From Ian and Sue - wombournechoralsociety.org

This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1Ian and Sue introduce us to their rosy friends in their garden at Old...

TOPIC 2Janet Lungley takes us on a comical trip of music...

TOPIC 3Henry asks where has common sense gone to...

TOPIC 4From Ian...The Prelude and Fugue in D major, with a short commentary, is now available, for your interest/enjoyment !!! Visit : [email protected]

From Ian and SueA few of our rosy friends in our garden at Old !1. From the top of the garden towards the cottage, Graham Thomas on the garage wall, and Etiole d’Hollande tumbling over the arch of clematis Montana. - 2. Onto the next rose-arch, Constance Spry at her best. - 3. Gertrude Jekyll with her fabulous scent. - 4. The enchanting Ruffled Velvet Iris. - 5. One of my favourite irises, the dusky Carnival Time overlooking the pond. - 6. Who’s this budding so beautifully? - 7. Oh yes, it’s you, Lady Emma Hamilton! - 8. The typically effulgent Jacqueline du Pre.With love and best wishes to all of our friends in WDCS. Continue to take care, and hope it’s not too long before we can meet again!

Issue No : 006 June 2020

You’re playing the wrong tune... it’s Dum de Dum de DumI will never forget the priest at the next door parish to ours stopping the organist in full flow, by booming out these words, in the days before priests needed a microphone to be heard. It was during their evening service that was Evensong and Benediction, which I was taken to by a dear friend. It was with this church I first made a pilgrimage to Walsingham, in the days before motorways, for the priest was also a Guardian of the Walsingham Shrine but that’s another story.

I have always been interested in hymns that could be sung to unlikely tunes, sometimes with a bit of a twiddle ! Such as:- Amazing grace - The House of the rising sun (just try it) Praise the Lord of heaven

praise him in the height (A&M R. 381; EH 534) - Land of Hope and Glory The King of love my shepherd is – Nessun Dorma (from about the tenth bar) - I am sure people have others.

I also find it amusing how words are sometimes changed accidently or deliberately - some would say a misspent youth.The heavens are telling = the heathens are yelling. Gaelic Blessing = garlic dressing. Hyfrydol = hydrofoilDarke in F = Eff in’ dark Dyson in D = Dicing with death Faux-bourdons aka Foul Burdens. And the tune St Botolph, as St Boffo. Blind Worms (Blaenwern) In a slightly different vein, Matins in Australia (The Day thou gavest) Another of Rutter’s (to go with the Garlic Dressing), ‘The Shepherd’s Pie Carol’ (The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol)And the Kendrick favourite ... From heaven you came gorgeous babe and of course the Tedium at Matings, From “Hark! The herald angels sing”: and with jelly toast proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.” Good King Wences’ car backed out on a piece of Stephen And just a little of - Most highly flavoured gravy

I am sure our one time choirboys (and girls) could add more to these lists.

From Janet Lungley

From HenryAn Obituary printed in the London Times... Brilliant !!!Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn’t always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for

kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the

burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot . She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, -by his parents, Truth and Trust,-by his wife, Discretion,-by his daughter, Responsibility,-and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepchildren; - I Know My Rights - I Want It Now - Someone Else Is To Blame - I’m A Victim- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.


TOPIC 1A little poem of some of the troubles that can happen during a shopping trip to Waitrose...

TOPIC 2Jill is still gardening, mainly watering and gives us a link to a special video...

TOPIC 3Our first ‘Choral Quiz’ which we hope you will enjoy and offers a prize to the entry with the most correct answers...


Waitrose visit...I wandered lonely as a cloudTwo metres from the maddening crowdWhen all at once my name was calledTo enter the Waitrose hallowed hall.

This was the pensioner’s special hourI’d gone to get a bag of flour.But I forgot, when through the door,What I had gone to Waitrose for.

The Waitrose staff were extra kind,I told them it had slipped my mind.

They asked what else I had forgotThey clearly thought I’d lost the plot.

I phoned my wife again to ask,She reminded me of this key task:“I need some flour to bake a cakewith all these eggs you made me take.“

“Yes, I recall” I had to lie.I dared not ask what flower to buyBut then I saw them next to the tillsA bunch of golden daffodils.

From Nancy Gregson

From Jill MasonMy sister told me of this video, which I thought was a delight, and that friends at WDCS would enjoy it too. Follow the link: www.wombournechoralsociety.org/Videos/VID-20200513-WA0001.MP4 or find the link on the ‘Members’ page on the WDCS website.I am still enjoying the garden with House Martinsnesting here and swooping overhead, but wishsomeone would do a rain dance, everything is so dryand needs so much watering. (Prayer now answered.)Best wishes to everyone.

DID YOU KNOW...Why do men’s clothes have buttons on the right while women’s clothes have buttons on the left?BECAUSEWhen buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid’s right! And that’s where women’s buttons have remained since.

