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Wednesday, June 30, 2010: Indianapolis, Indiana |
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Written by Administrator
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We're home.... Back home again, in Indiana!
We're back with our families, our spouse, our dogs and our familiar surroundings. And, especially, we're back with a new outlook on civilization and music. Without a doubt, music IS the international language - we experienced it first-hand!
First, a number of thank-you's. The friends of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir who have supported the organization's mission in our local community for nearly 75 seasons - we say thank-you; your dedication was carried to foreign lands and sang true to our new friends and choral advocates in China. To the Choir's Board of Directors, a very special "congratulations" for fostering an organization that is world-class in its artistry, in its representation of Indianapolis, and in its promise of tomorrow. And, to the singers - all of us - who have vocalized thousands, if not millions, of notes over the decades - - your song sings true still today.
Choral music is an art form of the people, by the people and for the people. More than 40 million Americans - over 20% of our households - participate in a choir. More Americans participate in a choir than participate in any other form of art. This is an art form - self expression, communal expression - that knows no boundaries. Age, education, creed, race and nationality do not stand between us. Music binds us together in humanity. Brahms' Requiem is one of those "Human Requiems" that speaks to generations, and the performances on our tour abroad were no exception.
Here's looking forward to the Choir's 74th Season - 2010/2011 - filled with the Rachmaninoff Vespers, Bach's Mass in B Minor with Eric making his conducting debut at Hilbert Circle Theatre, and all of the other priceless moments. The legacy of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir is teaming with life, overflowing with passion and is real and relevant today. Thank you for being a part of the Choir's success. If you're so inclined, drop an email to information@indychoir.org and share your thoughts!
We're back in Indiana and our 74th season is just around the corner. Watch for more information, and if you want to have a season that is beyond memorable . . . don't miss a note!
Greetings from our home and yours . . . back home again, in Indiana!
Your friends with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010: Shanghai, China |
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Written by Eric Stark, Artistic Director
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What a day we've had today! Our second day in Xian (and our last full day in China) began with a tour to the dramatic and beautiful city wall. Ringing the historic part of Xian, it wraps over 9 km providing impressive views of an historic moat, towers, pagodas and the modern city itself. It was truly breathtaking to stroll along the top, about 40 feet above street level, and survey the environs. My attention was captured by live music, so, peering down to the ground between the decorative serrations, I viewed a group of about 40 chinese adults, all in matching bright pink costumes. Some were playing Chinese folk instruments (Ehru, Pipa, drums, gongs) some were singing in some sort of choral formation, and the rest were dancing and waving bright pink and white fans. Leading it all was an adult woman conductor. THIS IS THE KIND OF CHANCE ENCOUNTER I ADORE! I just stood there, chin atop my hands, for about 20 minutes letting it all soak in.
Last night, we attended a Tang Dynasty cultural show. Music, dancing, costumes and opulent scenery, it was incredible. Judy Wilson and I talked today about the dancing...she, with her expertise, was able to help me understand the degree of polish and achievement the dancers displayed--arcs of legs and arms, twisting circles, and the like. There was a beautiful duet between the "emperor" and "concubine." And several dance like representations of scenes of battle. But my favorite acts were the two that focused on the musicians. Playing some instruments I recognized (a koto-like stringed instrument, gongs, lutes) and some I had never seen before. The most unusual was a hand-held mouth-according, for lack of a better name. It resembled a bundled of small black bamboo twigs bundled together, joining at their base in a silver cup-like mouthpiece. There were buttons for the performer to play, and the instrument was capable of playing chords and melodies, all with a reed-like sound. The playful spirit of the musicians was easy to see and hear!
Today we visited the famed terra cotta warriors in Xian. Discovered by a group of rural farmers digging a well in 1974, archeologists have excavated to date nearly 9,000 life-sized sculptures of warriors, horses and chariots that have remained buried for 2200 years. There are likely more statues in others locations yet to be discovered. They are part of a massive mausoleum complex planned by the last emperor of the Qin Dynasty. He wanted a fortress of soldier-statues to protect his burial site. When visiting, you enter an enormous quonset hut-like structure that stretches more than 1000 feet in length. The soldiers appear in smart formation, row after row. I've seen pictures of the site many times, but nothing can prepare you for the size of it all when you're really there!
Tonight we are scheduled to fly back to Shanghai, where we'll catch our flight back to the states in the morning.
