Trying Singing

Some time ago Imogen borrowed a book from the library filled with the words to eleven Gilbert and Sullivan plays. Not only did the book have the words to the eleven plays it had some of the music with a piano accompaniment. She, being a really good singer, was able to sing whatever she liked and sort of play the accompaniment. I on the other hand refused to even attempt to sing with her and flatly refused.

Recently we borrowed the book again and Imogen, after much persuading, was able to convince me to sing a little. She decided that we could sing a piece from the Mikado with the Mikado himself and Katisha. I sang the Mikado (never mind that he's supposed to be a bass) and Imogen (who is without a doubt a soprano) sang Katisha though she's a contralto. Much to my surprise I actually enjoyed the singing and wasn't too hard to persuade the next time Imogen suggested a little singing.

Since then we have done some singing most afternoons and I (horrors of horrors) might even be starting to like singing. Imogen generally sings the ladies' parts and I sing whatever mens' parts that might be going spare. When we sing duets I take the man's part and Imogen the lady's. Sometimes I even sing pieces on my own while Imogen plays the accompaniment. Though I still don't think that I'm ever going to sing as well as Imogen I'm happy to join her at the piano. Maybe (just maybe) I might be losing my fear of singing.

The Mikado

I don't like many movies. Maybe most of the ones I decide I don't like are quite good but I'm fussy. Of the very few movies I do like I have a short list of favourites. Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice and the Mikado are an example. . Gilbert and Sullivan plays rank high on my extremely short list of movies. The Mikado is my favourite one so far. I like others, the HMS Pinafore, the Pirates of Penzance and the Gondoliers, but none rival my love of the Mikado. We have the Australian Opera version of the Mikado. Of the two versions I have seen the one we have is the one I like better. It's not exactly traditional. The costumes are not really Japanese and the words have been changed slightly but the actors make it worth watching over and over again. I have two favourite characters, Poo Bah and Koko. . Koko, the Lord High Executioner, is really funny. His costume is strange, odd for someone who used to be a tailor. I suppose he must have made it himself. He wears a prison suit and a strange baggy thing that looks like a cross between a dress and a very long shirt. It sort of gathers up at the back around his legs. It looks uncomfortable but always makes me laugh. Why a man would wear such a thing I don't know is beyond me. The dress/shirt things just makes Koko funnier. . Poo Bah, Lord High....well just about everything, is only that high ranking because all the other Lord Highs resigned when Koko became the executioner. He is followed almost all the time by his faithful servant Pish-tush. Poo bah must employ Pish-tush for one thing; he almost always carries a box with Poo bah's medals to show people. . I enjoy watching it but the fun doesn't stop with the movie. Recently we found a book filled with the words and music set for the piano for eleven Gilbert and Sullivan plays in the library. I like flipping through the music and dreaming of playing them. I have managed to play just about the whole of one piece on the piano but only through practise. My sight reading isn't that good so I can't just sit there and play. But when I have finished learning the first piece I can try the others.