Logos: How Low Can You Go?

I've been working on the Various Voices website of late (there seems to be a never ending flow of things to do there!) and one page I have been tweaking is the sponsors page. Basically, the idea is to put all the logos of the current sponsors of Various Voices up together with a hyperlink to each of their websites. Because of design constraints I have had to force each of the logos to fit into a box 100 pixels wide by 100 pixels high, which is really about as low as I can go, and the result is the screenshot you see to the left (click on it for a proper view).

The one thing I noticed is that the Pink Singers logo works marvelously even at this small size. For a semi-amateur logo (although I would never class anything ever created by Dragan as 'amateur') it scales beautifully. Some of the other logos do suffer a bit for having shrunk down, with relatively poor legibility, but the Pinkies logo keeps truckin' on! Indeed, I think it compares favourably with the professional logos of the Southbank Centre and Visit London, and surpasses the Mayor for London logo. Great stuff.

The Super-anos

Well, I was working late on Tuesday, but instead of my usual commute home followed by crashing out on the sofa, I decided to test my brain cell a little by going to the Pinkies quiz night at the Black Cap. It was expertly organized by the sopranos, and MCed expertly by Emelda, who mixed her dry wit with some of the fairly ludicrous questions to great acclaim.

Of course I arrived late, but by the time I got there it was already fairly busy. I was roped into Mel's team with Sally Ann, Liang, Philip R and a bunch of Mel's friends. They were actaully rather good, and despite my tardiness I think I acquitted my self nicely with my encyclopaedic knowledge of Star Wars, Star Trek and Nintendo video games. Er... perhaps I shouldn't be too proud of that! In the end my team actually won, oh novelty! Of course Gill P's team of just three people were neck and neck with us all the way, and probably should have won if it weren't for the fact that my team was nearly three times their numbers!

It was also great to see most of the Pink Singers out on a school night. I am presuming that most people either have a relaxed dress policy at work, or they had a chance to go home to get changed, because there were quite a number of people dressed in nothing but T-shirts and shorts in the hot weather. I love the summer, people look so much sexier and our choir is blessed with quite a few photogenic members. I'll name names if pressed!

The quiz itself was followed by the mandatory karaoke session. I love singing, and I love karaoke, but when it comes to performing on a stage in front of people I just chicken out. Thankfully there were people like the amazing Keri who took up the challenge. I already know Keri has an amazing voice - at least year's choir weekend away she dazzled us all with her range and repertoire - but it didn't stop me being impressed hearing her sing Bjork's It's So Quiet. Liang ang a song just before I left, but the sweetest moment of the night must have been when the Pink Singers got up behind Gwen, a more mature regular at the karaoke night, to sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Fun was had by all - I can't wait until the altos' event!

Beaurocracy - An Operational Guide

I am about as straight-laced as they come, but despite this, I really love reading a blog called Boing Boing. I imagine it is populated by hash-smoking, tattooed, free-wheeling libertarians, and while I am not exactly in that demographic, there is always a few articles there every day which I find interesting, and I also like the viewpoints of the commentators there.

Today there was an article on something called the 'Simple Sabotage Field Manual' from the U.S. Strategic Services, basically a guide created in 1944 teaching people how to sabotage their workplace. In reality, it is what I have to deal with every day in virtually every meeting I am in, a guide on how to never make any decisions at all. Even so, it is amusing to see such behaviour described explicitly in point form, designed as a way of disrupting your group, and funny to identify people who behave exactly like this (sub)consciously:

Insist on doing everything through "channels", never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.

Make "speeches". Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your "points" by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences. Never hesitate to make a few appropriate "patriotic" comments.

When possible, refer all matters to committees, for "further study and consideration". Attempt to make the committees as large as possible - never less than five.

Bring up irrelevant issues asfrequently as possible.

Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes and resolutions.

Refer back to mattterdecided upon at the last meeting and attempt to reopen the question of the adviseability of that decision.

Advocate "caution". Be "reasonable" and urge your fellow conferees to be "reasonable" and avoid haste which might result in embarassments of difficulties later on.

Be worried about the property of any decision - rasie the question of whether such action as is contemplated lies wthin the jurisdiction of the group or whether it might conflict with the policy of some higher echelon.

The Summer Concert 2008 Poster

Don't you just love it? The Pink Singers are 25 years old. How amazing is that! You've come a long way babe. Remember the concert is at 7.30pm on Saturday, the 12th of July 2008 at the Royal Academy of Music. Come along and celebrate!

Stretch Your Brain And Vocal Cords Tonight

Just a quick note to say that if you are free this evening, the sopranos are organizing a quiz at the Black Cap from 7pm onwards. Come on down, bring your friends, and meet the Pinkies in their natural setting (the pub!) This is naturally followed by the glories of karaoke - hope to see you there!

Details here.

Epiphany

Every season there comes a time when things finally come together, when the choir moves from simply learning the notes to actually starting to polish the performance, and this certainly was the case this Sunday just gone. I've been away for a couple of weeks, and the change really was noticeable. Most of the Pinkies now know the music and the majority of the lyrics, which means that we are listening to each other more, blending better, and even, as in the interchange between the basses and the altos in our version of West Side Story's America, having a little fun!

