The Big Tilehurst Carol Sing-along

Welcome to our 'virtual' Carol Service for 2020, made by and for the community, in association with our sister churches across Tilehurst.

This was held at 4:30pm on Christmas Eve (Thursday 24th December 2020), but you can view it again at any time by clicking on the picture below.

To view the video of the service, click on the 'Play' arrow in the centre of the picture above.  You can then alter the sound level, subtitles, image size, and other settings, using the controls at the bottom of the picture.

The launch of the Sing-along ...

Christmas might well be a bit different this year, but even if we can’t sing in church that doesn’t mean we can’t have carols.

We have got together with our sister churches from across Tilehurst, and – with some expert help from the wonderful Dan Fisher-Wienesen – have come up with a way for you to be part of an on-line carol service created by and for the community.

We have uploaded some backing tracks for you to record yourselves singing along to your favourite carol, “karaoke style”.  Once you have sent us the results, we'll work some magic so that you can settle down on Christmas Eve to watch yourselves and the whole community singing along as we tell the Christmas story.

I have tried it out and managed to upload my efforts, so I can reassure you that – even if it seems a bit daunting – it’s not that hard (and we can help you if you get stuck).

Please do get involved even if, like me, your singing is less than perfect – I promise you it will be fun, and together we can create something beautiful!

Liz Ratcliffe and the St Michael’s Team
11th November 2020

Previous updates during the making of the Sing-along ...

You can listen to Dan talking you through the process step-by-step here:
(Click on the 'Play' arrow in the middle of the image to start the video.)

Click here to open the “Google Drive” link he talks about, where you will find the backing tracks and be able to upload your video recordings.

Hint  It's easier if you have two devices to use – e.g. a laptop/tablet/desktop computer and a smartphone:

• one with headphones/earphones plugged in – to play the backing track video which you've downloaded
• the other with a camera and microphone built-in/connected – to record the video of you singing.
  

The use of headphones/earphones enables your voice to be recorded without the backing track as well.  This is necessary for combining the voices into one unified performance.

Join us on-line for the premiere of this 'virtual' Carol Service, made by and for the community, in association with our sister churches across Tilehurst.  The curtain goes up at 4:30pm on Christmas Eve (Thursday 24th December).  The link will be published here, a day or two beforehand.

The 6th December deadline for uploading your videos has passed, so all your contributions are now being stitched together, in time for the on-line premiere – at 4:30pm on Christmas Eve.  The link to view the on-line carol service will be published here (and in the Pew Notices & elsewhere).