Scratch

Nothing more exciting than making or doing something from Scratch. Perhaps that is the reason for the enormous success of the Scratch Festival in Leyden, which takes place annually in February. Perhaps to make this rather dreary month more bearable. Two years ago it celebrated its 25^th anniversary. It has grown from a small one day event to a four day event, run very smoothly by lots of volunteers and some professionals. It began with the Scratch Messiah, and Händel's Messiah is still on the agenda every year. Even twice: there is one for youngsters and one for whoever wants to join in. If I am able to, I sing at least one day with them. Apart from Händel’s Messiah, I have also sung a Mozart programme, a Jenkins Mass and Fauré’s Requiem to mention just a few composers and compositions.

An overview of the choir and the orchestra during the rehearsals

From primitive stands or bleachers without any back rest, and open so that bags and cushions had to be tied to the seats otherwise they would fall a long way down, we now have foldable seats with a back rest. Very comfortable, the disadvantage being the noise they tend to make when some 1000 singers or so stand and forget to gently lift the seat by hand.

 

 Above: part of the stands opposite the organ. The English choir organ is just visible

Below: still life during a tea break

Yesterday I took part in singing the Messiah again after a few years of absence. It was a very enjoyable concert and rehearsal day. A long day, from 9 am till almost 11 pm. Having 1000 singers and some 90 amateur musicians in the orchestra, logistically isn’t an easy task. But it worked. There are always groups of singers from different choirs who have studied the music and enjoy this day together. But even if one just takes part on one’s own, one quickly comes to know one’s neighbouring fellow singers.

 The beautiful and monumental pipe organ which wasn't used. Beneath it the chairs awaiting the audience

Rehearsing

I enjoyed a very pleasant meal between the rehearsals and the concert in the house of friends just some 50 meters from the monumental Pieterskerk.

It is such a privilege to be able to sing. And this is just the beginning of a weekend with lots of singing. Tonight there is the regular choir practice, tomorrow a workshop of a full day, studying and singing early music, and on Sunday the regular contribution to the church service. I couldn’t be happier.  

Waiting for action!

Snow!

In this part of the world it seems more and more exceptional to have snow in winter. So far we just had a sprinkling of snow one day in January. And it was extremely local. In the street where I live everything was covered in a nice layer of snow, giving bare tree branches that delicate lacy look. I went for a walk through the parks in and surrounding our village, and they were splendid. It wasn’t hoar frost as some people suggested, but real snow. When I had to go out in the afternoon, I discovered how local it was! The nearest towns and villages were completely bare, not even one single white speck to be seen. It was peculiarly local, and stayed in this street for several days. Nobody believed us, us being my neighbours and me.

 My garden in January when we had a very local snow fall

 

 A walk in the local parks

 

Friday night however, we had the first – and probably the last – real snow fall. It was magical when I woke up Sunday morning and everything was covered in a thick blanket of pure white and fluffy snow. A pity I had to dig out the car and clear the driveway before being able to go out to sing. But with 12 centimetres of snow and a huge heap of snow blocking the wheels of my car, I could not but disrupt the virginal snow.

 The garden this morning

In the afternoon I went for a long walk in one of the rather varied estates consisting of parks, farmland and wooded areas near my home. Since the estate belongs to the Royal family, fortunately it can’t be turned into housing estates. It forms a beautiful green belt and barrier between two large urban areas. The snow was already melting, but it was still beautiful and special. There is a place where children went tobogganing, but I avoided that and tried to enjoy the quieter fields and paths, the trees with their white linings as well as the fields with flocks of geese and some stray herons. Except for the shrill cries of birds and fowls all sound was muffled by the snow.

 Unfortunately I could not take pictures in the morning when all the trees, even the tiniest twigs and branches were covered in snow.

 

 The snow is already melting as the sun has come out

 

 An uninterrupted view in what is mainly an urban area