The Edgecumbe Choir Inc

SPRING CONCERT

Tony Hogg — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:09:33 +1200

We're performing in Spring. The choir is staging it's second concert for the year with a programme of two halves. It ...

UKTV "THE LAST CHOIR STANDING"

Tony Hogg — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:18:47 +1200

Back in 2005 The Edgecumbe Choir hosted the UK based Bath Silver Ring Choir for a day when they toured New Zealand. Their musical director at the time was Grenville Jones. He is no longer md of the choir but has branched out and is now leading several community choirs. For some of them you don't have to audition to belong. One of these is The Bath Male Choir.

Sky UKTV is currently screening a national competition called THE LAST CHOIR STANDING which was held in 2009. In this competition The Bath Male Choir made it through the heats to the finals. The finals are being screened locally this week.

How the competition works is each week there are 5 choirs. In the first round each choir performs and is judged. In the second round, likewise. At the end of the 2nd round the three judges select a choir to go on to the next level and one to drop out. That leaves 3 remaining choirs for a third round. At the third round one further choir is chosen to go on to the next level and the ohter 2 are dropped.

Judge for this competition were Russell Watson, Sharon D Clark - actor and singer, and Suzi Digby a renowned choir conductor in the UK.

THE ARMED MAN - A MASS FOR PEACE

Tony Hogg — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:36:17 +1200

Let me say right at the start that the performance of The Armed Man by the Edgecumbe Choir was absolutely stunning.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT REHEARSALS

Tony Hogg — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:43:24 +1200

The choir is taking a break following its full-on Marvellous Mozart concert at the end of June.

Rehearsals begin in ...

Marvellous Mozart - Review

Tony Hogg — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:08:13 +1200

Marvellous Mozart is the first concert in 2010 for the Edgecumbe Choir. Under the baton of musical director Tony Hogg, ...

"MARVELLOUS MOZART" UPDATE

Tony Hogg — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:12:05 +1200

Our "Marvellous Mozart" concert on 26/27 June looks to be a ripper.

The Choir has engaged the services of organist, ...

Marvellous Mozart 26 & 27 June

Tony Hogg — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:12:52 +1200

Our first concert for 2010 is Marvellous Mozart. The choir under the baton of musical director, Tony Hogg, is combining with the Whakatane Community Orchestra to present The Coronation Mass and Mozart Twelfth Mass. The orchestra is also performing the 1st movement of Symphony N40 and the adagio movement from Piano Concerto N21 (as performed in Elvira Madigan).

The Krönungsmesse (German for Coronation Mass) (Mass No. 15 in C major), composed in 1779, is one of the most popular of Mozart's 17 settings of the ordinary mass. This setting, like the majority of Mozart's mass settings, is a missa brevis or short mass (as opposed to the more formal Solemn Masses or High Masses). It includes fanfares, pageantry and the use of trumpets and trombones.This Mass was completed on March 23, 1779 in Saltzburg. Mozart had just returned to Saltzburg after 18 months of fruitless job hunting in Paris and Mannheim, in January 1779. His father, Leopold, promptly got him a job as court organist and composer in the Saltzburg Cathedral, and the organ features prominently in this work. It was almost certainly premiered on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1779 in the Salzburg Cathedral.

Mozart Twelfth Mass has had an interesting history in that later 20th century researchers have found it was not composed by Mozart himself but largely by a Wenzell Muller. Muller was understood to have been a pupil of Mozart. Since that discovery the mass seems to have sunk without a trace from mainstream choral music. There are no recordings of the full mass available although performances of the first part of the Gloria are available on U-Tube. Twelfth Mass, alongside the Requiem, was his most popular sacred work throughout the nineteenth and most of the twentieth century and according to Mozart's biographer, Edward Holmes, "it rivalled Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflote in nineteenth century affections".

The concerts are being performed in The Church of St George and St John on Domain Road, Whakatane on Saturday, 26 June at 7.30pm and Sunday, 27 June.

Bibliography: Wikipedia - Coronation Mass; Mark Everist - "Current Research", Mozart Twelfth Mass.

SEE YOU AT OUR 2009 CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Tony Hogg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:01 +1300

Have we got just the music for you in our coming Christmas Concerts. Mixing traditional with popular and modern Christmas ...

HANDEL POP REVIEW - Pam Greenhalgh

Tony Hogg — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:31:29 +1200

HANDEL POPS REVIEW

Forty-two singers of the Edgecumbe Choir, three soloists and four musicians chose the occasion ...

Handel Pop Concert

Tony Hogg — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:24:00 +1200

Following on from the Edgecumbe Choir's last performance is the coming "Handel Pop" concert. 5th and 6th of September are ...

"Stepping Out" a Sellout

Tony Hogg — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:10:58 +1200
In a departure from their normal repertoire the choir presented “Stepping Out”, an evening of popular songs from Gilbert and Sullivan to Eric Clapton, Rogers and Hammerstein to Queen.

Stepping Out in May

Tony Hogg — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:38:31 +1200

The choir is STEPPING OUT in May. See the attached poster for details.

PARTY TIME

Tony Hogg — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:06:11 +1300

Don't forget the first choir pot luck gathering for 2009 on Sunday, 15 February, 5.30pm at Barbara Law's place - Golf Links ...

The Choir Steps Out

Tony Hogg — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:58:00 +1300

We have called our next concert "Stepping Out". The reason is to depart from tradition and produce something relatively modern ...

2009 PROGRAMME

Tony Hogg — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:36:06 +1300

2009 is nearly upon us and the choir has great plans.

Its first concert is planned for late May, early ...

2008 "CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS"

Tony Hogg — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:13:42 +1300

The Edgecumbe Choir is presenting its 2008 "Carols for Christmas" concert on Saturday, 13 Dec, 7.30pm and Sunday, 14 Dec, ...

