Rudsambee's concerts

history>Concerts in 2004

Sunday 12th December, in Rosslyn Chapel - packed out with a splendidly receptive audience, all tickets sold, big CD sales. We're all agreed that this was the best of this year's Christmas concerts. The chapel was, as always, freezing cold, so that we could see our breath condensing as we sang, but a glass of wine at the interval fortifies audience and singers, and the place is so atmospheric and beautiful, and so good acoustically, that it is always a joy to sing there.
Saturday 11th December - a private concert in a retirement home for Scottish ex-servicemen.
Wednesday 8 December - at Priestfield Church, Edinburgh: our seventh Christmas concert for our friends there, with all proceeds going to their rebuilding fund.
Sunday 28 November - midwinter and Christmas songs in St Giles Cathedral at 6pm. A lovely place to sing, and, as always, an appreciative audience. This was also the first opportunity to buy our new CD, Out of the Christmas flame, which was delivered to us promptly by the ever-reliable RPM in spite of our impossibly short deadlines and the usual misfortunes that beset CD production.
Saturday 25 September – at the Swallow Theatre, Whithorn, a restored and converted barn set among the rolling Galloway hills. The first time we sang there was back in 1998. Once again, we enjoyed singing to a full house, and we were overwhelmed with hospitality after the show too. By a happy coincidence, two friends from Arendal in Norway (see below - 2002) had just arrived on a visit to Scotland, and two no-shows left space for them in the auditorium.
Thursday 2 September - National Gallery of Scotland: a short early evening concert, admission free.
Saturday 17 July (pictures): arriving in York under a gloomy sky and drenching rain, and contemplating a concert in a cemetery, we expected only a small and morose audience. But our host choir, Soon Amore, gave us a warm welcome, the sun broke through, the cemetery turned out to be packed with interesting curiosities and attractive corners, and the Cemetery Chapel was an architectural gem with glorious acoustics. The audience streamed in with their pre-concert picnics and wine, making the most of the change in the weather, and then packed every seat in the chapel. Whatever Rudsambee and Soon Amore sang, separately or together, they received with huge enthusiasm, and eventually they demanded more encores than we had ready to sing for them. Better yet, they bought lots of CDs. Altogether it was a very good day indeed. Our thanks go to Soon Amore for suggesting it, organising it, publicising it, selling the tickets, accommodating us and feeding us, and even finding a pub that would tolerate our less polished singing after the show! And, in case you're wondering, they sing brilliantly too.
Monday 21 June - Music Day at the Danish Cultural Institute in Edinburgh: singing a set in a musical mid-summer celebration featuring several groups, amateur and professional, and a variety of styles.

Sunday afternoon 6 June - busking around Edinburgh's Meadows Festival.

Drew Reith 9th August 1947 - 31st May 2004
Rudsambee mourns the loss of a fine tenor, a gifted musician, and, most of all, a friend and fellow spirit. Drew joined us early in 2004, and rapidly established himself as a valued member of our group. He is sadly missed when we meet and when we perform.

Saturday 22 May (pictures) – Cantemus chamber choir from Stavanger in Norway hosted part of our Norwegian tour in 2002, and we were delighted to join them in a concert in historic Rosslyn Chapel: an outstanding occasion in every way. It was a beautiful warm evening, Cantemus sang gloriously, every ticket was sold, and CDs were in great demand too. Cantemus had already given a splendid lunchtime concert in St Giles that day, and they would not stop singing until long after midnight. We know, because we kept them company in that famous Edinburgh centre of Gaelic and Hebridean culture, the West End Hotel, where the music is live and the whisky comes in lavish measures. Thankyou, Cantemus, for an unforgettable day, and we hope you had a quiet journey home on Sunday!
Friday 21 May - singing a set to conclude an awards ceremony for Adult Learners in Liberton Kirk Halls.
Saturday 8 May - a joint workshop with Soon Amore singers from York
Thursday 15 April, a free early-evening concert in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, one of our favourite places to sing. This was Anna's last concert with us; we all wish her (and Ben and Maia and Holly) happiness and success in New Zealand, but we hope they'll come back to see us.
2004 began with a three-month gap in public performances while Rudsambee recorded a new CD of Christmas music, and Alison walked through Tanzania to complete her very successful Oxfam fund-raising project.