A Choral Quiz...1). This German composer lived from 1585-1672; his output includes a setting of the Passion, a Christmas oratorio, a setting of the entire book of psalms, several madrigals, instrumental music and a large body of sacred pieces.Which composer ? : Melchior Vulpius - Heinrich Schutz - Michael Praetorius - Heinrich Isaac

2). This Italian composer’s works bridge the Renaissance and Baroque eras. His best known choral works are his madrigals (both spiritual and secular) and his “Vespro della Beata Vergine”. He is principally known, however, for being the first truly great operatic composer. Which composer ? : Jacopo Peri - Arcangelo Corelli - Claudio Monteverdi - Francesco Cavalli

3). The choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach include the great Mass in B Minor, the Magnificat in D, over one hundred church cantatas, and two mighty settings of the Passion from the gospels of these two evangelists.Which two ? : Matthew and John - Luke and John - Matthew and Luke - Matthew and Mark

4). Best known for his oratorio “Messiah”, Georg Frederick Handel also wrote this great oratorio which includes choruses about swarms of insects, fire and hail, and darkness and an aria about frogs and diseased cattle.Which one ? : Samson - Israel in Egypt - Judas Maccabeus - Solomon

5). The famous “Hallelujah Chorus” is sung at the conclusion of Handel’s “Messiah”.Decide : True - False

6). Haydn’s great oratorio “The Creation” opens with an orchestral prelude. What does it describe?Choose from : The creation of man - Light being separated from darkness - Chaos - The waters separated from dry land

7). Which of the following is NOT a setting of the mass by Mozart?Choose from : The “Sparrow” mass - The “Lord Nelson” mass - The Coronation mass - The “Credo” mass

8). Which three sections of Mozart’s great Requiem were entirely composed by his pupil Sussmayer after his death?Which one ? : Lacrymosa, Sanctus, & Benedictus - Offertory, Lacrymosa, & Sanctus - Sanctus, Benedictus, & Agnus Dei - Offertory, Sanctus, & Agnus Dei

9).This great choral work of Beethoven was written with the inscription “From the heart, may it go to the heart.”Chose which one : The Mass in C - Christus am Oelberg - Missa Solemnis - The Ninth (Choral) Symphony

10). This twentieth century British composer’s choral works include “Rejoice in the Lamb”, “A Ceremony of Carols”, “Five Flower Songs”, “A War Requiem”, and “A Festival Te Deum.”Which composer ? : Ralph Vaughan Williams - Herbert Howells - Benjamin Britten - Gustav Holst

11). This French composer’s works include a setting of the “Gloria”, four Lenten motets, four Christmas motets, a Litany to the “black virgin”, and a Stabat Mater.Which composer ? : Claude Debussy - Ernest Chausson - Francis Poulenc - Gabriel Faure

12). Apart from Beethoven, which of these great symphonists wrote symphonies utilizing chorus and soloists ?Which symphonist ? : Anton Bruckner - Gustav Mahler - Johannes Brahms - Paul Hindemith

Email your answers to [email protected] with a chance of winning a prize for the first correct entry.

Answers should be in no later than 10 days after the release of this Newsletter.


TOPIC 1Judith Rowley shows us another of her textile designs...

TOPIC 2Introducing Sabine Devieilhe, an amazingsoprano from France...

TOPIC 3Some amusing questions from children in the classroom...

TOPIC 4Let a glass of wine help you through these difficult times...

TOPIC 5The answers to our first Choral Quiz seen in Newsletter No.7...


DID YOU KNOW...Why are zero scores in tennis called ‘love’?BECAUSEIn France , where tennis became popular, the round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called ‘l’oeuf,’ which is French for ‘the egg.’ When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans (naturally), mispronounced it ‘love.’

From Judith Rowley...Judith whose other great passion besides music is textile design, shares with us an image of another piece of her mixed media work called “ The Commuters“. It was inspired by the modern architecture of Colmore Business District in Birmingham City Centre. The stick people are going to work and have neither gender nor ethnicity and represent the diversity of the city! Again, I hope you like it.

Judith, a textile artist and teacher, has a web site at www.judithrowleytextileartist.co.uk if you would like to see more of her beautiful work.

Introducing soprano Sabine Devieilhe...Sabine Devieilhe, born 12 December 1985, is a French operatic coloratura soprano. She is known for her interpretation of works by Mozart, Baroque music, and 19th-century opera. She was born in Ifs, near Caen, France and began her musical apprenticeship at the Ifs school of music before entering the Caen Conservatory at the age of twelve in order to study the cello.

After graduating from the Lycée Malherbe, she obtained a diploma in musicology and ethnomusicology at the University of Rennes. In parallel to her studies, she joined the choir of the Opéra de Rennes. In 2008, she

entered the Conservatoire de Paris and has since continued in many operatic roles with great success. Visit https://youtu.be/gMO0KFL3E58 to hear her amazing studio performance of ‘Air des clochettes’ from Delibes’ opera Lakmé. (Mike Coope)

Teacher : How old is your father?Kid : He is 6 years.Teacher : What? How is this possible?Kid : He became father only when I was born

Teacher : Maria, go to the map and find North AmericaMaria : Here it is.Teacher : Correct. Now, Class, who discovered America?Class : Maria

Teacher : Glenn, how do you spell ‘crocodile’ ?Glenn : K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-LTeacher : No, that’s wrong.Glenn : Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

From the Classroom...Teacher : Donald, what is the chemical formula for water? Donald : H I J K L M N OTeacher : What are you talking about?Donald : Yesterday you said it was H to O.

