Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without" — Confucius.

🎶 Choir Blog Update

Another busy rehearsal this week – we’ve been polishing up some of our new pieces and dusting off a few old favourites. 🎶

Keep an eye on the Dropbox – you’ll find some shiny new songs in there, as well as a few golden oldies. Next week we’ll be diving into The Circle Game and, true to In Flagrante style, singing Happy Together a couple of blasts from the past. Can’t wait!

Walking in the Air

We began by returning to Walking in the Air, picking up where we left off last week. This piece requires a truly choral sound, characterised by long, even phrases and careful blending. Sopranos and Altos sang softly, allowing Tenors and Basses to shine through underneath. Particular care was given to the phrases “On across the world” and “believe their eyes” — both of which must stay clean and bright, with no sliding!

The Altos worked on the long “o” vowel in “open mouthed”, while the final word “eyes” was kept short by everyone. It’s a challenging piece, but one that grows more rewarding each week.

 Diamonds Are Forever

Next came a recap of Diamonds Are Forever. We revisited earlier work on phrasing and rhythm, paying special attention to the triplets in “fear that they might”. The Altos tackled their syncopated line in “Touch it, stroke it and address it” — no small task, but sounding ever more confident.

Downtown

One of the highlights of the evening was starting work on Downtown, written and produced by Tony Hatch in 1964 and made famous by Petula Clark. The song went on to become an international hit and has since been covered by countless artists, from Dolly Parton to Frank Sinatra.

Hatch himself recalled that the inspiration struck during his first trip to New York City: while standing on a street corner near Times Square, he watched the neon signs flicker on — and the melody came to him almost instantly.

In our arrangement, Sopranos carry the melody, while Altos, Tenors, and Basses provide rhythmic backing. A fun twist comes with the words “city” and “pretty”: Sopranos sing them quickly, while the lower parts sustain them as two long notes. The result already feels lively and dynamic.

Fairytale of New York

We also began work on Fairytale of New York, the Pogues’ classic Christmas ballad written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, featuring Kirsty MacColl. First released in 1987 after a long and troubled development, it has since become one of the UK’s most enduring festive songs, re-entering the charts almost every year since 2005.

Our version has been specially arranged to remove potentially offensive language while keeping the spirit and rhythms of the original. It begins with a very soft opening, builds to a crescendo on “Dew”, then falls back again to a more reflective sound. Even in its early stages, it’s already proving to be a moving and atmospheric addition to our Christmas set.

Looking Ahead

As always, our rehearsals are about more than just learning notes — they’re about listening, blending, and supporting each other. Each week brings progress, and it’s exciting to see these songs taking shape.

We’ll keep listening to our rehearsal tracks during the week so we can dive straight back in next time. With every session, the music feels brighter, stronger, and more connected.

Can we ask if you need to get in touch with one of us. Can you please email info@inflagrantechior.com and one of us will get back to you.