"For As Long As I Have Music"

2025 began, with even worse health than I was experiencing before Christmas. Chest infections all-round, We even had to have the paramedics in at one point, Mum struggled particularly to get over hers, and for reasons all understandable. Me, I seemed to either have a Cough/Cold, or the next day, the most severe Acid Reflux episodes I had ever experienced. Either way, I could not get past it either!

When I wrote to you before, It was with every intention that I would be handing back my choir robes and saying, "That's it! I'm done!"

Thank you to my good friend Carole, who made it very clear that I must not do anything of the sort!

Instead, I have taken a long-term break from all things singing, and only intend to venture out on High-days and Holidays.

In the last few weeks, I sang at the Confirmations of dear friends at Church, we sang John Ireland's Greater Love, impeccably too!

On the Monday, we said Farewell to our dear friend and fellow bass Rodney Carroll. Rodney the most lovely gentleman, who I used to sit next to for years and years singing bass with two of the best deepest toned voices I will ever hear! He was such an honourable man, and a real blessing in the choir, and he will be missed by us all.

Knowing that I'd be singing in public again, I thought I'd better get some practice in, so set to recording "Freely, Freely." I had been thinking about it for a while, and in the vocal lines, I have set a harmony of "Thirds," If you listen to the melody in a broken voice, the harmonies are then a third above the melody, but a subtle addition of an upper voice singing the melody, almost wrings out the harmony so that it is now also below the melody!

For those who this description makes no sense... "It either sounds good or it doesn't!"

Back in January, My first singing venture of the year was a trip up to Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, to sing with SIR JOHN RUTTER. It was a delightful occasion really, I was invited by Mawsley Community Choir, and we had a lovely day.

I even walked from the car park to the venue, with the man himself!

We started by singing his arrangement of "Amazing Grace" which begins in G flat Major, and in changes keys a few times, and for the final verse, ends up in C Flat Major.

Then he introduced us to a new piece: "I'll make me a world" This will be premiered in St. Pauls Cathedral on November 5th.

Between sessions we heard from our Soloists, and then the man behind the keys jumped on the Organ and gave us a rendition of Widor Toccata.

At the very end of the day, we all stood, gave him a warm and gracious applause, before singing the following words...

So we say Thank you for the music,

the songs we're singing,

Thanks for all the joy you're bringing

Who can live without it?

We ask in all honesty, what would life be

Without a song Sir John what are we?

So we say Thank you for the music,

For giving it to me.

I am now thankful that I haven't given it up completely. I may be sitting on the sidelines for quite some time, but I don't think I could keep my head above water without my music!

Carole, Thank you.

And for those who have sent their well wishes, and supported me through my challenges, Thank you! Onwards, and That way!

EJW x

As Long as I have Music is a song written by Don Besig and Nancy Price.

In my days at the helm of Weston Favell Singers, we'd reserve this as an encore, or a "That's all folks" at the end of a performance or rehearsal.

All these years, this beautiful song has stuck with me, and it has taken me all of these years to realise that it is NOT a Rutter!