It is Football and It is Music that Brings them Pleasure

 

I always did think it would be fun to sing the Torreador chorus from Bizet’s Carmen. And so we did: at a workshop offered to us at one of our rehearsals, at a rehearsal for this event and at glorious Manchester Day, Saturday 26 July 2025.

We also had the opportunity to join in some football chants and a version of the Anvil Chorus. The football chants had been adapted to sound a little more musical and words to do with football had been added to the Torreador and Anvil choruses.

We were kitted out in plain colour T-shirts and a variety of not-quite football scarves.

‘What’s with the Leeds scarves?’  someone asked.

‘Not quite. Stripe’s wrong. It’s just football.’

There were other non-quite football scarves as well but we made a conscious decision to take matching ones even though we wore an array of different colour T-shirts.

Our first ‘performance’ was football chanting as Bury ladies took five penalties. They scored four and we were able to reward them each time with the football version of the Hallelujah Chorus. Later we would line the paths from the Football Museum to the stage set up for Manchester Day. Here we joined in the Torreador and Anvil choruses and were treated to two wonderful solos from English Nation Opera members.      

At the Friday night rehearsal I found myself standing next to some young people from the RNCM. They had fantastic voices. In the finale, I also stood next to one of them.

‘What’s your name?’ he asked. We introduced ourselves. I now know who he is and shall look out for him. What a fantastic baritone voice.

In between sessions we were able to enjoy a little of what Manchester Day offered, including a further performance by the Bridgewater HallSingers.    

This was a joint venture between English National Opera, PitchPerfect and Walk the Plank and it had some of its roots close to where I live.

Back on 29 March 2025 I remarked to my husband that the Bury FC’s fans seemed to be in very good voice. The nearest goal post is 180 metres from my study. The drummer after whose performance the ‘Na Na’ chant comes, is just 130 metres away.  It is, however, a half mile walk round to the ground.  I’m not a huge fan of football, but I do enjoy the sounds we get when Bury are playing at home. Especially when you hear some fine singing.     

We also had the privilege of singing with Bury Fire Choir, PopVox, Bridgewater Hall Singers and Wigan Choral Society.       

In the Well Again (Buxton Festival Fringe 2025)

A text arrives just as I finish my breakfast. There’s a tree on the line between Hazel Grove and Buxton. The trains should be running again at ‘approximately’ 8.45. I know that several people are travelling on the 8.51 – and that includes our front of house assistant. It’ll be fine. We’ll manage.

And we do. The 8.51 runs on time. The roads are clear. The weather is a little cooler than in previous days and wet but not too wet.

We more than manage.

The door to the United Reform Church is already open. Choir members begin to arrive, one of them with the bag of flowers. We do warm up exercises. We have a run through of a few songs – some of them all the way though others just the beginning.

The audience begin to arrive. I remind the two people on the door to look out for the reviewer. Later Elizabeth tells me she felt herself tense up when he announced who he was.

Note, though, at the Buxton Festival Fringe they ‘review’ not’ judge’ or ‘adjudicate’. Reviews are always detailed and encouraging.

And so our first concert begins. The hour passes quickly.

In no time we are setting off down the hill to sing in the Pump Room. 

“Come back at 2.30,” shout a group of people dressed as something that looks as if it will be very entertaining.

‘We can’t,’ one of us cries.  ‘We’ll be rehearsing for our second concert by then.  3pm at St Mary’s and there’s cake. Come along.’ Yes, that’s the Festival Fringe. The people who looked after us at the United Reform Church tell us that they have five more groups attending that day.

Last year I thought that singing in the Well was one of the most magical things I’d ever done, This year did not disappoint. And a strange headless nurse joined us.

The rain persists. None of the street-side tables at the cafes and pubs can be used. Somehow we all manage to find lunch, often accompanied by Morris dancing and other entertainment, and make our way to St Mary’s for 2 pm.

Here we are greeted like old friends. Well it’s been a few years.  Jill Hulme form St Mary’s and I count on our fingers. We started coming to Buxton in 2010. There were no performances in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid. So we’ve attended thirteen Festival Fringe events and an extra one just for St Mary’s.

This is a more relaxed affair here.  Is this our second home?

It’s a hard-working day. Our soloists, Victoria and Martin, do us proud in What I Did for Love and Why We Sing. Breathing correctly and energetically makes all the difference in Ave Verum and Grant Us Peace. Our new masterpiece is Time (Jennifer Lucy Cook) and for a few moments we become AI machines. And yes timing is really important here. Fix You and I Carry Your Heart are challenging but rewarding for tenor 1s.  Cool Moon is an old favourite but still needs some care. Make You Feel My Love, Why Walk When You Can Fly and Somewhere Only We Know are pleasing arrangements of popular songs.  Harbour is perhaps what we’re all about and our encore, Everything We Do, is one that always gives us a lot of joy.

The time really does fly by, even faster than in the song. Soon we’re eating cake, enjoying a cup of tea, and chatting to the audience. ‘Are the purple flowers significant?’ asks one lady. That’s the second time we’ve been asked that this year. Well, we like purple and we used to wear a ‘dash’ of purple but the purples were too diverse.    

The good people at St Mary’s are always so friendly and helpful.

The Buxton Fringe Festival is such a delightful affair and we’re so grateful for all the effort that the organisers make for us. We’ll see you next year.

And thank you for the thoughtful and encouraging review:   https://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/reviews2025mus.html

It’s all over by 4.50.  A very gentle rain falls as we make our way home. We’re all tired but pleased with how the day went.