Review - Solomon (Eastern Bay News 25 September)

Tony Hogg — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:33:06 +1200

Two Choirs, two provinces, two public performances. Saturday 20 September saw the second public performance of Handel’s Solomon by a combined choir comprised of the Gisborne Choral Society and the Edgecumbe Choir.

Each of the choirs have practiced separately during the past months and tonight’s performance at the Liberty Centre in Whakatane was their second performance, the first being a fortnight ago in Gisborne at the Holy Trinity Church. Both performances took place under the baton of David Vine as guest conductor.

Handel wrote the role of Solomon for a female contralto. Auckland based contralto Patricia Wackrow gave the role power and authority, showing at times the lighter and higher register her voice is capable of. No stranger to the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Patricia is a seasoned performer with the Edgecumbe Choir and once again didn’t disappoint the audience.

Her role of Solomon was very supported by fellow soloists and choir. Gisborne based Soprano, Catherine MacDonald, singing both the Queen and 1^st woman, delighted the audience. Her voice was quite enchanting, lyrical, light, airy but with the power and clear diction required for such a role. I do hope the Eastern Bay can see more of her.

Second soprano, Rotorua based Elizabeth Pilaar, as the second woman gave a solid performance, showing a good understanding of the role and the confidence she no doubt displays as musical director of Rotorua’s ‘Con Spirito”.

Zadok is a minor role but one which requires the singer to sit for long periods and then perform for short periods. Tenor Michael Rumping showed the audience he was up to the task and gave a creditable performance which will add to his repertoire as he completes his musical studies at Waikato University.

Gisborne based Baritone Gavin Maclean’s role as the Levite was small and delivered early in the piece, but nevertheless well presented.

Guest conductor David Vine didn’t miss a beat. Truly a professional, the evenings performance reflected his wide experience not only as a performer of piano and harpsichord but also for his work with most of the major orchestras and choirs of New Zealand.

Credit must go to the commitment of the members of the combined choirs, and to Tony Hogg, musical director for the Edgecumbe choir. The choirs worked together perfectly in unison, no mean feat given their limited opportunity to rehearse together and the geographical barriers of distance.

Solomon is well-known for its choruses, and the combined choruses were superb. I must make special mention of the Nightingale chorus “May no rash intruder’ ’ at the end of act one. The chorus’s graceful interpretation and bell like tone was quite mesmerising.

The orchestra players provided a lively and grand flavour to the evening. Warm strings, triumphant trumpets and a timpani section which gave military order were used to good effect in supporting the soloists and choirs.

Solomon is one of Handel’s finest oratorios. This performance was greatly welcomed by the audience and full marks must go to all of those who worked together to bring the evening’s performance to fruition.

Gemini

CHOIRS COMBINE TO PERFORM HANDEL’S SOLOMON

Tony Hogg — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:47:02 +1200

Rehearsals have begun for the choir’s next concert.

The Edgecumbe Choir is combining with the Gisborne Choir to perform ...

CHORAL WORKSHOP BY RENOWNED BRITISH CONDUCTOR

Tony Hogg — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:04:36 +1200

Eastern Bay singers are to be treated to a choral workshop in early April by renowned British conductor, Janet Lincé ...

CALLING ALL SINGERS

Tony Hogg — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:05:00 +1300

It is all on again for The Edgecumbe Choir for 2008. With the Three Mezzos concert in March, the Janet ...

A TRIUMPH FOR PEACE AND PRAISE - REVIEW FOR EBN

Tony Hogg — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:51:02 +1300

The weekend of the 8^th and 9^th of December, 2007, saw the final concert in the Jubilee ...

COME JOIN IN THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Warner Haldane — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:44:33 +1200

The Edgecumbe Choir invites members, past members and associates, as well as members of other neighbouring choirs to join them ...

A CHANCE TO SING IN CELEBRATION MESSIAH

Warner Haldane — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:04:14 +1200
Practices start on 19 July for the Golden Jubilee celebration performance of Messiah. New members welcome.

CHOIR ADOPTS NEW UNIFORM

Warner Haldane — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:20:39 +1200
The Edgecumbe Choir has decided to adopt a new uniform. It will make its first appearance at the December 2007 concert. See photos:

ANDREW BALDWIN WINS $5000 CHORAL COMPOSITION AWARD

Warner Haldane — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:00:07 +1200
20-year old composition New Zealand School of Music student, Andrew Baldwin, wins the $5,000 Edgecumbe Choir Golden Jubilee Choral Composition Award.

REVIEW - MEMORIES CONCERT, 9 JUNE FOR EASTERN BAY NEWS

Tony Hogg — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:44:01 +1200

Promoted as a stroll down the memory lane of the Edgecumbe Choir, this was more of a carefully planned ...

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR 'MEMORIES'

Warner Haldane — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:30:16 +1200

Get your tickets now for the Edgecumbe Choir's 'Memories' concert on Saturday 9 June at 7.30pm and Sunday 10 June ...

LOGO COMPETITION WINNER

Warner Haldane — Mon, 21 May 2007 15:20:29 +1200

The winner of the NZ$500 prize in the Edgecumbe Choir's Golden Jubilee Logo Competition is Kylie Baker. An image of ...

EDGECUMBE CHOIR TO SING ITS MEMORIES

Warner Haldane — Mon, 21 May 2007 14:55:51 +1200

The Edgecumbe Choir turns 50 this year and celebrations begin with a concert entitled ‘Memories’. As the name ...

JUBILEE YEAR PROGRAMME

Tony Hogg — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 22:27:01 +1200

The Edgecumbe Choir has embarked on a full programme to celebrate 50 years of providing choral music to the Eastern ...