back in the world
Just back in Sydney after spending a week in SA with Blindman's Holiday. How was Adelaide? The first thing that comes to mind is that Sydney appears to have more jackhammers. Or maybe one of the neighbours just planted a tape loop of jackhammer noise outside my window this morning. Thanks a yahoo.
The drive from Adelaide to Sydney is an ordeal. Mainly because the "are we there yet"s started after the first hour and we still had seventeen hours to go. The best driving music we have found for open country driving (especially through the Hay plains) is anything by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. On the way down to Adelaide we had close to a religious moment. Or maybe it was just the film-set looking sky, road, the falling dusk and the rising moon. And Nusrat voice, the soundtrack to the journey.
Adelaide itself was a bit of a blur. We only had three days to perform for school children ranging from Kindies to year elevens. Hats off to the students at Mary McKillop's College - a more intelligent and good humoured bunch you couldn't hope to find. We added a new song to the repertoire - a song from Calabria about a man who loves his donkey (now now kids, no sniggering). We get to make donkey sounds as part of the song. And that always reminds me of Polly Garland who introduced us to her lovely family of donkeys in Cobargo. And that always reminds me of the fine times we have spent with our other Cobarg0 friends David Lowe and Jane Foggon and their lovely menagerie of dogs, cats, rabbits and draught horses. It's a wonder I can get through the song with so many thoughts crowding in. As the Paul Kelly song sings, "it's a like a party line".
On our final night we sang at our host Jossie's 50th birthday party. It was a lovely gathering and the food was outstanding! We three gals were sitting in our room working out what we'd sing. Linda was rapidly losing her voice, so a lot of the songs were beyond us. A young friend, Amy, was sitting with us. Linda had sent her copies of a demo BMH made some years ago. Amy had not just enjoyed the CD but had memorised many of the parts! So our quartet was complete. The highlight of the trip was singing "Living Beyond Our Means" with Amy singing the lead, including a fantastic and beautifully sung bluesy impro. Everyone was blown away! Amy was also able to teach me the top part of "Embala Eu" which I'd never sung before. Amy is part of a couple of performing groups in Adelaide. One is "Tutti" and one is "Umbrella A Cappella". If you;re in Adelaide go and catch them! We look forward to singing with Amy again next July when we return. Actually, I look forward to her teaching more high parts.
Christina
The drive from Adelaide to Sydney is an ordeal. Mainly because the "are we there yet"s started after the first hour and we still had seventeen hours to go. The best driving music we have found for open country driving (especially through the Hay plains) is anything by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. On the way down to Adelaide we had close to a religious moment. Or maybe it was just the film-set looking sky, road, the falling dusk and the rising moon. And Nusrat voice, the soundtrack to the journey.
Adelaide itself was a bit of a blur. We only had three days to perform for school children ranging from Kindies to year elevens. Hats off to the students at Mary McKillop's College - a more intelligent and good humoured bunch you couldn't hope to find. We added a new song to the repertoire - a song from Calabria about a man who loves his donkey (now now kids, no sniggering). We get to make donkey sounds as part of the song. And that always reminds me of Polly Garland who introduced us to her lovely family of donkeys in Cobargo. And that always reminds me of the fine times we have spent with our other Cobarg0 friends David Lowe and Jane Foggon and their lovely menagerie of dogs, cats, rabbits and draught horses. It's a wonder I can get through the song with so many thoughts crowding in. As the Paul Kelly song sings, "it's a like a party line".
On our final night we sang at our host Jossie's 50th birthday party. It was a lovely gathering and the food was outstanding! We three gals were sitting in our room working out what we'd sing. Linda was rapidly losing her voice, so a lot of the songs were beyond us. A young friend, Amy, was sitting with us. Linda had sent her copies of a demo BMH made some years ago. Amy had not just enjoyed the CD but had memorised many of the parts! So our quartet was complete. The highlight of the trip was singing "Living Beyond Our Means" with Amy singing the lead, including a fantastic and beautifully sung bluesy impro. Everyone was blown away! Amy was also able to teach me the top part of "Embala Eu" which I'd never sung before. Amy is part of a couple of performing groups in Adelaide. One is "Tutti" and one is "Umbrella A Cappella". If you;re in Adelaide go and catch them! We look forward to singing with Amy again next July when we return. Actually, I look forward to her teaching more high parts.
Christina
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