Categories: life-in-general
Tags: Friends, Village Life
Date: 22 May 2011 09:38:04
The Chorales of Les Vallées de l'Aix et Isable and Le Pays d'Urfé - I sing in the second, but we are partners with the first - went to sing at a concert in a little village the other side of Montbrison last night.
There were two other choirs, the host choir and a group from St Etienne. A pleasant (mostly) evening was passed - I say "mostly" as the St Etienne chorale was a little low on numbers and tried some songs which perhaps demanded more technique than they were capable of. We sang a number of songs of various genres - some of which are far too fast for my English tongue and I still find myself tripping up over the words!
After the singing was done, there was, as usual, a get together with food (delicious home made pizza, quiche and saucisson, followed by cherry cake and tarte aux pommes) and drink. Which included something which was called (I think) The Bowl of Friendship. This was an enormous preserving pan of eau de vie which they had set light to (yes, you heard correctly set light to it) during the interval and by the end it was warming to the cockles of the heart.
But the nicest thing - and this is why I love the Chorale group - is that,while people were mingling and chatting at the end, two of our members produced their accordians (as you do...) and started singing. They just love to sing...! Of course, people joined in until there was a large group all singing along with traditional songs (and some not so traditional) We had the French version of "There's A Hole in my Bucket", and the rather tedious song from La Boheme which includes the words "Faria, Faria, Ho!" rather too many times, as well as other songs that I don't know. Then came the sadly now inevitable chants of "Al-i-son! Al-i-son!" (that's me) and I had to lead them all in a chorus of "An Austrian went Yodelling" (You can google this if you wish to know more) This is now my Party Piece which is performed with great hilarity at every gathering.
Then, on the way home on the coach there was more singing - including "There Was A farmer Had a Dog" and "In A Forest In A Wood" (any Infant teachers out there should know these songs!) When I recounted this to Mr D he did enquire as to how much of the Bowl of Friendship had been imbibed by our two Chorale groups...But I think that, while quantities of strong drink may have added to the conviviality, it is simply that the group loves to sing. It's great.
I'm thinking of trying to teach them "On Ilkley Moor baht'at" next...! :-)