the song in full

I said I'd think about putting our performance here for your critical appraisal - I hmmed and hahhed but I think the recording quality is adequately low to hide most of our major errors. And this time the microphone was far enough away from me - so here it is - better late than never (as the actress said to the special needs teacher):

I will sing.mp3

It's always odd after a performance of something, be it a song or a play or a film or anything, that you've spent time preparing. I'm kind of glad I don't ever have to hear it again, and glad to have a break from rehearsals - but there's a slight touch of regret that it's all over. More so with plays than with songs. I'm not that much of a sentamentalist - I don't get all teary about saying goodbye to 'an old friend', I move on without too much bother - but I do feel a little sad for an hour or two. It's ok with films - you still have the footage to remind you (until someone moves to london and takes it with him)

not quite the proms but as close as I should ever get

I'm nervous. Very nervous. I don't know why - no actually I do. It's not because we have an inspection coming up in a week or so (we're getting used to those now) and it's not because Northern Ireland are playing Latvia tonight. It's because our harvest service is coming up soon and I'm in the choir.

I've been in the choir for years - I can usually bluff my way about; but this is different. Our church no longer has a permanent music/worship/organist type thing to lead the choir. Different people take responsibility for different services. We are pretty blessed to have so many talented people who can teach us the songs.

This harvest we are being led by a supremely talented young man (I call anyone younger than me young and he was in the year below me at school so he qualifies - just) who tends to push us to our limits. The music he chooses is unlike anything we sing at any other time - sometimes I think we should all be dressed up in costumes and dancing as we sing. Anyway, despite the fact that he claims this one particular song is easier than others we've tried I remain unconvinced that we can handle it. So nervous am I that I recorded our final practice so I can listen to it over and over. You can hear a clip of it there. The loud flat voice would be me as I'm the one closest to the mic.

As you can hear we have a long way to go and only four days and one refresher practice to go. Will we improve? Will I ever hit that high note? Will I post a song to let you see (hear) for yourselves? I'll think about it. Wish me luck anyway.