Musical Moments & Memories : Sepia Saturday

 This week's prompt photograph  from Sepia Saturday features what looks llike a a pop group boy band, one with a guitar  - well the pop music scene largely passed me by  and I wrote recently about "pals together" .  So instead I turned to look back at my own musical moments and memories. 

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"I am in an  all singing/dancing chorus, swirling my skirts,  in a  London West End show  - such as Carousel, Oklahoma, West Side Story or 42nd Street ......."

But It Was All One of My Wildest Dreams!  

Back to reality! Playing the triangle in my infant school percussion group  is my earliest musical memory.  I was not too pleased at being given  this instrument.  Like everyone else, I wanted the favourite choice  - the sleigh bells.  

My first stage performance  was at a Brownie's concert when, clutching our teddies,  we sang "The Teddy Bear's Picnic". 

 

I began learning the piano at the age of eight, largely because it was a sore point with my mother that her older sister and much younger sister learnt, but she was the middle sister and missed out.   

 

In my school days, there was no opportunity to learn other instruments, as there is now.   I did have a go at teaching myself the recorder, but the dog hated it and whined throughout my attempts, so I never got very far!   I would have loved to go to dancing classes, but that was not to be. 

My parents and aunt were the people I have to thank for making music so much a  part of my life from an early age, introducing me to musicals, operetta and ballet (my most  favourite art form).  I was lucky to grow up in Blackpool, Lancashire which  had regular touring companies to the Opera House and Grand Theatre.  

 

                               

   

My mother, my aunt and my father. 

I was taken to a performance of Johann Strauss's  "The Gypsy Baron" and wanted  a gypsy costume and  headdress with long coloured ribbons  - the nearest I got was full skirt  trimmed with coloured rows of  ric rac.  

 

My first ballet was Coppelia - an ideal choice for a little girl with the feisty heroine in a lovely pale blue tutu,  the handsome hero - and more gypsy dances.  

 

 

 

In my early teens, my mother took me to see  the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" and I was mesmerised by the magic of it - from the orchestral overture,  the transforming scenery, the costumes and of course the dancing.  "La Boheme" was the first grand opera I saw and my hanky was well and truly soaked as I wept at the death of Mimi.  Ditto seeing Carmen and La Traviata. 

We weren't a particularly musical family, but my mother sang in a local choir  and my father sang in the church choir from the age of seven - so hymns were high on his agenda.    He loved military bands and we always watched on TV the annual Trooping of the Colour parade of marching bands  to mark Queen Elizabeth's official birthday. Radio & TV  programmes such as "Melodies for You, 100 Best Tunes, Friday Night is Music Night  and Songs of Praise  - were regulars we listened  to or watched.   

Singing in a choir (school, church, community)  has been a key activity throughout my life from primary school days onwards, whether it was folk songs from round the world, spirituals, carols, sacred music, oratorios  opera and operetta choruses,   or songs from the shows - musical tastes that still mean a lot to me today. I was very happy to be a chorus girl, with no pretensions to be a soloist - I knew my limitations! 

High school introduced me to Gilbert & Sullivan  and I was hooked, singing in most of the operas over the years.  At University, I joined the  Savoy Opera Group and the annual G & S performances were the highlight of my years there - I loved taking part in them - the dressing up (the girls made their own costumes), the singing and some dancing. 

     

In "Yeoman of the Guard"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In "HMS Pinafore"

    

       

     In "Pirates of Penzance" 

 

 My other musical highlight was some years ago when I  was  one of over a 1000 singers, plus orchestra and organ  in a "Come and Sing" performance of "The Messiah"  in the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London - an exhilarating. moving  and unforgettable experience in front of a packed 4000 audience.  I was on a high,  walking back to our hotel.   

 

 Researching my family history revealed more singers among my ancestors. 

I always knew from my father that his maternal grandfather John Matthews (above)  was a prominent member of the local Methodist Church.  Then  I  heard, through my blog,  from a distant family connection who wished to pass onto a direct descendant  of John Matthews some memorabilia.  Among  the collection was this  silver crested baton presented to John in recognition of his service to the church. in particular in his role as conductor of the choir. 

 

 The tiny inscription reads:   

Presented to John Matthews

By the Choir and Congregation of Wesleyan Chapel, Ladymoor

28.11.04

 

To hold the baton used by my great grandfather was a delight to me, as the love of choral music  continued down through the family. 

 

My great uncle George Danson (1893-1916) was killed on the Somme. at the age of 22.   I traced an obituary in the local press and it included the statement " He was a member of the Poulton Parish Church choir" - I never knew that but it pleased me to find this other side to his life. 

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 I decided some time ago it was time   to "retire" my voice, but music still plays an important part in my life.  Joining a choir is a marvellous form of music making, whatever your age, a great creator of the "feel good factor",  and there is nothing to beat singing with the full blooded accompaniment of an orchestra or organ.   I recommend it!  

 

 

The Roxburgh Singers in  the Scottish Borders .  

I  was a member of the choir  for over 30 years. 

The  musical moments and memories live on!  

 

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Sepia Saturday gives an opportunity for genealogy bloggers  to share their family history through photographs.

 

 

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             to read more from other Sepia Saturday bloggers

 

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