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S U N S H I N E C O A S T C H O R A L

S O C I E T Y I N C Resonance A U T U M N 2 0 2 0

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Welcome to the Autumn Edition of Resonance. The Committee do hope you are all well, safe and enjoying this time of stillness. Like us all we are sure you are missing Choir practices and the companionship of fellow Choristers and are looking forward to the time we can all be together to make beautiful music again.

After all our hard work practicing for the Easter Celebration Concert it was rather disappointing not to be able to bring the joy of music to our faithful audience. Our practice was not in vain, we may just get to sing the pieces later on this year, so tickle those tonsils with lots of practice at home.

Usually, we would commence our newsletter with Adrian’s colourful description and explanation of our concert pieces. So instead Adrian has agreed to answer questions about music. If you like, we could make it a permanent feature in the newsletter so please start writing your questions down and email them to:-

gayrobinson49@gmail.com

What style, quality do you feel

Stainer, Fauré and Mozart and

Handel express in their music?

Handel, Mozart, Fauré and Stainer

were all active in differing centuries,

consequently all have different

influences, stimuli and pressures, but

all of these composers have a

common underlying trait and that is

all were steeped in the church

tradition and therefore were writing

to express their feelings and religious

emotions. Handel and Mozart

adopted a more harmonic approach

to their writing. Fauré avoids

standard harmonies, employing

instead a modal style, with a leaning

toward enharmonic, rather than

functional modulations.

Then, full circle we have Sir John

Stainer – adopting a more classical

approach to harmony and melodic

lines – born on the 6th of June 1840,

an English composer and organist

whose music, work as choir trainer

and organist set standards for

Anglican Church music and

consequently his compositions are

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reflective of that medium.

In some pieces of music, the notes are written

in 4/4 time but we sing it in 2/2 time – what

symbol denotes this or what gives us the clue to

this time change?

The symbol denoting this feel of the music is a

letter C with a vertical line through it – the term

is Alla Breve time or Cut Common Time. This

gives the musical line or phrase more breadth

and length with less emphasis on individual beats

of the bar.

You often refer to notes and their colours. Is

this your interpretation (which is fantastic) or is

there specific colours for the notes according to

their frequency? If there is, could we have a list

please?

Yes – this is my interpretation and F major, B flat

major etc.) are more solemn and grounded.

C major has a bright quality but is more stark and

bold than the sharp keys. Indeed the key of C

major is used for marches and other Red music

so often that it cannot be coincidence.

Consequently the key of D major is unmistakably

a favourite context for power music of the

Orange variety.

E is bright and joyful; F is the “earth tone” and

has solid feel to it, and is a natural context for

the Green energy.

The two Russian composers - Rimsky-Korsakov

and Scriabin were fascinated with the idea of

linking certain musical keys to particular colours -

but came up with completely different

associations. According to Rimsky-Korsakov, the

key of C Major was "white," while to Scriabin it

was "red." The two composers did agree,

however, that the key of D major was "yellow"

and that Eb Major was either "bluish-grey" or

"steely."

Here's a list of other key signatures, with Rimsky-

Korsakov's colour choice given first, then

Scriabin's colour association:

G Major (Brownish-gold/Orange-rose)

A Major (Rosy/Green)

E Major (SapphireBlue/Bluish-white)

B Major (Dark Blue/Bluish-white)

F# Major (Grayish-green/Bright blue)

Db Major (Dusky/Violet)

Ab Major (Grayish-violet/Purple-violet)

E Major (Green/Red)

Why does an Orchestra and musicians tune to

the note A? Why not C or G?

Orchestras always tune to concert pitch (usually

A=440 Hertz, 440 vibrations per second).

Conveniently, every string instrument has an A

string and so it makes sense for string orchestras

to tune to the open A string of the first violinist.

When the first orchestras emerged in the late

17th century, they were mainly formed of string

players, and as other families of instruments have

joined the orchestra over the years, they have

followed suit.

Even if an orchestra tunes to the ‘A’ of a keyboard

instrument, the oboe (or first violin) will still pick

up the note and play it

for the rest of the

orchestra, to make sure

everyone can hear it.

Adrian King

Musical Director and

Conductor

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HOW ARE YOU SPENDING

YOUR ‘LOCK DOWN’

PERIOD? Hello everyone! I

hope you are all well and

healthy! How are you

spending your ‘lock down’

time? For me, I am catching up with a lot of

those little chores that you tend to put aside for

a rainy day; those things that look small and not

very time consuming on the outside but when

you get into it, it is much bigger and more

involved that what you at first expected. It’s a

relief when the job is done and things are

working as they should be.

