1903 – 2018

CounterPoint

SEPTEMBER 2018

Prudhoe Gleemen Male Voice Choir Neville Fairbairn James Dobson

50 Western Avenue 26 Maple Grove

Prudhoe Prudhoe

NE42 6PA NE42 6PU

Tel: 01661 832162 Tel: 01661 833895

SECRETARY PATRON CONTACT

Email: nev.fairbairn@gmail.com

The choir is happy to consider concert engagements. We ask a

third of any profit made as our fee. All concert requests should

be made to the Secretary in writing. Contributions to

CounterPoint are always welcome, especially from members and

patrons. If you have something you would like us to include in

future editions, please get in touch with:

Stephen Gladstone – Editor Tel: 0191 4132655

Email: audrey.steve@talktalk.net

Have you visited our website?

See all about the choir at www.prudhoegleemen.org.uk

COUNTERPOINT

Greetings, I hope you’ve all had a good summer break.

Well it’s a year now since I took over the role of editor and quite

a lot has happened. The lads have been on their travels

performing at local venues such as Ovingham, a snowy Heaton

and sunny Ryton to further afield places like Hartlepool and

Keswick (see front page).

We have also had a change of venue for the annual concert this

year, switching from the RGS to Thorp Academy in Ryton,

hoping that it would be an easier place to get to and possibly

bring in a bigger audience. Judging from the turnout it looks to

have been a great success, so this could become our new home

from now on.

We also plan to have a Christmas Concert in December at Thorp

Academy, which will be advertised on the website and Facebook

when arranged.

The season ended as always with our Patrons’ night followed by

our annual dinner at the Gibside Hotel in Whickham.

We are now looking forward to our new season and who knows

where we will be singing during the year. So far we have been

asked to perform at Prudhoe Methodist Church during their

Harvest Festival weekend and we hope to see you there!

Steve Gladstone

THE 2018 ANNUAL CONCERT

After several memorable concerts at The Royal Grammar

School, our annual concert this year was held for the first time at

Thorp Academy in Ryton, a more intimate venue compared to

the RGS. This seems to have been a great success as audience

numbers were up from last year. This could become the new

home for our annual concerts from now on as the general

feedback was very positive.

This year’s guests were Abbey Strings two violinists from

Morpeth and a little different from our usual vocal guests.

Karen and Jessica gave a wonderful performance of varied

pieces ranging from Handel’s The Four Seasons to Gershwin,

The Kinks, John Williams, Henry Mancini and Randy Newman.

Judith had once again compiled an attractively varied

programme, arranging some of the items herself and we thank

Karen Wigham

&

Jessica Graham

Abbey Strings

her for her commitment and hard work that turns us into the

choir that we are. Our accompanist, Alison Williams, is as

always very hard working and we would be lost without her

keeping us in tune.

Our programme of choir items was as always a musical journey

around the world. After getting proceedings underway with

Sound an Alarm, we worked our way through several pieces

from Russia, America and the British Isles, then ended the night

with Amazing Grace, which Judith had arranged and was

accompanied by the girls from Abbey Strings. As a finale a

rousing rendition of When The Saints proved a great hit with the

audience.

Well done and thanks to our volunteers Audrey Gladstone and

Carole Storey who organised and served the refreshments and

the staff from Thorp Academy for their hospitality.

Musical Director Judith Thompson with Accompanist Alison Williams

We are hoping to return next year when our guests will be Beati

who will also be making a welcome return after five years.

Well done Judith Abbey Strings & Brian

President Brian Japes

and Alison Williams

GENERAL DATA PROTECTION – PATRONS

You will no doubt have been inundated recently with correspondence about

the new data legislation. The choir has put together the following

information about data we hold about you, our Patrons, and how we use it.

What data do we hold? Name and postal address

Who holds data–

Data controller?

Secretary

Who has access to data? Secretary and Assistant Secretary

What do we use data for?

Communicating choir activities, distribution of Counterpoint,

requesting renewal of Patron donation and Annual Concert ticket

orders.

Data sharing Will not be shared with any other organisation, Patron or choir

member.

Managing data Details will be deleted when no longer a Patron either through notification

or when Patron donations have not been received for two consecutive

years, it being assumed that the person no longer wishes to support the choir

through patronage. No further communications will be sent.

It is a requirement that data is kept up-to-date; in order for this to

happen Patrons need to advise of any change in contact details.