Teacher : Clyde, your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s. Did you copy his?Clyde : No, Sir; It’s the same dog.

Teacher : Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested ?Harold : A teacher, Miss.

Don’t you just love kids... Children are quick and always speak their minds.

From Sheila Askew...In these ‘unprecedented’ times, we need all the help we can get -

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?Do you suffer from shyness?Do you wish you were a better conversationalist?Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?Do you sometimes feel stressed?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, ‘ask your doctor about Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident. It can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you’re ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Cabernet Sauvignon almost immediately and, with a regimen of regular doses, you’ll overcome obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past. You will discover talents you never knew you had.

Cabernet Sauvignon may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use it, but women who wouldn’t mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side Effects may include: Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

Warnings:The consumption of Cabernet Sauvignon may cause you to think you can sing. It may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Scotch, Vodka or Bourbon or even Beer may be substituted for Cabernet Sauvignon, with similar results.

And, please, don’t forget - LIFE IS A CABERNET OLD CHUM.

The Choral Quiz...Did you enjoy the new Choral Quiz that we created in the last WDCS Newsletter? Would you like another ? If so, let Mike Coope know at [email protected]

The answers to this first quiz in Newsletter Issue No. 7 were:1). - Heinrich Schutz 2). - Claudio Monteverdi 3). - Matthew and John 4). - Israel in Egypt 5). - False6). - Chaos 7). - The ‘Lord Nelson’ Mass 8). - Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei 9). - Missa Solemnis10). - Benjamin Britten 11). - Francis Poulenc 12). - Gustav Mahler

The winner, received first with all the answers correct was Sheila Barnfather... Well done, Sheila !She will be receiving the Chairman’s Quiz Prize - A bottle of wine !


TOPIC 1Mike Hayward shares with us what his cats have been up to during lockdown...

TOPIC 2The sunny weather inspired Henry to take photographs of his home and the surrounding countryside...

Issue No : 009 July 2020

DID YOU KNOW...Why are many coin collection jar banks shaped like pigs?BECAUSELong ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of dense orange clay called ‘pygg’. When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as ‘pygg banks.’ When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a container that resembled a pig. And it caught on.

From Mike Hayward...I thought the choir might like to know what our cats are doing during lockdown.

Mike suggested the following captions: Top : I am fed up with all this on-line learning. Bottom Left : Rooted to the spot ! Bottom Right : ...and for my next song...

Do you have any photographs of your favourite pets which you would like to share with our newsletter readers ? If so, please email to [email protected]

From Henry and Liz...Henry and Liz have shared with us some very sunny photographs of their home, High Park Lodge just outside Pattingham, the surrounding countryside including Patshull Park and some of the River Severn at Dudmaston, near Bridgnorth.

High Park Lodge High Park Lodge

Salters Pool, Patshull Park Poppies in Patshull Park

River Severn near Dudmaston River Severn near Dudmaston


TOPIC 1The fascinating world of the unique portrait miniature...

TOPIC 2How big is B&Q ?...

TOPIC 3Statue removal ?

TOPIC 4What life was like in the 1500’s...

Issue No : 010 July 2020

DID YOU KNOW...Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast?BECAUSEIn earlier times it used to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink was safe, it became customary for aguest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would only touch or clink the host’s glass with his own.

The portrait photograph of long ago...Before commercial photography was available in 1888, if you wanted a portrait of a loved one, you had to commission a highly-skilled artist at a considerable fee who would create a miniature portrait that was portable and could fit in the hand.

The first portrait miniatures were created around 1520 by artists such as Clouet, Holbein, followed by Samuel Cooper, Nicolas Hilliard and several others. In the early days, vellum was used as the medium, together with oil on copper, vitreous enamel and latterly ivory. Slices of ivory were used because of its stability but had to be treated to accept specially prepared watercolour paints. (Today ivorine is used.)

Contempory artists of around 1760 through to the Regency period were most notably, Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, John Smart, Jeremiah Meyer, William Wood and Andrew Plimer (1763-1837) born Wellington, Shropshire - an example of whose work is shown in the picture above (size: 75 x 64mm). Notice the young man has his hair/wig powdered (which was the fashion), the very fine detail of the work and also the rear of the miniature which had a lock of the sitter’s hair together with pearls, gold and precious gems... in itself being a work of art. This miniature was recently sold at a Christie’s Auction, London in November 2019 for £3000.

Further examples of this unique and beautiful form of art... (Mike Coope)

To keep you amused...

From Henry...Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!”

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof... Hence the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how

canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire... Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Whoever said History was boring ?

To be sure, I rang up B&Q at Telford today and asked... “Are you open and how big is the queue ?”

He said... “ Yes, we are and it’s the same size as the B”...

“These statues offend me... could we have them removed, please.”

From Ian and Sue - wombournechoralsociety.org

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