Back to School

Hopefully all the blokes will be re-invigorated and ready for getting back into action for a packed Autumn and into the Midwinter.

Forthcoming highlights include:

• Singing in a massive resonant space in Birmingham Central Station
• Recording a new LP's worth (ask anyone with grey hair kiddies...) of, er, recordings
• Performing with two lovely lady choirs at our three gigs
• Another big gig in Cirencester's Sundial Theatre
• Getting in the mood for Yuletide with some singing in the pub
• Thinking about going to Cork Festival next year!!

And no doubt there will be more as we bring a close to Year 9 of Magnificents and brace ourselves for celebrating our 10th year of lowering the tone with our high jinks.

And to get back into gear we are literally going back to School with our first workshop back in Ashton Keynes School Hall, Gosditch.

Workshop with us

Just in case you haven't already got your tickets can we encourage you along to the workshop that precedes our gig with the mighty Glorious Chorus this coming Saturday in the P. R. of Stroud?

By all accounts Helen Yeomans is a very special choir leader and we are all very much looking forward to seeing and hearing her in action and judging by the joint piece the blokes have been working on it will be something very special.

Book your Workshop tickets from the Sub Rooms website at http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/singing-workshop/ and show tickets from http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/from-the-ridiculous-to-the-sublime/.

Master Class with Malkhaz Erkvanidze

From one master to another, here you can see  Malkhaz Erkvanidze on the right in action at Ashton Keynes School Hall passing on some of his experience and wisdom to our great master, our belovéd ChoirMeister Chris Samuel.

A good number of the blokes turned up dutifully garbed in Magnificent T-Shirts along with a number of non-Magnificent, but one the less magnificent blokes, and were taught two pieces.

The first was a truly special example of Georgian choral singing, a singular Mraval jamier that was quite a challenge for all assembled with its shape shifting polyphony and intricate parts.  We managed to get through it in one piece but it was quite a challenge though hopefully has laid the groundwork for us to return to it and conquer it with guidance from Mr Samuel.

The second piece, Aliloi, came together very quickly and despite only getting a couple of run throughs sounded reasonably pleasing by the end of the session.  You can judge for yourself by listening to it at https://soundcloud.com/the-magnificent-ak47/adiloi?in=the-magnificent-ak47/sets/malkhaz-workshop-march-2014.

Master Class with Malkhaz Erkvanidze this Thursday

Just a reminder that we are very proud to be organizing a "Master Class with Malkhaz Erkvanidze", one of the top people in the world of Georgian singing who has been at the forefront of the revival of Georgian folk and medieval sacred music for the past 25 years, pictured right.

The event will be held on Thursday 6th March in the Ashton Keynes School Hall, opening around 19:15 and starting around 19:45.  Tickets for this special one off Master Class cost of £10 per bloke, £5 per Mini-Bloke (kid) available on the night.

Non-blokes are welcome to attend but because of the nature of our all bloke group we have asked that he focus on pieces more suitable for our range, so please bear that in mind.

This should be viewed as an unmissable opportunity to learn from one of the greats of this genre so to book your place, email themagnificentak47@gmail.com and we will sort out the details.

More about MALKHAZ ERKVANIDZE

He is one of the world's foremost authorities on traditional Georgian folk and sacred music. Born in the central mountainous region of Imereti, Malkhaz grew up singing folk music in his family and with a local master-singer named Benia Mikadze. 

His unique background growing up in a family singing tradition allowed Malkhaz the opportunity to develop an ear for indigenous Caucasus tuning systems. A graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatory, he has spent much of his professional life rescuing traditional Georgian orthodox chants suppressed under Soviet communism. 

His seven books of Georgian hymns and folk songs have been published with CDs,and he has written many articles about the distinctive musical structure of Georgian polyphony. In 1988 Malkhaz founded the Anchiskhati Choir, dedicated to preserving the authentic Georgian tuning system and traditional singing styles. Malkhaz currently teaches at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and consults for and directs numerous choirs, including Sakhioba Ensemble, with whom he has produced five albums

Georgian Singing Workshop in the P.R. of Stroud

Word has reached us of another Georgian Singing Evening with Carl Linich on Tuesday November 26th in STROUD in one of the first floor rooms in the Centre for Science & Arts, Lansdown, Stroud from 7.30 till 9.30. 

The workshop will be with Carl, an American who founded the first Georgian choir in the West, the Kavkasia Trio, and has won awards from the Georgian State for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Georgian singing.   

You can find a full biography, pictures, audio samples and lots of other information about Carl on his website.

Carl will teach by ear, and promises that he will match the difficulty to the ability of the singers who come on the evening!  All are welcome!  It's NOT just for blokes.

The event is being organized by lapsed, but none the less Magnificent Bloke Nick Mills who has been putting on singing events for many years and several of the current Magnificent Blokes attended Carl's workshop in Oxford the other night and can vouch for the fact that it will be a very interesting evening and you will learn tons about the language, the culture and how to sing this very special genre.

The workshop will be costed on a self-assessed sliding scale £12/£10/£8 depending what you feel is right.   The organizers will provide herb teas & biccies. 

To book please email sing@circleofsong.co.uk, register using an Online form here or call 01453 752978.   And here's a poster for this workshop. 

Please note: there are stairs and no lift, so please call Nick if you may have access issues.

Full links

http://www.nyfolklore.org/tradarts/music/artist/linichc.html
http://circleofsong.co.uk/

Georgian Singing Workshop in Oxford

Word has reached us of a Georgian Singing Evening with Carl Linich on Thursday November 21st in OXFORD at the New Road Baptist Church in Bonn Square, Queen Street from 7:00 pm. to 10:00 pm. It will start at 7:15 pm. and finish around 9:45 pm. with a break for refreshments. 

The fee will be at £12 / £10 / £8 according to means (self-assessed) including refreshments. There are still places available if anyone else would like to come.

The workshop will be with Carl Linich, an American who founded the first Georgian choir in the West, the Kavkasia Trio, and has won awards from the Georgian State for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Georgian singing. You can find a full biography, pictures and audio samples at: http://www.nyfolklore.org/tradarts/music/artist/linichc.html

The event is being organized by Michael Bloom who has known Carl for around 15 years and know him to be an excellent teacher so it should be a very interesting evening.  If you are interested in going email Michael direct a michaelbloom1@compuserve.com.