We have a slightly clearer view of the way back to singing together. At the moment it looks as if 17th May is the first possible date for amateur rehearsals to resume.

Let’s hope that everyone behaves and we meet the criteria, it looks unlikely after this weekend’s behaviour after the sun came out!

Your committee met last week after the road map was announced and correspondence over Christmas events. We have been in contact with Newstead Abbey regarding our concert. Jo Hunt, who has been our contact , has retired so there are new people in post. They can’t accommodate us on the weekend of 18th/19th December as we requested because of the Craft Fairs but are willing for us to have our concert on Sunday, 12th December. It is a little earlier that we would like but is our only possibility if we want to perform at Newstead.

Long Bennington Church have asked us if we would be the choir at their Carol Service on the afternoon of Saturday, 18th December (3:30/4:00 pm). It would involve us in singing several carols on our own and supporting a good number of congregational carols. Please forward comments to me, Rhoda, Mary, Cathy or Ellie.

Rhoda reports the receipt of several interesting inheritance tracks which we will enjoy when we have our zoom meeting on 12th March. There is still time to send in.

This week we are looking at Ken Burton’s arrangement of Steal Away (Feel the Spirit page 23). If you need to revise notes here are some audio tracks.

I have not been able to find any recordings of this arrangement but here are a couple of performances by Ken Burton’s Choir The London Adventist Chorale – the arrangement of Great Getting-Up Morning that we sing (look at the posture and mouths!) and a recent, lockdown, recording of Rest (because I like it!). You can use these recordings to see the sound and style that we should be aiming for.

Before watching the rehearsal video please revise the Technical Work which deals with the words.

Steal Away. Steal Away. Steal Away to Jesus. Steal Away. Steal Away home.I ain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord, he calls me. He calls me by the thunder. The trumpet sounds within-a my soul. I ain’t got long to stay here.

Green trees are bending.Poor sinners stand a-trembling. The trumpet sounds within-a my soul. I ain’t got long to stay here.

Steal Away. Steal Away. Steal Away to Jesus. Steal Away. Steal Away home.I ain’t got long to stay here.

The singer is expressing a feeling of being called to heaven, a better existence than life on earth. It also contains a coded message to slaves to run away. The chorus and verse have contrasting moods and is a very emotional song.

Here is the rehearsal video.

Enjoy.