I have also tried some creative cooking,

particularly Sri Lankan curries - prawn, chicken,

lamb and vegetarian. While I do not consider

myself to be much of a cook, I can read and

interpret a recipe when required! I probably

should extend my wings a bit more and become

more creative.

This ‘lock down’ period allows us to improve on

the skills that we already have and accessing the

computer encourages us to self-learn so many

different areas! I have found that Youtube is a

great tool for improving one’s knowledge and

skills! I have tidied up my music room, arranging

my various singing, piano and music theory

books. I have also arranged the digital music

collection on my computer by transferring it to

an external hard drive. It’s still amazing how

many doubles of music and video files are

created along the way. And yes, I am aware that

there are some computer programs that correct

your music, video and photographic collections

but I also find that sometimes you will lose items

that you didn’t really want to lose! It all takes

time, which many of us have plenty of at the

moment.

Thank you to all those who referred us to various

musical performances through Easter. They were

wonderful, particularly for those who would

normally attend Church at this time. This period

has also been good for catching up with family

and friends. I have two sons, one currently living

in Copenhagen and the other living in Adelaide,

and it has been wonderful to catch up with them

and their news. Likewise with friends in Sydney; I

have caught up with them too.

I have seen a resurgence in people walking,

bicycle riding and walking their favourite canines

around the neighbourhood and at the beach. It is

wonderful seeing so many people taking

advantage of this ‘free’ time and our beautiful

weather. I have seen more mothers and fathers

playing with their children in the streets, at

playgrounds and in their front yards. Some good,

after all, has come out of this ‘lock down’ period!

I would Like to think that we are now on the

decline with the coronavirus and should see

some things returning to ‘normal’ very soon;

which means that CHOIR WILL RETURN! While I

have not contacted any committee members

regarding dates, I believe that we might return

sometime at the end of May. Please don’t hold

me to that date just yet. We will have to see

what happens when the coronavirus meets the

flu that many catch at this particular time of the

year. But … let’s remain positive!

Please remember to keep up your vocal exercises

and practise. Looking forward to seeing you all

again very soon. Stay well and healthy!”

Andrew Burns, President.”

Tip from Andrew:

https://www.theflavorbender.com/sri-lankan-chicken-curry/

They also have a great recipe for curried lamb.

I get a lot of my curry spices and supplies from Spiceland, 1 / 3 Burns Street, Buddina (next to Kawana Shopping Centre).

From the President:

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GEORGE CUFFE—Base

“Music in all its forms has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From Mum singing little children's songs to me as a child, interspersed with hymns and arias from opera, such

as Madame Butterfly, music was always there. She was not only a beautiful person, but gifted with a lovely soprano voice and a wonderful organist/ pianist as well. With Dad's rich baritone and her voice, singing at various small functions came naturally to me.

Singing in pantomime productions in different roles, and in Musical dinners to raise money for charity, was part of my life for many years, and I was part of a thirty voice Church choir performing regularly as well. Stainer’s Crucifixion, and Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary, and many Christmas cantatas, I enjoyed singing.

With Phillipa in my life, music was always going to be there, and seeing and hearing her performing in orchestra was and is, a joyful experience for me.

For some years we ran a youth group together, up to 19 young people at a time, and we always finished our session with music, Phillipa on flute and me on guitar trying to lead our group in song! More recently, in 2015, I was invited to be the guest soloist for "A night at the Proms " with the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra, and because of that I applied to join our choir, the SCCS, and the rest as they say is history! I have enjoyed every moment, and look forward to many years of music to come.

May these challenging times make us thankful for friends and Music! “

LINDA BOYLE—Tenor

“My childhood was set to music. A beautiful soprano, my mother competed in Eisteddfods, sang to her daughters at bedtime, sang in choirs and taught the neighbourhood kids the delight of music and song.

When I was a difficult teenager, her answer was to nudge me to learn the accompaniment for her favourite songs so that we could share some beautiful music together. ‘Softly Awakes My Heart’ and ‘O, had I Jubal’s lyre’ spring to mind. So, I grew up in a household full of music and while I have not inherited her sweet melodic voice, I have inherited her love of music. Until I retired, I was a mainly a listener, not a performer of music, but once settled in Buderim I found that there are many local choirs and groups available.

