Brue Boys 2009 Concerts Part 2

Reports of the Brue Boys 2009 Concerts Part 2

Saturday 17th October
The Brue Boys contributed to a concert in Compton Dundon Village Hall
to raise funds for Save the Children

	The Brue Boys broke with tradition to sing three learnt songs without reading words and music. So this gave scope for some actions, especially in the spiritual 'Now won't you sit down' being sung in these three photographs. Also sung were 'The Rose' and 'When I'm Sixty Four'.

Some Enchanted Evening
Picnic Concert in the grounds of Tilham Farm (where we practice in the adjacent Stalls)
on 18th July 2009

Above : Views of the audience

Left : Robert Peto welcomes all

Right : The Brue Boys in action

Some Enchanted Evening
lived up to its billing as an overcast and wet day miraculously cleared to show off Robert and Peto's beautiful garden which provided a perfect venue for the summer concert. Tickets had been sold out for some time, and it has been agreed to sell more next time as there was still ample room on the two tiers of manicured lawns surrounded by stunning flower beds and trees.

Host Robert Peto was master of ceremonies, and The Brue Boys are most grateful to Robert and Sue for their hard work and generosity in making us so welcome at their lovely home.

As well as fourteen songs from the Brue Boys, with the theme song 'Some Enchanted Evening ' sung again with the audience as a finale, the Brue Boys were joined by several exceptional acts in between and before the concert started.
As we are the first course of our picnics Phil Jackson's saxophone, accompanied by Carolyn Young on the piano and harp set the melodic tone for the evening. Carolyn later played some beautiful tunes on her harp to provide a contrast to the Brue Boys' strident rendition of The Jolly Roger which finished their first set.

The Brue Boys' second set culminated in the popular Hippopotamus Song, and thankfully Tilham Farm lawns did not turn to mud during the evening. It was a privilege again to hear Chris Hunt's wonderful tenor voice, accompanied by Jennifer Martin on the piano.

After the interval The Brue Bells made their inaugural performance on their re-discovered hand bells. Their presentation (see below) was most professional and they are looking for others to join them in their new venture. Later we were treated to some stirring tunes from Jon Swayne and Jim Blackburn who played bagpipes and mandola so infectiously that there began an impromptu dance on the lawns by many!

Rounding off the evening, the Brue Boys performed the stirring Anthem from Chess, the Beatles 'When I'm Sixty Four' and with the audience completed the successful concert with Some Enchanted Evening.

Look out for the next picnic concert in 2010.

Above : Carolyn accompanies Brue Boys' Saxophonist Phil Jackson

Far Right : Carolyn delights us with here harp

Centre Top : The newly formed Brue Bells

And finally ... The Boys again

	Friday 10th July at Woodlands Church near Frome
With the Glastonbury Male Voice Choir as monks in St Dunstan's Pageant Glastonbury Abbey, 4th July 2009



Festival of the Voice ~ Stourhead Gardens Saturday 9th May 2009
The Brue Boys were one of 35 choirs performing in the beautiful National Trust Gardens at Stourhead, Wiltshire in what the organisers described as 'a celebration of song with over 1000 performers from across the region in this magical world-famous setting. We sang two half-hour slots in the Visitor Reception Courtyard at 11am and 1pm which attracted a good crowd. It was a privilege to wander the grounds and hear the other choirs, their voices wafting through the trees, often mingling together.

Photos from Jennifer Martin show : Above left and right ~ The Brue Boys in full flow conducted by Jennifer Martin and accompanied on the new Brue Boys' piano by Carolyn Young Above middle ~ Announcer Robert Peto (seated) with Mike and Carolyn Young Right ~ Butleigh Brue Boys John Mulliner, Graham Kirk and Tony Brown
Jennifer Martin wrote this piece which appeared in the Baltonsborough Parish magazine : The Brue Boys have just made their first foray outside the local area; on Saturday, 9th May we joined 35 other choirs to sing at Stourhead’s annual Festival of the Voice. Dick and John rolled in the posts to support our posh new banner, Adrian and Howard carried in our new digital piano and the gazebo, Carolyn brought her l-o-n-g cards of music, I had my music stand and the Boys were all wearing their splendid new logo-ed shirts. We were ready to sing! Our spot was in the Visitors’ Reception area, where, for two half-hour slots we sang our long-practised songs to a smiling audience as they sipped their coffee outside the restaurant. They seemed to like what we sang. It was heartening to see so many of our own groupies there too, who of course gave us lots of very vocal support. After this we were able to wander about the grounds, picking up the strains of a different choir as we rounded each corner. Enchanting! It was a memorable experience and one which we definitely want to repeat next year.