Or we might even
describe what we did on Saturday 27 September as a super-busk? We sang for just
over an hour in both the National Football Museum and the John Rylands Library.
In both venues, we were very much the background but people did stop to listen and
applaud.
The two buildings contrast
starkly yet they are both iconic for Manchester. The National Football Museum
is all gleaming glass and football images. It’s hard to get a sense of the sound
you’re making there. The John Rylands takes you back to another time with its intricately
carved panels, beautiful windows and old books. It’s easier to fill the space with
sound there.
 |
| Angelic voices? |
Ironically half
way through our event there we were treated to a “muted” performance by another
choir. We had been intrigued by other people dressed all in black. Now we knew
why. The performance was part of the launch for the Harmonious Society exhibition.
Samson Yong’s work ‘Chamber Music II: Silent Scores & Non-Events’,
part of the exhibition, explores the cultural construction of deaf people as
disabled, in both current and historical dimensions and the performance was in
keeping with that. Yes, they even found their note at the beginning and followed
the sheet music in front of them. Maybe a good sight-reading exercise?
In both venues we presented a good cross-section of our
repertoire, singing many contrasting pieces: Deep River, I Got Rhythm, Kiss the Girl, Joshua, Here There and
Everywhere / The Long Winding Road, How much is that Doggy? Kum Ba Yah, Soul
Wind, The Way We Were Tears in Heaven, Smile, Can’t Help Falling in Love
For me personally this was a fabulous end to what had been a
very stressful week. How do people who don’t sing manage?