If you wish to be kept informed of choir activities between

Counterpoint editions, let the Secretary have your email address.

This data will be held on the same basis as above.

DREADFUL CHOIR JOKES

Q: How many tenors does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Six. One to do it, and five to say, "It's too high for him."

Q: How many basses does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None: They're so macho they prefer to walk in the dark and

bang their shins.

Q: How do you tell when your lead singer is at the door?

A: He can't find the key and doesn't know when to come in.

Q: Did you hear about the soprano who had quite a range at the

lower end of the scale.

A: She was known as the deep C diva.

Person 1: It must be terrible for a tenor to realise that he can

never sing again.

Person 2: Yes, but it's much more terrible if he doesn't realise it.

Q: What's the inscription on a blues-singer's headstone?

A: "I didn't wake up this morning..."

THE LADS ON TOUR

We don’t often get to travel far for our concerts, but this time the

lads were asked to perform in the lovely location of Keswick.

This idyllic setting nestles amongst the famous hills of Skidaw

and Catbells with the Derwent Lake running through it and made

for a memorable day out, concluding with another wonderful

performance by the lads.

As always we were made to feel welcome by the folk of

Keswick Methodist Church, who showed their appreciation by

giving us all a great response at the end of the night.

I was able to stay overnight and got to see the breathtaking

sunset over the mountains.

Steve Gladstone

The team photo at Keswick

Prudhoe Arts Week

Once again it was an honour to be asked to take part in this

annual event.

Judith and Alison

keeping the lads

in check

We gave great renditions of some of our vast repertoire and

coupled with soloists Howard Taylor, Ian Warburton,

John Clark, Robin Lyall, John Carr and Steve Gladstone, it made

it another memorable performance that went down well with the

people who attended.

Along with our good friends Prudhoe Community Choir who

were also on top form, we filled the room with great songs that

sent the crowd home well and truly entertained.

THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN

This record became a posthumous UK number-one hit for Eddie

Cochran following his death in a car accident in April 1960.

But perhaps what you didn’t know is that Prudhoe Gleemen have

their very own arrangement of Three Steps to Heaven. For most

of the year this beautiful artwork is hidden in the various cellars,

garages, sheds and attics of our members. But when our concert

venues demand it, this clever arrangement of plywood boxes is

called into action to create a majestic arc of theatrical staging on

three stepped levels.

Each individual box looks dull and insignificant. But closer

inspection (and a measuring tape) reveals ingenious

mathematical calculation, cool engineering design and the

diligent skills of a master cabinet maker. For those of a

mathematical bent, I can reveal that each triplet of steps adds

exactly three-and-a-half degrees of arc to the panorama and it

fans-out from a seat in the audience about eighteen-and-a-half

feet away from the first step. So, now you get to choose how

close to heaven you wish to be. But who was the craftsman?

Who was that man?

I’d like to shake his hand,

He made my Baby fall in love with me. ( Who put the Bam ...)

Pete Barrett

Footnote: Further research has revealed our craftsman as the late

Alan Nicholson, a skilled carpenter who had won national

competitions - not for the boxes though! Originally we only had

two steps, the smaller one was added later either to

accommodate greater numbers, or perhaps it was felt that the

front row need a lift up to heaven!

Neville, with info from John Carrick.

PATRONS EVENING

Our Patrons evening this year fell on Saturday 21st July, when

once again the event was staged at Prudhoe Methodist Church as

a thank you for the support our patrons give throughout the year.

The theme of the programme was songs from the British Isles

and once again we were able to delve into our vast library of

music history taking us from Berkeley Square to the Isles of

Skye, on to Dublin and finishing in Wales with Cwm Rhonda.

The choir also made a presentation to Alan Wallinger in

recognition of his time as treasurer of the choir.

Alan joined the choir in 1970 and became assistant treasurer in

1978 before becoming treasurer in 1979. This year, after 39

years of meticulous book keeping, he felt the time was right to

pass on the ‘books’ to someone else. The accounts checkers

always reported at each AGM that “the accounts were in good

order – as always. Alan Wallinger continues to do excellent

work”.

In consultation with his wife, Gladys, and with guidance from

his children, a DAB radio was given to Alan at the Patrons’

Concert. Alan can now enjoy Monday practices without having

money thrust in his hands!

The choir are fortunate to have had a volunteer (with no arm

twisting!) to take on the job – David Soulsby, with his

background in banking, is the ideal person to take over and we

wish him well in the years (39?) to come.