What is even better is that this season, the change has happened with five weeks to go before our summer concert. Normally, things only start to fall in place with a few weeks left to spare, and with an even smaller repertoire. The fact that we are now start polishing the performance with so much time to spare, and with nearly twenty songs to learn, is a real testament to the dedication of our choir members, and an indicator of how much tighter as a choir we are. I think people are really feeling it - I know I am!

Another thing I noticed, which I am incredibly proud of, is how we learned the music to Ave Maria within a fortnight. We are singing Schubert's version of Ave Maria, kindly and expertly rearranged for the Pink Singers by Michael Derrick. If you haven't sung it before, you won't have realised how difficult the rhythm is in this piece, particularly since there are multiple accent beats and irregular bar lengths. In any case, with the rehearsal tracks and Mladen bashing us through both verses, we are, dare I say it, actually beginning to sound reverential.

In the nick of time too! We are backing Gari Glaysher at IndigO2 at the dome in a couple of weeks, so really do need to sound our best. Gary came along on Sunday to rehearse with us, and this time we actually got to hear him sing with us. And sing he did - what a voice! I've been in a choir for many years now, and I know my own voice is okay, and has a certain timbre which I am fairly happy with. In fact, I know my voice is more suited to musical theatre, but there are also times when I wish I had the ability to sing one of the really big operatic tenor arias. Unfortunately, such a voice is a rare find indeed, and is a convergence of good coaching and incessant practice, but most importantly, raw and natural talent. This is something Gari has in spades!

We heard him sing Ave Maria with us, as well as a bit of Nessun Dorma, and the "One Voice In A Million" moniker of his concert is entirely apt. It was beautiful, expressive and well-controlled, and evoked quite the feeling of jealousy from almost the entire tenor section! Without overstating it, I think the Pinkies are very priveleged to be sharing the stage with Mr. Glaysher, and you would be a fool to miss this performance - get your tickets now!

Taekwondo, Opera and the Pink Singers

Three things which you aren't likely to put together, but you would be surprised. At yesterday's rehearsal we had a surprise visit from an ex-national taekwondo champion, a chap called Gari Glaysher. The link is that he is also an up and coming operatic tenor and the Pinkies have been asked to perform as the backing chorus for him at his launch concert.

My guess is that his dropping by yesterday was a chance to scope us out in advance of the gig. He sat at the back of the room listening while we basically murdered Italian Salad and tripped over Come What May, so it doesn't surprise me that when it came to the end and he introduced himself, he didn't actually say very much. Instead his (I assume) manager managed to eke out words to the effect of "you are one of the best choirs I have heard in a long time." I know we are quite good, but methinks the man does not hear choirs much!

Anyway, although very few words actually came from Mr. Glaysher, I had already heard his voice by visiting his website and his MySpace page. He is a powerful tenor with a warm timbre which, in my view, leans more toward a Luciano rather than a Placido. And his version of Volare even has elements of Tom Jones - which just goes to show how versatile he is. One thing which I find somehat infuriating is that the song samples are all neapolitain songs or pop-ified pieces - I just think the operatic voice makes the delivery of the songs a little bit too melodramatic. Anyway, I strongly suggest you wander over there and take a listen to Mr. Glaysher, because he really is very good.

The MySpace page also has the obligatory headshot pictures (I've included one here) with him gazing into middle distance, pictures of him in Italy and with his dog. In real life, and possibly because of the great weather we have been having, he is significantly more tanned and has a few tattoos too! Not quite what you expect from an opera singer, but I guess that is the taekwondo speaking!

So, if you are interested in hearing the Pink Singers perform, both as a choir singing Dies Irae from Karl Jenkins' Requiem, and as a chorus backing up Mr. Glaysher, then now is your once chance in a lifetime to hear that one voice in a million.

Gari Glaysher (and the Pink Singers!)
Friday 20th June 2008 / doors open at 19:00 / £10.00 - 20.00

Please note, all indigO2 shows are aged 18+ (unless otherwise stated).
Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult. Photographic ID will be required.
Valid forms of ID: Passport, Driving License or ISIC Card

Kings Row: Please note, no under 18s permitted in Kings Row.
Ticketmaster 0844 844 0002
SEE Tickets 0870 405 0448
Ticketline 0870 444 5556
More information.

Tales Of The Pinkie

Part of the thrill of being in a group like the Pink Singers is that everyone is so different, from their backgrounds, to their ages, to the time when they were actually in the choir, so everyone's experience of being in the choir is just that little bit different. That is why the articles in the section called Tales Of The Pinkie always intrigue me the most - it is like getting a little peek into someone's point of view.

The newest addition to our version of TOTP is Nathalina who has the record for the youngest person ever in the choir - she joined when she was just 19! It is now several years on of course, and she still looks as fresh-faced as she did back then - doesn't she look radiant standing there with Cormac? Surf on over to the Pink Singers website and have a look at her tale.

The one thing you will notice of all the stories, as we head up to the 25th anniversary, is that everyone has such warm memories of of the Pink Singers, and continues to feel a good deal of affection for the choir, even if they are no longer actively singing. Our 25th celebrations are on the Thames, and Pinkies of the past are really welcome to come and join the current choir for a celebration. So do get your ticket now!