h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right - I have had this idea and want to know who would go along with it and what suggestions you have.

- we form a little choir, or band, or ensemble, and practise a couple of songs about H2G2 to put on a performance in the evening.

- We could either: write our own song, take a well-known song and write new words (I've already started on one)

- Can anyone play a portable instrument?

- What voice ranges do we have? For my suggestion I have an SATB score with piano.

- I have asked if there's a piano at the pub that is being booked.

Also, it would be nice if we could straighten out the repertoire on line because it would mean a minimum amount of time away from the others during the afternoon.

For those who have experience of one of these events (it's my first) perhaps there is a way we can avoid that completely - maybe there is a sort of hiatus between afternoon and evening, where nothing happens, which we could use.

What must be avoided is rehearsal time wasted working out what is going to be sung, so that someone can prepare music sheets all ready. If no one has a musical instrument (mouth organ, guitar, violin) perhaps someone has a tuning fork?

Last time there was the mid afternoon drinks, with all those that were interested going on the treasure hunt - when it finally stopped raining, which led into the evening drinks at a different venue. I suppose it would be possible to reherse, but you'd have to find a suitable venue for that!!

I'm sorry, I don't play anything portable apart from - on the odd occasion - The Fool.



Bassman

If it is in a park (in the afternoon) then we can easily find a corner to rehearse. Otherwise, we can improvise. In fact, a street corner might be a good idea - anyone got a hat?

I can play the guitar...kinda, and the recorder!

Anyway, I vote we stick with karaoke, it's far more fun!

I'll sing Tenor in anything you want. I don't wan't to lug my saxophone, clarinet or guitar from Dublin, but I'll bring a recorder if you want some simple music (as long as it is not in E flat.

I can sing.....I'll give it a go - why not?

Lovely. I will think out a way to organise this. Probably a simple e-mail list, once we are a couple more people.

Sounds very interesting... opinion is divided over whether I can actually sing or not, although I know I can't sing very well, but it does sound like a fun thing to do...

I don't play any instruments though - at least, not very well!

This is a really nice idea, and I'd like to make some suggestions.

We're still looking for venues, but it looks like there will be a bit of a trek between the park and the pub, so if you are going to bring instruments remember that you'll have to carry them. You'll also have to look after them all day, as our insurance won't cover loss or damage if anything happens to them.

We also have to consider things like whether the pub will have a music licence - if they don't normally hold music evenings, they'd have to apply for one, which complicates matters quite a lot. They'd also probably have to insist that all windows are kept shut, as a lot of pubs we have looked at are in residential areas and could lead to complaints. If the day is hot and stuffy, that might not be much fun.

What I would suggest is that you hold the concert al fresco. Have it in the park before we all get to the pub. That way we catch everybody before they have had a chance to get on the booze. Honestly, once our Researchers get going on the alcohol, it's impossible to shut them up to listen to anything. The pub quiz has caused lots of sore throats due to having to shout above the people that just can't stop talking. Which is pretty much everyone.

You'll also have more room, as the evening 'do' does get very crowded, and you can leave open instrument cases/hats/buckets at strategic places in the way of casual passers-by. You'll also have a captive audience, as we'll all be lying around recovering from whatever activity we finally decide on.

How does that sound?

Sounds much better!

Yes.........except when will we have time to rehearse?

Sod instruments - karaoke! KARAOKE!!!

If karaoke is an option, I would alternatively suggest that we have a kind of competition where everyone who wants to gets to sing to karaoke, PROVIDED they have re-written the words of the song to H2G2.

We still haven't got enough voices for what I've got in mind, but we shall have to make do and improvise anyway. Do you really need a licence for an (almost) impromptu sing-song? It's not as if we're kitting ourselves with amps and PA and blasting the place to bits. I'm quite happy to sing in the park or wherever the afternoon event takes place, but would like to put some rehearsal work in first.

This would mean lots of preparation on line, so we all have a copy of the words ready, and of our parts.

If no suggestions as to what to actually sing come along, I have at least one idea, or we can try and do our worst with Blues Slider's blues:

A268797
A271964
A271973
A279524

etc etc

* sidles away from the person who plans things *

We're meeting at the park at 2pm, and we're aiming to reach the pub around 7, so you'll have plenty of time.

Oh - come on MaW - as there aren't many of us, you'll have plenty of say in the what and how.

Are you a tenor or a bass? Can you read music? (If not, we'll do something where you just have to read words.)

I'm not sure if I'm tenor or bass, I don't have anything to judge it by. Last time I sang properly was at school, and I was a soprano(!) but my voice has broken quite considerably since then. The kind of broken you get when you drive a tank over a porcelain figurine, then feed it through one of those tree grinding machines. It's settled down now though (thankfully!).

I know the basics of reading music, but I can't sight read. If I know the tune I can follow it with the music, that's fine, but if I have no idea I can do the notes (although I can't sing the notes, I can play them on the piano or something and then sing them based on that), but I can't get rhythm. I literally scraped through the sight reading in grade 1 violin (the only music thing I ever got) by the skin of my teeth. Possibly not even by that much. Even I was wincing.

I thought this meet was supposed to be fun?

For some of us here, this is our idea of fun. For your convenience. Share and enjoy.

Am still boggling at the thought of a tank going through a tree-shredding gadget.