no handbags

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Having saved up our subs for a year, we reached one of the most exciting times in our history. It was the end of April 2002 when we recorded our first CD. We were all very inexperienced and didn't really know what to expect when we turned up at the little chapel in Birdsedge one Friday evening. Brian Bedford was all ready and waiting for us, and his calm aura put us all at ease. We learned so much during that first weekend! We wanted the recording to sound just like our live performances, but discovered something about those little mistakes that go unnoticed during a performance. They seem to linger on when recorded - and of course when listened to again, they are anticipated, and therefore magnified! So, finding the balance between being note perfect and giving a great performance, was the biggest challenge. Brian was patience itself throughout! By the second weekend, we had more confidence, and were really fired up to do a good job. The whole experience was fantastic fun - now we can't wait to start the next one! Helen and Angie S spent a couple of days on the mixing with Brian, and discussing the artwork with Jacey Bedford, then we waited patiently for the final product to arrive. And we were not disappointed - our launch night was on June 19 2002, at Slaithwaite Civic Hall, where we shared an evening concert with the Huddersfield People's Choir and the Sirens. It was a superb evening where each group supported the other, and music was shared amongst like-minded musicians. We sold the first copies of 'no handbags' to a wonderfully responsive audience.

£2 from the sale of this CD is donated to Save The Children

 

white horses

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The launch of our second full-length CD seemed a good time to introduce our new name unityvoices. We feel that this name describes us more fully, and removes the need to add the word ‘choir’ or ‘singers’ etc. We hope the one word says it all!

Having only just recovered from a hectic festive season, we plunged into the new year with the project of recording this CD. We chose a local venue this time, and were very lucky to have been given permission to use Marsden Infant and Nursery School’s premises. Of course, Brian Bedford and his box(es) of tricks were booked to do all the dirty work, and he duly arrived for the first session on a Saturday at the crack of dawn. We had a great two days of recording, and were joined by our guest musicians Rachel Bolton on the violin, and Matt Freeman on bass guitar. David Gibson had a busy day too, taking photos for the CD booklet.

Two weeks later we returned, and competing with gale force winds, recorded all the quiet unaccompanied numbers! The mixing was carried out over the following couple of weeks at Brian’s studio in Birdsedge. The patience of this gentleman is unsurpassed! We are also very grateful to Anita Kelly for the superb cover design, and to Jacey for putting the booklet together.

The white horses CD launch was held at Holly Bank School in Mirfield on Saturday 27 March 2004. The school are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and all proceeds from the concert were donated to the school. Paul Gowland gave a pre-concert talk on the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who will receive a £2 donation each time we sell a white horses CD. We had a lovely responsive audience including many friends and family, who joined in with both the singing and the banter! Helen was presented with an enormous bouquet of flowers from the members of unityvoices.

Special offer: Buy both the No Handbags and White horses CD's for £10 Contact us about this offer

Jingle Belles

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Jingle Belles is our third CD, it contains both traditional and modern Christmas songs, two of which have been written by our multi talented Musical Director Peter Simons.
Jingle Belles was recorded on location at Marsden Infant and Nursery School over a couple of hot and sunny Sundays in July. It seemed very strange carol singing in the summer sunshine but Christine had the brilliant idea of decorating the room with festive garb and we donned a few antlers and halos and soon got the early Christmas spirit.
Brian Bedford once again brought his magical equipment and managed to record us and not the church bells which seemed to be ringing the entire time we were singing! The brilliant CD cover was designed by Anita Kelly and the crazy photo was taken by David Gibson. We hope our CD captures the magic of Christmas and that you enjoy unityvoices sharing this special time.

£2 from the sale of this CD goes to Bangalore Children's Fund

Circle Of Life

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Unityvoices have been working extremely hard this year to put together this new CD.  There is a real mixture of of songs and styles, including Gospel, folk, African and Pop, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy!  The girls have learnt how to sing in close harmony for the gospel songs, which is incredibly difficult but this has also moved Unityvoices up to the next level, and allowed them to sing songs with far more complex harmony like Circle of life.  This CD is a real creditto the group and demonstrates just how far they have come on their musical journey so far.

Peter Simons - Musical Director.