Bob Phillips
11-23-2006, 04:20 AM
I saw a documentary on Channel 4 yesterday which was absolutely fabulous.
There is a guy in the States, name Bob Cilman, who runs a chorus for seniuor citizens (don't know why he calls it a chorus instead of a choir, but he does). In this chorus, a group of older citizens join to rehearse and give concerts with contemporary material. Some of the people have been professional singers, some keen amateurs, some have never sung before, a real mixed bunch.
It is very difficult, they have members from 60 to 92, so the difficulties are easily imagined. In the documentary, they were due to give a concert in Northampton, Mass.; there were two people due to sing James Brown's I Feel Good who had never managed to fully rehearse the song in the 6 weeks prior to the concert; more seriously was that two of the group died during rehearsals.
Anyway, the concert was great, a huge success (800 tickets sold-out in a day). A rendition of Coldplay's Fix You by Fred Little has to be seen and heard to be believed. I know there is an element of patronising the old folks in such ventures, but I think if you understand what goes on beforehand, which this documentary supplies, that disappears.
Are any of our American colleagues aware of this? It has noiw been going for 21 years. It seems to be an East Coast thing, but it is so good, so honest, so uplifting. I can only commend Bob Cilman, the singers, the musicians, and all those who support; something truly awe-inspiring.
http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/ (http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/)
There is a guy in the States, name Bob Cilman, who runs a chorus for seniuor citizens (don't know why he calls it a chorus instead of a choir, but he does). In this chorus, a group of older citizens join to rehearse and give concerts with contemporary material. Some of the people have been professional singers, some keen amateurs, some have never sung before, a real mixed bunch.
It is very difficult, they have members from 60 to 92, so the difficulties are easily imagined. In the documentary, they were due to give a concert in Northampton, Mass.; there were two people due to sing James Brown's I Feel Good who had never managed to fully rehearse the song in the 6 weeks prior to the concert; more seriously was that two of the group died during rehearsals.
Anyway, the concert was great, a huge success (800 tickets sold-out in a day). A rendition of Coldplay's Fix You by Fred Little has to be seen and heard to be believed. I know there is an element of patronising the old folks in such ventures, but I think if you understand what goes on beforehand, which this documentary supplies, that disappears.
Are any of our American colleagues aware of this? It has noiw been going for 21 years. It seems to be an East Coast thing, but it is so good, so honest, so uplifting. I can only commend Bob Cilman, the singers, the musicians, and all those who support; something truly awe-inspiring.
http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/ (http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/)