Robbo School Carols by Candlelight

This evening the Robertson Primary School held a very successful Carols by Candlelight performance.
The first thing to note is that it was very well attended. There was a sausage sizzle, and some stalls selling bits and pieces of local produce, etc.
There was a coffee stall and also an ice cream stall. That suited Lena, who instantly made friends with a little red-haired girl, a daughter of a friend of mine.

All Gone!

The Southern Highlands Concert Band
were the mainstay of the evening performance.
The afternoon started with (what I believe is) the entire school performing.
At the end of their performance, there was one special number where the
older kids got to do a little song and dance number,
and even a bit of "air guitar" action was seen.
Before dark, Santa made a special appearance on the back of the local
Rural Fire Service Fire Truck.
He was very popular with the Kids, especially when throwing lollies.
Love the hat, which seems to be a Christmas Tree.

As the gloomy light descended, we got involved with some more serious musical performances.
Firstly the School's Clarinet Group performed, then some Flautists.
They then re-grouped into an ensemble.
By popular request, one of the School's graduate's was encouraged to perform some lovely solo performances of carols, accompanied by the Band.
She sang beautifully.
Finally, the CTC Choir performed a brief selection of Carols.
Lena was wandering amongst my fellow choristers,
despite being tethered to my wrist..
There was a "light hearted moment" after our first performance.
The Ladies were reminding Ron that the men sing only certain verses
in our next carol, "Good King Wenceslas" (we take the role of the King)
and that the Ladies sing the role of the "Page".
Ron knows this, but the ladies were just "making sure he remembered".
What's a live performance without a few "moments"?
We finished our performance with a stirring rendition of
"We, three Kings of Orient Are".
What was most satisfying was the way the crowd joined in the singing.

Robertson Choir performed at the CTC tonight.

Well, after lots of practice sessions, tonight the Robbo Choir gave its first public performance this "season".
We actually performed just prior to Christmas last year, so I guess we are coming up to an anniversary performance.
I can say that we are a better group than last year - well, except for me.

I have caught the "Dreaded Lurgi".

I have had the sneezes and sniffles all week. I put it down to the Privet shrubs flowerering all over town; and then the cold snap which passed through. I went to the Doctor yesterday, for the sneezes and snuffles - diagnosed as "Hay Fever".

Today I went back for some antibiotics, as the stuff had gone nasty, and I didn't want to face the weekend full of gunky stuff.

But singing?
Hardly suitable for that.
It sounded like my head was inside an old paint tin - as if I was hearing remote and echoing sounds.

And I felt like a teenage boy, frightened that I would be unable to control the tone. The voice was way too croakey anyway. But every now and then it would simply "squeak". I apologised to the choir, and "retired hurt" (a cricketing phrase). Better that than ruin everyone else's work.

Enough of that - Here we are singing at the Robertson CTC Annual General meeting, tonight.

That's me, up the back, 3rd from the right.
I forgot we were supposed to wear Black or White.
Cathie Owen, on the left is our Choir Leader

I am going to bed - full of pills and potions and a bit of Eucalyptus Oil rubbed on my chest and neck for good measure.

In my dreams, this is how we ought have sounded singing "Oh Holy Night"
Ignore the annoying ads for learning Biblical Hebrew (or whatever Google thinks you wish to know), and the odd lead in - the singing will start soon. Michael Crawford does it better than we do.

I have a penchant for the original French "Cantique Noel" as I had a recording of Placido Domingo performing both versions and his French version was much more lyrical than the English one. Here it is, in fact. Courtesy of You Tube. Ignore any flashing ads, etc, please.

"Cantique Noel" was composed by Adolphe Charles Adam, a French composer best known for this song, and for the Ballet "Giselle" - which I must admit I have a soft spot for, as it was the very first Ballet I ever saw. I recall loving the ballet - even though I cannot recall the music now. Perhaps I shall search the Web later on - after all. Here is a brief film clip - believe it or not.

Now I can go to bed, satisfied.

Ain't this new fangled Interweb thingie amazing?
From the "Dreaded Lurgi" to Adolphe Adam; Michael Crawford to Domingo; and a bit of Cricketing jargon thrown in.