In 2018, my sister-in-law, Rebecca, persuaded me to join with the SCCS for the performance of The Messiah and I have not left. I was very nervous about the challenge but with Annie on one side and Robin and Jim on the other, I got through it. I am very grateful to the patient tenors who let me lean in on them (literally!) when I am underconfident in my part.

I think that sitting amongst the tenors is terrific. We hear the voices of the booming basses floating over us with the soaring sopranos and amazing altos all blending together so beautifully. Then, we tenors are so very close to the magnetic majesty of Adrian and the terrific talent of Natasha. OK, enough of the alliteration!

The soundtrack of my daily life is ABC classic FM. Aren’t we fortunate to have this resource? When I need something different, I put on my play list which really shows my age – Janis Joplin, Neil Young, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to try to expand my usual area to a wider appreciation of music and art. I still have not tackled the ‘Art’ part of this resolution, but made some tentative steps

The Sunny Coast Choral Society Members

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into listening to Triple J. I have to admit that mostly I found myself quickly returning to my familiar music but I did discover that I enjoyed a singer called (amazingly!) Alex the Astronaut. (You could impress your grandchildren by asking what they think of Alex.) The song that I particularly liked was her single, ‘I think you’re great’, which pays tribute to a friend who’s always been there. The song describes a cherished relationship in Alex’s life but it is also about the importance of checking in on each other, opening up conversations and supporting friends through thick and thin. Just what we need now! I am looking forward to the day when we can meet and greet each other and sing some fine music together.

JANET DEARDEN—Alto

I first became involved in music when my Dad asked me at the age of five if I'd like to join the local choir. So I said yes, of course! And on Saturday mornings Dad and I would ride off on our bikes to choir practice.

To be honest, I don't remember a lot about that choir - other than they tried to get me to sing ‘Away in a Manger’ at a Christmas concert with the conductor's 5 year old son. I re-fused! Though I wished later that I hadn't.

After a couple of years the choir folded. But then I joined another town choir - Nelson Civic Choir, in Lancashire, northern England. In fact there were three choirs - one for primary-age children, one for secondary-age children, and a ladies choir. And as I got older I progressed from one to the other. The choir became part of my life, and part of the rhythm of the seasons, with the Christmas concert at the local municipal hall always the last Sunday before Christmas.

The conductor was great (just like Adrian!). But he was prone to doing unpredictable things on stage. Such as suddenly waving his arms to stop us at a dramatic moment in a song. And the

choir, the accompanist, and the audience all held their breath for a couple of seconds. Before we started off again. But it meant we all learned to watch him like a hawk!

Occasionally we'd compete in competitions (sometimes doing better than other times) - and several times we travelled down to sing at the Eisteddfod at Llangollen in north Wales. We would practise and practise. I always loved taking part. And those days are seared in my memory.

Another time we travelled (on a bus!) to Montreux in Switzerland to sing in a competition. This was with the secondary-age choir. For some reason the competition went for a week. But by chance we were the first choir to sing, which meant that we had to stand quietly on stage for half an hour whilst all the various dignitaries made speeches in French. I don't think our conductor was too impressed. But for me I felt proud as punch! Just to be a part of it all.

Then I came to Australia at the tender age of 21. And didn't sing in a choir for another 30 years! Until I joined the Choral Society. So here I am. And in many ways it feels just like I've returned home.

JAN DAVENTRY—Soprano

I was born in Sydney and moved to New Zealand during the war years where my brother and sister were born. We came back to Australia in time for me to do my primary education in Melbourne and then

moved to Sydney for my secondary education. After finishing my schooling, I completed my secretarial training and worked in various organisations ranging from retail, public relations, oil companies, office equipment and stockbrokers to name just a few. Jobs were so easy to come by then.

My parents instilled a love of classical music in me. Before TV we would often spend time listening to classical music and attend Sydney Symphony concerts together for many years. Choral Concert Series were held on

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Saturday night which I loved to attend. They were good days. In the evenings after work I did voluntary work for 2MBS FM and really enjoyed it. Then as time went on, I joined the Warringah Choir as a soprano. No audition was necessary in those days. I really enjoyed the choral work and it was a great experience. Incidentally, the Choir is still going.

