Hello – this is a new page for our special virtual choir, which is happening on Monday evening via Zoom, while we are unable to meet in person. In these strange days, it is essential to connect with other people and share music as much as we can.
Everyone is welcome – do get in touch if you would like a link to join the group. I am going to keep every session complete in itself so you can just drop in when it suits you.
There are some changes to the normal pattern:
- We can’t sing in harmony in real time, so no four-part harmony for a while. I will teach at least one harmony line – if you love to sing a harmony you can harmonise with me!
- While we sing together you’ll be able to hear me, and you – nobody else
- For this reason I’m also adding some guitar and possibly a little piano to fill out the sound
- We will also be singing along to these sound files to give the illusion of having a choir to be part of.
- We are having a tea-break! I schedule this at the beginning of the session so that people can have a little chat and connect before we start to sing. Get a cup/glass/ bottle of your favourite drink and join us from 6.45. We break into smaller groups at 7, or when it gets busy, and have a 10-minute chat before re-convening at 7.15 to warm up.
Here are some resources for the songs we are singing at the moment.
July 13th
We will carry on with Caravan of Love, and also Keep Your Heart Good.
I’ve had a few requests for this gorgeous song – it might be next week before we get to it, but here are all the resources for E Malama.
July 6th
We’re going to revisit an old favourite – Caravan of Love. There’s a page of resources if you click on the title. This was written and recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley in 1985 (I’m surprised it was so late) – and covered in a cappella style by the Housemartins just the following year. It has lots of tricky sections but for Indoorus purposes just busk the tricky bits and belt the choruses!
June 15th
We are celebrating another song by an African American, Billy Taylor, and it is an anthem for freedom and equality.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
Here are the lyrics and the score (only the first verse words in the score, sorry!) Try to have a look at all four verses before Monday so that you can really sing your heart out.
June 8th
This song was written by Faya Rose Touré, who was the first African American woman judge in Alabama. We sing it this week to stand in solidarity with Black Americans, and with everyone who experiences violence, hatred and injustice.
I’m Gonna Lift My Sister Up
June 1st
I know – how did it get to be June? This week’s featured song with be Together in Electric Dreams – all resources below. We’ll be singing along to the sound file so it will be the whole song including the “guitar break” in the middle!
May 25th – Bank Holiday but Indoorus Chorus will take place as usual.
The featured songs will be Somos El Barco (see below) and Put a Little Love in Your Heart (over on Rehearsal Notes page)
May 18th – Choir Where I Belong
This is a song I wrote last year about what choir means to us and how powerful it is to sing together. You can sing any part, or a mixture if you like.
Click above for the words and music.
May 11th – With a Little Help from My Friends
Apologies for the quality of the sound files – they’re a bit ropey but you will get the gist. Also, this is the version without the fancy ending, but we’ll probably sing the fancy ending. Why not? Nobody can hear you!
Here’s a pdf of the music and words:
May 4th – Together in Electric Dreams
Our four-part version is a bit fancy to sing in the virtual world but there are some places where we really need two groups – the echoes in the verses (Too late to stay… and I close my eyes); and sing the “Love Never Ends” bit in the chorus.
If you’ve sung this with choir before you might enjoy singing your own part, or trying someone else’s. If it’s new to you, just join in with the soprano line.
Here is a sheet with just the words on:
April 20th – Somos el barco
Here is a link to Peter, Paul and Mary singing this:
- Their tune in the verses is slightly different from how I’ve sung it, and the lyric in verse 2 where I’ve gone for “many sands” which I think is the original, they sing “every land”.
And here is the sheet with words and music:
Songs from previous weeks are still on Rehearsal Notes