you can hear us clapping. Thanks to Bryan for suggesting this one.
Performance
Thursday June 2
Nat King Cole
I make no apologies for including this wonderful singer for the fourth time on Tonic Jukebox. He previously featured in week 25, week 48 and LOVE week 4. His distinctive velvety voice is recognisable after just a few notes.
Here are two more of his most famous numbers.
Unforgettable
The Very Thought Of You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVNRRs-Xl0k
Friday June 3
Shifting Sands
On 29 March 2012, Philip and Bryan were presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee tour. Her Majesty was visiting Harrow and one element of the day was a performance by a 150-strong choir representing 10 adult choirs (including Tonic Choir) and 3 schools. This choir had been organised and rehearsed by Bryan and Philip.
Bryan had been commissioned by the London Borough of Harrow to write a new piece, a choral fanfare, which received its first performance. The organisers also requested a performance of Shifting Sands, part of Bryan's choral song cycle, Voices That Should Be Heard. The words for this piece were written by Philip. (Words here)
On the day, Bryan accompanied while Philip conducted. This was followed by a presentation to the Queen during which she asked Philip and Bryan questions about the choir and the pieces of music that she had heard.
This live recording was taken using a mobile phone on the floor, in the alto section (by Susan Mount I think). It has not been made public before now.
Performance
What better way to end our 7 week royal journey than with our National Anthem? I rather like this arrangement which is by Benjamin Britten.
It has a spine tingling opening and is all the better for it.
National Anthem (Britten)