When I moved up to the sunshine Coast at the end of 1993, I noticed there was the Caloundra Chorale with Neil Atkinson as conductor, so I joined. Shortly after, he started his own choir and called it the Sunshine Coast Choral Socie-ty. Auditions were held at Matthew Flinders College in 1994 and we had our first concert in 1995. I really did not think I would pass the audition, but I thought it was worth giving it a go and here I am today, the only one left of the original group. Neil would audition each year which we all dreaded but we got through. I remember the early days of preparing the programme and doing the tickets for the concerts using Word Perfect (I think it was). They were interesting days with Eisteddfods each year all over Queensland. The Choir attended most of them and learned the music off by heart!!!. No reading from a score. Neil was not a well man and it was sad when he passed but the choir has gone from strength to strength with various Committee members and Conductors. We are lucky to have Adrian now to steer us in the right direction. We have wonderful people in the Choir, which is good to see, and some good friendships have been made. It is great the Choir is still going, and I am still attending. Pity the Covid 19 has put a stop to the Choir for a while. Never Mind, we will get through this eventually.

Happy birthday to you, Happy

Birthday to you, Happy

Birthday dear Valda, Janet

(Dearden) Jessica (Fleming) and

Debra (Schneider)Happy

Birthday to you.

From Valda:

“I am still recovering from the excitement of that day! I am still overwhelmed by the love expressed by so many people....via emails, ecards, phone calls, a few cards, 4 lots of visitors ( to the front door only)! The visitors were from my church family here in Caloundra, including the Pastor, his wife and their young family. I hope I can continue with choir as my stamina has fizzled out a lot since I last saw you. I keep on singing each day, on and off, as I have so much for which to praise and thank my Lord Jesus. So that keeps the voice going reasonably well. What can I expect at 94!!

My son in Tennant Creek and grandson (nearly 17) in Brisbane with the help of friends made a 5 minute video. The father played his baritone ukulele and his son, a drum kit. It was so synchronised that I could see my grandson filling the left of the screen and my son, the right! It was awesome! They made it specifically for my birthday.

I had no family member able to visit because my 2 siblings are in Brisbane, one daughter and family in Tasmania, and the other daughter and her family are in Cambridge, UK!

Yet I could not have been more “spoilt”!!! Of course they all contributed to it...

L..O..N..G. distance!!

Thank you for your loving thoughts. I reciprocate them…

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A very touching story about the power of

love and music, hope you enjoy it.

A BROTHERS SONG

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In time, the labour pains came. Soon it was every five minutes then every three minutes. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labour. Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The paediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.

Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. ‘I want to sing to her’ he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a

walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister" she stated. Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.

He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart." "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms". Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the boxy head nurse. Karen glowed. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don’t take my sunshine away…”

The next day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home. Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song. The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love.

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Life is good.

Have a Wonderful Day!

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Sunshine Coast Choral Society Inc.

P.O. Box 496 Buderim QLD 4556

Website: www.suncoastchoral.org.au

Phone: 07 5478 5546

e-mail: Chrisgallagher000@gmail.com

Concerts, 2020

TO BE ADVISED WHEN THE CORONA VIRUS HAS PASSED AND LIFE RETURNS TO

NORMAL.

New members are most welcome.

Come along and sing with us while we are rehearsing.

Rehearsals are held at the Lakeshore Community

Church of Christ on Wednesday evenings between

6.45 and 9.30 pm (with a tea break).

Contact Christine on phone (07) 54785546 if you are

interested in attending.

Can music play a role in our overall wellbeing? Why do we feel so much better when we sing or listen to music?

Maybe Dr. Masaru Emoto has an explanation. Emoto, a Scientist from Japan, studied the crystalline structure of water. He was amazed to discover the crystalline structure of water changes according to its environment. For example, pure, spring water from the hills formed a perfect six pointed star shape where as the structure of muddied water was fractured. In his experiment he started to play music to the muddied, fractured water and discovered that the crystalline structure started to change shape and was displaying qualities of the pure spring water.

He was fascinated and extended his experiments to different types of music. Hard rock for example shattered the six pointed crystalline structure while classical music rebuilt the structure.

Could it mean that music is important to every living thing on this planet?

Here is where it becomes very interesting. Our world is 70 to 80 % water, our bodies are 70 to 80% water, our food is basically water. If music can change the crystalline structure of muddied water then when we sing or listen to music we have the potential to improve our overall wellbeing physically, emotionally and mentally.

Is this a good reason to keep singing and playing beautiful music? Perhaps you may feel Dr Emoto’s experiments were a little far fetched? We know that each note has a particular frequency and we also know that a frequency vibrates. Science students experiment with sand on a flat surface and then sound a note and the sand vibrates into a shape or pattern.

We all know music makes us feel alive so why not keep singing and playing beautiful music together. You may be interested in this youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moz82i89JAw