Graeme Stevenson, music organiser, provides an update on the musical preparations for Christmas. The Music Society has enjoyed a great start to the new academic year. The orchestra, choirs and big band all report strong numbers and rehearsals are going well for the end of term events. The repertoire for the end of term concert spans classical and jazz: the choir and orchestra will be performing Fauré's beautiful "Pavane" and Mendelssohn's "Christus" - an unfinished work along the lines of Handel's "Messiah". The Chamber Choir will be performing a Carillon of Carols by Scottish composer, Croft Jackson, entitled "Welcome Yule" while the orchestra will perform a medley of Leroy Anderson melodies. The Big Band is preparing a collection of favourites including "Let it snow, let it snow". Thanks to a generous donation from Dr.Michael Bray, I have been able to commission for the University Choir, a Christmas carol from the well-respected British composer, Christopher Tambling. It is a setting of a 17th century text by Ballet entitled "Lute-Book Lullaby" and we will be premiering it at the University Carol Service on 11 December at St. Paul's Cathedral. The University recently took delivery of four Buffet saxophones for the new University Saxophone Quartet. Auditions were held in November and four students are now receiving free lessons. Gillian Craig, an associate teacher at the University of St Andrews, will take the quartet. Gill is a very well-known local musician who conducts Dundee Symphony Orchestra among other groups as well as frequently performing as a soloist. Please spare a thought for members of the Operatic Society who are currently suffering symptoms of PASS (Post-Audition Stress Syndrome). This serious condition is brought on by the highly stressful events surrounding the annual OPSOC auditions, which this year are for principal roles in the musical Grease. The anxiety of singing in front of an unforgiving panel of judges and the tense wait for the final announcement are the main contributing factors that lead to nervous agitation, insomnia and spells of manic depression. How can you help? By showing understanding and patience when OPSOC members suffering from PASS are late with coursework or miss lectures, but most of all, by coming to see them in Grease, in the Bonar Hall from 2-5 May, 2001. Forthcoming Events:
Music, music, music
8 December - Dundee University Choirs Christmas Lunchtime Concert
1.20 p.m Chaplaincy Centre 10 December - Dundee University Carol Service
5 p.m. St. Paul's Cathedral 11 December - Dundee University Music Society Concert
7.30 p.m. Bonar Hall 12 January - Lunchtime Concerts Restart
1.20 p.m. Chaplaincy Centre
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