The String Choir Incident
An All-Canadian Musical Conspiracy
Friday February 1, 2008 at 7:30 pm & Sunday February 3, 2008 at 2 pm
~ with ~
The Gettin’ Higher Choir, Daniel Lapp & The BC Fiddle Orchestra
~ at ~
Alix Goolden Performance Hall,
907 Pandora Avenue, Victoria
tickets
$20 adults; $15 seniors and students
available after January 7, 2008 at Munro’s Books, Ivy’s Books
and James Bay Coffee and Books and from choir members.
Out of town tickets, contact gloria@gettinhigherchoir.ca
Saturday all day – through household chores – I found myself endlessly singing the repertoire — Galway when I lean in to pick out leafy vegetables and inadvertently get misted by the soft rain in the produce section at Thrifty’s, Tugboats while I load the laundry (have I been doing this for 35 years?), and good ole Granny Snooks accompanies me in the car (I can’t get squat on the radio!).
So this is what came to me post concert…an overwhelming feeling of membership and belonging in this community and with the wider world, in what was my 4th GHC experience. I notice I have learned to listen more deeply, sing from places in my body that remember the song of being alive in the world, find joy in knowing more fully the words allowing for space to lean into tempo, rhythm, volume. Singing together, making music and making a life in community, brings a greater love, and fosters my faith in the future of our world.
Thank you all so much ….and now for one of my usual schlocky poems woven from the threads of the String Choir (without) Incident benefit concert, Feb 1 and 3, 2008.
we are all family….
can you imagine
all the people of the world
serving in harmony, singing together
with love and a will to trust
now and forever?
we are all family….
one spirit, one voice
and we’re getting higher and higher
like the flames of desire
as we dance round the freedom fire
…this is the getting higher choir!
welcome strangers!
friends old and new
far from danger
sons and daughters, sisters and brothers
dear fathers and mothers and dear grannies too
singing for me and singing for you
can you hear it getting clearer
as we dance round the flames?
singing songs with our friends
our lives they explain
singing out loud, singing out strong
we sing in joy and sorrow
in this circle of song
can you imagine
becoming one voice, one people?
surrendering to the mystery
like rolling waves over water
flowing as sure as the sea?
powered by hope, the circle is strong
like a wheel of change
turning…
watching…
walls come tumbling down
and there’s a million mile breadcrumb trail
(don’t worry there’s no werewolves or witches)
it guides our way
through gray hills and ditches
…..(since ’57)
broke boots, torn frocks
it’s come as you are when you’re truly in need
kind people will see that you mend
finding your voice will help stop the bleed
put you on the gettin higher road again
like a sea hove in the harbour
diddy fol dee
this piece of the universe
is for you and for me
if you care to join us, we never complain
we can make a difference
and find what we have to give…again
we are all family…
we’re all the same
here’s a chance to share your heart
make a brand new start
we dance in the light of the freedom fire
dancing round flames that get higher and higher
drinking deep draughts from the wellspring of choir
my heart soars as high as those small Galway birds
with our beloved directors sharing their words
in harmony together, in service to song
the blessing of both, the circle is strong
and not least of all, those fine youthful strings
that call us back to shores
of soft summer nights and warm afternoons
these symphonic children we do adore
with jigs and reels, a folkestra ride
they turn up the tunes, help turn the tide
(and Daniel himself, really hoists our sails!)
we are all family….
celebrate the living!
sing hallelujah!
and all you need to do is wait…
put your feet on this fragile earth
and let it come to you
in this shining circle of song
(i see more happiness here than anywhere else)
but time, like the waves roll on
and we never know what tomorrow will bring
and thus i conclude, say farewell mes amis
until the next time we sing
i hope soon that will be
high fly all your clouds,
may your days flow like clear Irish streams
your nights be filled with stars that sparkle and spin
and sweet be your tugboat dreams!
Hych’ka Siem
love
Hilary
Thursday Alto
As we stood there today, singing in our beautiful jewel colours,
like the rose window reflected on the piano beside me,
as we stood there in all our imperfection,
sometimes singing the “wrong” word or note…
as we stood there in all our glorious perfection,
bringing our gift of song, our gift of ourselves in our perfect imperfection,
allowing that to be,
as we gave our listeners and one another this gift,
this great gift of singing together ,
sometimes as one voice, in such joy and harmony;
The gift of our audience listening, truly hearing us,
the gift of sharing the stage with those amazing young people,
the gift of welcome and blessing from Greg Sam and his cousin,
Chris Whitely’s words resonate,
“So my friend, sing with me,
sing in joy, sing in sorrow.
Let this moment like a blessing be,
for who knows what may come tomorrow.”
Ken’s brother Chris wrote a little song “Golden.”
” It’s golden,
it’s golden,
it’s golden,
this moment that we’re in.”
Those amazing Whitely’s…..
In my fatigue, I am still feeling those golden moments.
Thank you sister/fellow singers, as we trusted the music to come to us, through us,
it was a joy to sing with you.
Ruth
I loved every minute of both concerts. The world needs more “kitchen parties”!
Joan
Monday night soprano
My 88 year old grandparents came to the Sunday show, I am the oldest of 16 grandchildren (so there’s been lots of shows, not only from us but during their whole lives) and my Grandpa said that this was probably the best performance he has ever seen! And by the way, my Grandpa is very musical, plays (or used to play) the banjo, piano, organ, actually pretty much anything you put in front of him. It made me really happy to hear. Denise
Dear Denis and Shivon and Bill and Gloria and All Members of the Choir:
Once again, your concert filled me with a joyous celebration of Life, touching the sensitive places of my soul where beauty and harmony and love reside. And the pure laughter bubbling up, the proud endless grin when Shivon and Denis began to sing! Please do that more often. And dance whenever you can.
Every concert leaves me three feet off the floor! At every concert I invite friends to attend with me and I know from their comments that this has been the dearest gift I can offer them. If, by chance, you spot a woman with tears streaming down her cheeks during your concerts, just know it is pure joy spilling over. You all are a blessing. Thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading all the above comments…not a bit ’schlocky’ but like a beautiful woven piece of language. Perhaps my best memory of the concert, ( in addition to the emotional impact of creating beautiful harmonies with wonderful new friends) was a week after the concert. I was making Valentine cards with my 6- year -old grandson, sharing special moments together. Suddenly I heard his sweet little voice singing ‘Me boot is broke, me frock is tore” ! It took me a fraction of time to register what I had just heard,,,when I asked him why he remembered it so well he said “It was catchy”…so don’t worry about our enunciation, Shivon and Dennis…we’re obviously doing a great job! I now am looking forward to the start of the next session. Thank you for the opportunity to re-enter the world of music with the gifts of solace, joy, …yes, it moved me to tears too.
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