Tonight Cathures gave a wonderful concert of Choral Music by Nordic Composers , Grieg and Sibelius amongst them.
This Concert, -- 'Northern Lights', was arranged before the realisation that it would happen on the same evening as EarthHour. Kelvinside Hillhead has taken part from the beginning and switched off the Floodlights for that particular Hour. So extra efforts were made to enable both events to take place safely.
Rehearsals showed just how dark it could get, and the realisation that we would need to have some light for the Choir, after all the words for the latter part of the programme were in Finnish!
Rehearsal; How Dark?
We set to with gusto for the Choir were all keen to participate in this unique occasion.
So with Torches, Candles and battery powered Site Lights, we were all ready for the Big Switch Off; Oh! and we'd better tell the Audience too. As it happened we had a really good turnout and the Audience were duly warned that they would be enjoying the close of the Concert in darkness.
Stewards with Torches at the ready, the Concert began as normal and we all settled to the beautiful ringing tones of Pedersen's Kyrie and Sanctus.
All was Light and Calm.
Sibelius and Grieg soothed us towards the Short Break, following which the Choir sat amongst us in the Audience and and broke into a traditional Norwegian Wedding March - - -Tra-la-la! Combining and building in mass and volume as they moved back into their positions in the Chancel.
Very Effective!
Sibelius's nationalistic Cantata arranged for unaccompanied choir followed, finishing with the words 'Shine, shine Finland!'
Then the Lights went out.
All was dark except for the flickering of some Candles.
Then the Choir was illuminated and they continued to sing............
Wonderful! Certainly a night appreciated by all those who participated, whether singing or listening.
This Concert, -- 'Northern Lights', was arranged before the realisation that it would happen on the same evening as EarthHour. Kelvinside Hillhead has taken part from the beginning and switched off the Floodlights for that particular Hour. So extra efforts were made to enable both events to take place safely.
Rehearsals showed just how dark it could get, and the realisation that we would need to have some light for the Choir, after all the words for the latter part of the programme were in Finnish!
Rehearsal; How Dark?We set to with gusto for the Choir were all keen to participate in this unique occasion.
So with Torches, Candles and battery powered Site Lights, we were all ready for the Big Switch Off; Oh! and we'd better tell the Audience too. As it happened we had a really good turnout and the Audience were duly warned that they would be enjoying the close of the Concert in darkness.
Stewards with Torches at the ready, the Concert began as normal and we all settled to the beautiful ringing tones of Pedersen's Kyrie and Sanctus.
All was Light and Calm.
Sibelius and Grieg soothed us towards the Short Break, following which the Choir sat amongst us in the Audience and and broke into a traditional Norwegian Wedding March - - -Tra-la-la! Combining and building in mass and volume as they moved back into their positions in the Chancel.
Very Effective!
Sibelius's nationalistic Cantata arranged for unaccompanied choir followed, finishing with the words 'Shine, shine Finland!'
Then the Lights went out.
All was dark except for the flickering of some Candles.
Then the Choir was illuminated and they continued to sing............
Wonderful! Certainly a night appreciated by all those who participated, whether singing or listening.
I thought I'd commented on this, but maybe not. An old man's memory! It was a great and moving occasion - well done to all for cooperating so readily.
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