Mother of Mine
My name is Mark Strachan and I am the Founder of Choir of the Earth. My own mother died when she was 38 years old and I remember her loving this song. It brings memories of her flooding back every time I hear it.
We shall learn and record this lovely song from home and all our voices will be combined for a special “Concert” performance by us all for our own Mother, wherever she may be on Mothering Sunday/Mother's Day as follows:
The Concert Premiere will air on Sunday 27th March at 15:00 BST. Tune in below!
Then we shall play the same event again on Sunday 1st May at 15:00 UK time, which is Mother's Day in Portugal and Spain (amongst others).
Then we shall play it again on Sunday 8th May at 15:00 UK time, which is Mother's Day in Finland, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Japan, USA, Canada and Germany (amongst others).
Then we shall play it again on Sunday 29th May at 15:00 UK time, which is Mother's Day in France (amongst others)
This is open to absolutely everybody and you do not need to be a regular singer. Everyone can take part.
Join us for
Mother of Mine
Mother of Mine was written by Bill Parkinson and made famous by a Scottish former child singing star Neil Reid, who sang it on ITV's Opportunity Knocks and won the competition on 13 December 1971, singing his version of the song.
The song was an instant hit with the British public and went to number two on the UK Singles Chart.
It sold over 250,000 copies in the United Kingdom, and over 2.5 million globally. It also sold around 400,000 copies in Japan alone.
How It Works
Choir of the Earth will learn, record and perform this song under the expert tuition of Libby Crabtree who recently led the choir for The Sound of Music and Les Misérables.
We shall learn a new arrangement for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voice parts by Richard Gowers. Everyone can join and you do NOT need to be a regular singer. This is for anyone and everyone who would like to sing this lovely song for their own Mother.
We shall provide you with everything you need in addition to the choir rehearsals, including Learning Tracks recorded for us by Libby and Ben Parry. These will be the full song and versions with each voice part louder so that you can learn your part outside rehearsals. If you are unsure of which part to choose, try singing to the Learning Tracks until you find one which suits your own voice.
Course Director
We are delighted to welcome back Libby Crabtree as our Course Director. Libby is in demand as an experienced director of large scale choral performances and has conducted works including Handel’s Israel in Egypt, John Ireland’s These Things Shall Be and Faure’s Requiem. She also directs chamber choirs, conducts high profile charity concerts in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, and leads workshops for The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage programme.
While at Cambridge University, Libby sang with Clare College Chapel Choir and Cambridge University Chamber Choir before going on to lead a busy professional singing life. She recorded, performed and toured worldwide with The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars and The King’s Consort for over 20 years. Her many solo recordings are highly acclaimed, most notably for Decca Records singing a duet with Renee Fleming and ensembles with Sir Bryn Terfel (Mendelssohn’s Elijah).
Please see more about Libby on her website www.libbycrabtree.org
Rehearsals
The whole course can be done in a few hours.
The rehearsals are pre-recorded and are available for you immediately you join as follows:
FULL CHOIR for 60 minutes
Separate Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass rehearsals each for 60 minutes (you are welcome to join any or all of these)
Finally another FULL CHOIR session for 60 minutes
Recording
We invite everyone to record their own voice by 27th February 2022. This is done by watching Libby on the screen who will conduct us all so that we are in the same tempo. We shall also wear headphones so we can hear her too. Then we start recording on our mobile phone and sing! The only sound the phone picks up is our voice.
Do consider recording other voice parts to add to the fun.
We then send this to Choir of the Earth who combines all the submissions to create the choir.
We shall give you detailed instructions on how this is done so please do not worry.
Concert Performance
On Mothering Sunday/Mother’s Day as above, we gather for an online concert performance when we hear our combined voices for the first time.
It promises to be an emotional occasion.
Score
This song is in copyright, so if you need the score it is available separately for £4.
We shall let you know how to get your copy immediately you join the course.
Cost of Course
The cost of the course is £20.
When you join Choir of the Earth for this project, you can pass the links to 2 other generations in your family. So one fee means grandparents, parents and children in the same family can all take part.