Name That Tune

See if you can work out the 5 songs from our repertoire.

ONLY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Answers On Last Page

Letters to the editor

A Happy New Year greetings card

with the “Y” crossed out makes a

great congratulatory card to someone

who has had an ear transplant, or at a

push has recently had a hearing aid

installed.

Simon Hoffman, York

Ray Parker Jr once famously sang

“I ain’t afraid of no ghost!”.Well

why would he? There is nothing

scary about no ghosts. It’s ghosts he

wants to be scared of.

Ada Fiddlesticks, Cromer

They say that music can take you to another

place. This is very true; I was in the pub the

other night and an Ed Shearing song came on

the jukebox, so I went to another pub.

Farmer Piles, Crawley

CHOIR DINNER

After another busy season the choir had its annual dinner at the

Gibside Hotel on Monday 23rd July.

This gave us the chance to let

our hair down and unwind after

a hectic few months of

performing.

Yet again we all had a fantastic

night of food, drink and good

chat while our grey cells were

put to test by Alan’s quiz which

had us all scratching our heads at

times.

It was so nice to have this

night out to celebrate another

year together and we look

forward to see what the next

year has in store.

We thank the staff who worked

hard and looked after us all

night and to Neville for

a arranging the event.

Anyone got the answer to question no.6?

Where’s the grub?

We’re gonna need a bigger table

ANNUAL CONCERT 2019

Plans are underway for next year’s Annual Concert. It will be

held on Saturday 18th May at 7.00pm with a return to Thorp

Academy at Ryton.

Our guests for next year are already confirmed; a return of

Beati, the singing group from Harrogate which includes Alison

and Graeme William’s daughter Fiona. More details early next

year.

KEEP UP-TO-DATE

Whilst we list our future concerts in Counterpoint, many are

arranged between editions, so there are two ways you can keep

up-to-date if you have internet access; either go to our website,

www.prudhoegleemen.org.uk and look at the 'concert diary' page

or send us your email address and we will endeavour to update

you as changes occur. Email root@prudhoegleemen.org.uk or

nev.fairbairn@gmail.com with your contact details and your

name will be added to our database - details will not be shared

with others or any other organisation.

Thank you for your continued support of the choir.

Neville Fairbairn, choir secretary

Quotes from Classic fm’s The big book of Classical Music

"The conductor has the advantage of not seeing the audience."

- André Kostelanatz, conductor.

"Definition of a true musician:

One who, when he hears a lady singing in the bathtub, puts his

ear to the keyhole."

- Morey Amsterdam, comedian.

"It's sobering to think that when Mozart was my age, he had

already been dead for a year."

- Tom Lehrer, satirist.

Pete Barrett

Bizarre music facts

A single violin is made from over 70 individual pieces of wood.

The London Symphony Orchestra was booked to travel on the

Titanic's maiden voyage, but they changed boats at the last

minute.

During a performance of Boris Godunov at Sydney Opera

House, a chicken fell off the stage and onto a cellist.

Franz Liszt received so many requests for locks of his hair that

he bought a dog and sent fur clippings instead.

Domenico Scarlatti composed his 'cat fugue' after his cat,

Pulcinella, walked across his keyboard.

Rossini wrote the aria ‘Di tanti palpiti’ while waiting for some

risotto in a Venice restaurant.

Steve Gladstone

BECOMING A GLEEMEN CHOIR MEMBER?

Contact Neville Fairbairn—Secretary—Tel. 01661-832162 or

just come along to one of our rehearsals on a Monday evening at

Prudhoe Methodist Church, 7:15pm.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2018/19:

Correct at time of publication. More may be added later.

SEPTEMBER 15th

– Prudhoe Methodist Church

7.00pm

DECEMBER 3rd

– Corbridge Carols

7.00pm

DECEMBER tba – Christmas Concert Thorp Academy

2019

MAY 18th

- Annual Concert Thorp Academy

7.00pm

Our concert diary is never full and we are always on the lookout

for more gigs so please could members see whether contacts etc

could come up with one or two concert offers to bridge the gap.

If you have a photo you would like to see on the front cover

please email it to me so dust off your cameras.

Answers. 1.The Waters Of Tyne 2. Amazing Grace 3. Just Jolson 4. Deadwood Stage 5. To Music

CounterPoint

The Prudhoe Gleemen Magazine

www.prudhoegleemen.org.uk