Newsletter of
supported by
MAY 2012
This Issue
CELIA’S 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Celia’s 70th Birthday Party
Uthando Fundraising Garden Party
Carmen’s 30th Birthday party
Orgastic Feast
Feast of Sound
Article by Sharon Jones
It was the event of the year – well in our circles, it was close. Celia was turning 70... (No way ...
she can’t be 70 ... where’s that camera...someone’s trying to trick me), and it was Michael’s
birthday (otherwise affectionately known as the AKM roadie), and there was something about an
anniversary. Anyway, there were more than enough reasons to crack a bottle, which is exactly
what most of us did at their house, one balmy summer evening.
We arrived as usual (with own chair and glass, oh – and food – did I mention the alcohol?). There
weren’t any balloons on the letterbox, but we knew where to go – we followed the laughter. We
gathered together in Mike and Celia’s back yard, enjoying each other’s company, looking forward
to who knows what, as is often the case when we meet. Some were swimming early, most were
exclaiming over exotic concotions in glass and on plate.
Then someone said sing – ooo, now we’re talking. Parts grouped together, chords connected,
and sang we did. We knew that Celia’s fellow Chutneys of the Black Chook variety were also
there, and so we sang for them. Well, we would have sung for anyone really, but we do like an
appreciative audience. And, I’m going to let you in on a little secret – I saw tears in Celia’s eyes.
- 2 Red Shoes by Maggi Rutherford
Celia’s Birthday Party (cont.)
Our beautiful bass was touched. So we sang some more, while Mike was busy. He was, well,
erecting a head on a stick, with wires and the like. I suspected some kind of AV set-up, and I
doubt anyone else noticed. How could we when his daughter was capturing all the frivolity on film
(well, the digital equivalent). She looked stunning. More than a few of us were coveting her
shoes, and were astonished at how agile she could be in those candy red seven inch stilettos.
This was followed by the unleashing of the Chooks. I was blown
away. There were instruments I can safely say that I’ve never even
seen before. The sound was like something out of yesteryear,
whimsical, honest, feverish, and quite stunning. I looked around to
see if anyone else was sitting there with their jaw dropped. I could
see smiling shining eyes as we all enjoyed the medley. Celia looked
as if she was totally in her element, and of course she was. Her
beloved choir and band, together in her home, playing in perfect
harmony.
But enough of that, there was a group photo to be had. Who’s
getting in the pool? Who’s going to splash their feet over the side?
Gather around said the beautiful red shoes, who herself looked like
a masterpiece perched on the other side of the pool. The photos
were taken, and some celebrated by jumping in the pool fully clothed.
Well, who would have thought that would happen, aren’t we
celebrating a 70th?
My own laughter turned into agony upon realising that an iphone had been in the pocket of a
jumpee! By that stage I was soaked just from sitting on the edge. As I stood to wring out my skirt,
I thought what an awesome group of people.
We love Celia, and we love Mike, and we loved with them the acoustic delights of family and
friends celebrating their uniqueness and togetherness.
UTHANDO FUNDRAISING GARDEN PARTY
Article by Chris Oxberry
Photo by Maggi Rutherford
On the afternoon of March 25th the choir sang almost our complete
repertoire of African songs in aid of the Uthando Project. This charity
aims to help disadvantaged African children many of whom are
orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
As part of this project many local people have been making delightful
individually-styled black dolls and Georgia Efford held a garden party
in her beautiful garden to raise money to help send her, along with
what looked like hundreds of dolls, to a conference in South Africa.
The weather was ideal and, after a happy hour or so devouring
cream teas, wandering the idyllic house and garden and aiding the
cause by buying one or two of the items spread out in the shade of
an arbour, the choir assembled beside the swimming pool, Digby teetering on the edge to
conduct us.
The small crowd gathered under the pergola seemed to enjoy our spirited performance or
perhaps they were excited by the prospect, thankfully unfulfilled, of Digby falling backwards into
the pool. Whatever, the performance seemed well-received by all and I think we all left feeling
more than satisfied at having played a small part in helping a very worth-while project.
-3-
UTHANDO GARDEN
PARTY
CARMEN’S 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Article by Jan Rogers
Carmen’s 30th birthday party turned out to be a lovely celebration at her home. She plied us
with food, drink and hospitality mixed with such a friendly group of family, old friends, work mates
and AKM singers. Various people came and went through the evening and it worked well.
As usual, it didn’t take much to start us singing. A fair bit of voice tuning went on as we searched
for the right key and some of the other guests looked quite bemused and wondered what was
coming. However, we got it together and sang quite a few of our ‘old regulars’.
Thanks for a good evening Carmen.
Eds. Note: Finally, I have included
a most unusual piece Sharon wrote
after seeing a WASO concert
recently.
What a fascinating
thought process!!
AN ORGASTIC FEAST OF SOUND WITH WASO
I went to the concert hall tonight to hear WASO and the
Pipe Organ, and it was totally exhilarating!! I missed my
calling – I was meant to play Timpani. It was an orgastic
feast of sound. The pipe organ was like oozy sticky
caramel, from golden treacle to caramelised onion resolving
into sweet and sometimes discordant jam. I saw crystal clear flute inspired waterfalls, and the
viola were like a cool wind after a frenzied day. The bassoon was like earthy, warm cardamon,
and while the cello was Cadbury’s milk chocolate, the violins were a sweet mint humbug, and
sometimes like a crisp green apple. The double bass, on the other hand, was like dark rich
chocolate, full and not too sweet. But the timpani was like licorice in a licorice allsorts, providing
a stable ground and filling, unique and irreplaceable. And I remember thinking that the horns
were sometimes like a light beer, and the tuba was like a solid tokay. The triangle just topped it
off – like 100’s and 1000’s sprinkles on a freckle. A veritable smorgasbord of sensory delight.
And, you know what, I went by myself, and damn proud I could ...