Just back home from six weeks in Australia, the high point of
which had to have been the Desert
Choir, back out in the MacDonnell Ranges,
Ipolera and Hermannsburg. Among the sixteen singers were six
members of the Tara choir from the Mana Retreat Centre, who
set the tone on the first morning by singing a beautiful
pre-breakfast grace in German. Probably half their
repertoire are pieces from Taizé or other European scared
traditions (and half are Black gospel songs), and they
struck up a song anywhere, anytime. (One added bonus:
because they took the initiative to sing on the bus, there
were none of the usual showtunes - for this relief, much
thanks.) Grace before a meal, a song to Mt Sonder, 'The
fire keeps on burning' around the fire etc., a functional or
situational use of song, as much as entertainment.
Also joining us were three locals, Nicholas and Ginese
Williams (their father is Warren H. Williams)
and Malcolm, who all sang with us and barely restrained
themselves from outright hysteria while trying to teach us
Western Arrentre language. A real treat having them as part
of the team, and a real treat having them sing Warren's
lullaby Desert
Child with us. We followed tradition by setting
up a concert in Hermannsburg on the second-to-last evening
and invited the locals and tourists. This time, we were
lucky enough to have four members of the Ntaria
Ladies Choir sing hymns and religious songs for us
with humility and decorum. They were directed by longtime
director David on guitar. Their voices are very focused,
high and sweet and the arrangements simple, two parts at
most, and whole effect is beautiful. The Tara Choir also
sang three German songs (in tribute to the tremendous and
positive influence of German missionaries in Hermannsburg)
and Te Aroha. The Desert Choir sang Moving On,
Walk in the Light, Heaven on my mind, Bleibet hier, Power
in the heart of man, I want to be ready and Desert
Child with Nicholas and Ginese soloing.
To remark on the beauty of the landscape and the privilege
of being there would be to gushingly repeat what I wrote
last year and the year before that. Gorgeous. Thanks
Raymond, Mark, Carl, Catherine, Nicholas, Gines and Malcolm
- and to all the singers, especially Marianne and special
thanks to Rainer, Shanti and the Tara Choir.
The next Desert Choir is in June 2012, (but before that we'll be walking and singing in Tasmania in March 2012) - keep your eye on Into the Blue.
• I also did workshops in Cairns (great, got to catch up
with Jane
Younghusband and Bruce Wannan, and saw the Soweto
Gospel Choir, Adelaide (very fun, thanks Briar, Chris,
Raya) and Freo (even more fun, thanks Gyan, Abi) got to hear
Daramad
at the Gypsy Tapas Bar, (thanks Bonita).
In between I caught
a heavy cold and had to bail out of my three days teaching
at Newcastle Waldorf School after two days - a shame,
because those kids can sing, and I was enjoying it, but out
of self-preservation I bailed. Sorry Peter, Keitha. Miranda
and all... Not that it did a lot of good, as I went to Brisbane the
next day and after a wonderful Friday night workshop (cold
and blocked ears notwithstanding) I woke up with no voice on
Saturday. Turned up at the venue with Marianne and
organisers Ingrid and Spencer that morning and explained to
participants I was having to cancel the rest of the weekend
workshop - at which point Yani and her
choir-members taught a song to the group before everyone
dispersed, and her joyous and generous spirit somewhat
softened the disappointment. Thanks Yani. Anyway, we've
rescheduled the Brisbane weekend workshop for
August 6-7.
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