Gareth Malone - The Choir

Yes gally they were a very strong group of Woman, and grannya and family were in my thoughts too, gives us an idea of how the Gransnet singlong might develop

I was moved to tears both at how they blossomed and at their lives - uncomplaining (at least in public), virtually single parent families, carrying on and coping for the sake of their partners and those little children. Humbling but so uplifting.

Lovely ladies, lovely Gareth Malone.... what a good idea, I've booked my seat in front of the telly for the next session.
Did bring your lovely daughter to mind for me too G.A.

Christmas number one Geraldine ?

Is this a new Gareth Malone? Amazing guy. Strangely, he was on Never Mind the Buzzcocks [or something like that] and his voice wasn't all that good.

I'm planning to watch the repeat of this tonight on BBC2 (10.20) as I missed it last night. He's an amazing guy, very inspirational and I've really enjoyed all his previous programmes. Just wish that I could sing

Watched it on iPlayer this morning - gulp. First time I've seen Gareth Malone and I think he's doing a lovely thing. I don't know how long the series is, but I expect I shall see the choir actually perform on Saturday at the Royal Albert Hall.

Just watched the recording of last night's programme. Totally moved by the whole thing but thought it very sad that the people of Barnstaple who were interviewed knew nothing about the camp and the fact that a huge number of the girls and guys stationed there were on active service in Afghanistan. Military housing is always so depressing to look at and most of the time badly maintained - I should know as my daughter and son-in-law live in married quarters. I have watched all of Gareth Malone's previous 'Choir' programmes but this is surely the one that will stand out most of all.

It was brilliant, what talent! I live in this neck of the woods so interesting to see inside Chivenor. Look forward to watching the rest of the series.

I love Gareth, he is such a lovely chap, and really inspires his choristers, be it children or the Army wives. He is so patient with everybody. It really does bring a tear to your eye, even my old man started to look emotional. There is a lovely article about this programme in this weeks Radio Times.

Speaking as one who lives in Barnstaple just would like to say chivenor is of course a top security base so we wouldn't be able to know too much about it and most of the families posted there come from away. There is a huge freedom march though the town on 17th Nov for our troops and HRH Duke of Edinburgh will take the salute - I can assure you all the town will turn out in force and be dressed overall with flags in their honour

I'm not far from you then nanarosie , I agree there will be a huge turn out for the freedom march.

I was moved to tears at the end of the programme , when the ladies were singing in the pannier market! I am in a choir very similar in Exmouth, called La la Exmouth! My choirmaster, a lovely lady called Sam, has been filmed teaching these ladies a song to sing to Gareth at the end....as a thank you surprise for him. The La la choirs are in Exeter, Lympstone and Exmouth and are growing really fast. We are not great singers, but not tone deaf . It is great fun.

Lots of interesting things on here from my point of view!
I run a villages choir and also a huge community choirs project for the Three Choirs Festival - there will be about 300 singers aged from 8 to 80 in the final concert in the cathedral next July.

I am totally dedicated to the idea that singing is for ALL - not just the truly talented few. It is our birthright and there for all for us to enjoy.

The community choirs movement is huge news just now - they are springing up all over the country and are wedded to the idea of no auditions and just having fun. It is easy to find one in your area - try the naturalvoicesnetwork or just google community choir in.....

Most areas also have some sort of regional annual community choirs event too, so that is worth looking into. My sister sings in a community choir in Totnes.

I know Exmouth and Lympstone very well - my grandmother lived there and I spent all my childhood holidays there. Also I lived in Exmouth (well family moved there during my first term at uni so I spent all my vacations there and was married in Withycombe Raleigh). I am delighted that there is a community choir there now.

When is this happening Cari? Can't seem to find that on the thread - I am sure it is there and I am being dim!

Hello Mishap
there are a couple of choirs in Exmouth, but they are a bit formal and serious for most of us! I like to sing for fun! We are giving concerts at Christmas...for example there is one at the Donkey Sanctuary on the 9th December at 4pm. We are also singing to the marines at CTCRM Lympstone on 17th December at their Christmas Dinner. That will be an exciting one! Tell more about your choirs....really interested.

It all sounds brilliant Dillonsgranma.

The village choir I run is about 20 strong and has been going on for about 20 years or more. We meet up once a week at my place - we are lucky to have a big room! - and we learn stuff just for fun, and also for things like the local informal arts festival (which I am involved in runnning), the carol service (we are not a church choir though), a local folk weekend etc. Absolutely nothing serious. We learn lots of different songs from around the world and I teach by ear - most of the members do not read music, but we also have a number of excellent musicians in our ranks. We sometimes use guitar accompaniment.
For me the most important thing is the ethos - everyone is accepeted for what they can or cannot do and everyone helps each other out. We have several people with disabilites of one kind or another.
One of our tenors has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard - and he cannot read a note of music. He was very wary to start with but is now our star turn and has started to get to grips with what the dots mean!

The Three Choirs festival project is about drawing in community non-auditioned choirs to the main festival and has been going for some years now - we are expecting the chorus to be over 350 strong this time - all ages and all abilities - with a commissioned work written specially for us and an acclaimed soloist. It is a fabulous opportunity for non-professional musicians to work with the best and have the experience of being part of this prestigious festival. It is enormous fun and we get everyopne to wear their brightet T-shirts and fill the cathedral with a rainbow of sound a sight - it is wonderful - but jolly hard work!!

Keep on singing!!!

I was so impressed with the performance that the choir gave at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday. A beautiful song sung with such feeling and confidence. Well done girls

What a wonderful, inspirational last episode. I think I cried nearly all the way through!

I advised my daughter, an ex-chorister, NOT to watch the series as I thought it would be too painful for her, but it has been a truly uplifting programme. Last night my husband suggested we watch the last episode on iPlayer - he hadn't seen the previous ones, but a friend of his had urged him to watch it and so we did. I was a little under the weather yesterday, so my defences were down and I wept throughout. At the Royal Albert Hall the applause for the choir went on and on and on; almost everyone in the auditorium was in tears.
Gareth Malone can truly say he has made a difference to many, many lives with his work at Chivenor and Plymouth; this was a brilliant series.

Just watched part of it, on i player, then realised that, because of the homecomings, I wanted to watch it with DH, because of our military life and our reunions and farewells; giving birth to twins, one of whom was stillborn, when he was in the Far East, was the worst. But I was already in tears before I stopped watching.

I loved it when the choir sang Thank You For The Music to Gareth. He wasn't the only one filling up!