It's probably too soon for me to make any vast proclamations on how this tour has affected me, but I've been aware of a growing suspicion in my gut that I may use the term "life changing." Every day, there has been some adventure...sight...experience that is jaw-dropping in its impressiveness/meaning/personal connection. From sights to concerts to chance encounters with the Chinese citizens, my understanding of the world--and the position of a US citizen--is in for an overhaul. Yes, I'd been to China before...twice, in fact...and those experiences were somewhat of a "prequel" to this one. But as they were each very short in length, this trip (10 days in country) has given us all the opportunity to experience and explore in a more meaningful way. As I process all this, I think the thing I will keep returning to is the evident warmth of the Chinese, and their eagerness to forge a relationship with we westerners. I had a number of chances of to escape the group momentarily and meander among the locals...in these instances, I was always greeted with smiles, and sometimes even requests for pictures! The friendliness factor was definitely impressive!
We look forward to sharing more about the trip when we can gather again in Indianapolis. We miss you all very much, and are eager to share our adventure with you very soon!
Eric |
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Sunday, June 27, 2010: Shanghai, China |
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Written by Administrator
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We get to be tourists today! It was an early call for all of us today, especially after last night's Brahms Requiem performance at the Oriental Art Center, but it was well worth the 7:15 a.m. call. We've not yet mentioned our outstanding guides (and translators) Scott and Andrew. They had the lucky fortune of "herding cats" as we came to call it - over 100 of us to manage from sun up to sun down. Great folks with so much information about The People's Republic of China, its people, and gobs of perspective about the culture.
Sunday was a day of exploring the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. If you've never been to an Expo, put it on your list of "musts" at some point. Countries from around the world build great architectural marvels all on one fairground-like gathering area showcasing their culture and people. You'll see pictures from the Expo on our link to the photos as well. We also had the fortune of singing at the Expo - three performances of some great American "popular" music including "Old Man River" from Showboat, "Back Home Again in Indiana," and a number of others. |
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Saturday, June 26, 2010: Shanghai, China |
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Written by Written by Michael Pettry, Executive Director
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Shanghai is so cosmopolitan! During our first few days in this giant city, we're already noticing the differences between Beijing and Shanghai - although we love both of the cities. Without a doubt, Shanghai is the more Western, commercial, and even "glitzy" younger sister to Beijing. There are more sky rises than can be counted, and the architecture is so progressive!
Saturday afternoon was spent at the Oriental Arts Centre preparing for this evening's performance. The Centre is less than 10 years old and is another gorgeous hall - adjustable acoustic "clouds," a massive 5-manual Reger pipe organ (to be played by our gifted organist Dr. Marilyn Keiser), adjustable stage floor to create our 5 rows of choral seating....and the hall seats just over 2,100 persons.
The afternoon rehearsal went well, in spite of our communal tiredness. We've been touring for a week, after all, and that includes a number of early mornings and late evenings with lots of sun, humidity and walking in between. No matter, all of the singers snapped right into the rehearsal mode we've become accustomed to back home and we had a productive rehearsal.
Saturday evening's performance of the Brahms Requiem (in German) was moving! The audience of just over 1,900 persons included an incredible number of young persons - we were all blown away! Our soloists (baritone) Kyle Ferrill and (soprano) Emily Albrink sounded like a billion Yuan (Chinese currency). Our Choir spoke right to the hearts of our new brothers and sisters from China - music was our language and our words were of peace and love. If anyone was ever, ever doubtful of the power of music, this would have swayed their thinking. Music spoke and humanity triumphed!
Suffice it to say, the Choir, our world-class soloists, and the ever-impressive Marilyn Keiser on the pipe organ were a smash. Eric (Stark) did it - he lead everyone through a performance the audience and performers will remember for the remainder of their lives. Oh, and did we mention the encores? (yes, two encores!) Marilyn played the "Finale" from Widor's Fifth Organ Symphony - - you know the piece, if not you'll find thousands of recordings of it in YouTube and iTunes - - and then one additional encore to the encore, a piece from memory. Phew!
What a day! Sunday we're off to spend the day at the World Expo and we can't wait. More info to come soon. All are healthy and well. We send our "hellos" and "hugs" to everyone back home - family and friends. Enjoy your weekend! |
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Friday, June 25, 2010: Beijing/Shanghai, China |
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Written by Eric Stark, Artistic Director
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What a great adventure so far! Performing for a full house audience at Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall, touring Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace and Olympic Park, sharing a choral workshop with the talented singers of the China Conservatory Choir, and performing a live concert at the Great Wall of China...this is simply unbelievable!
Our group of over 100 travelers come from Indiana, Florida and Chicago...we fill three tour busses!
Kyle Ferrill, our baritone soloist on tour with us, has already blogged beautifully about the experience of meeting the Chinese people. I have to second everything he has said. We have been so warmly welcomed at every performance! While singing at the great wall, chinese visitors cheered for us, and posed for pictures with us...even DURING the performance!
The experience of actually being in China is one of constant surprise, as the matrix of what we think we know about this vast culture is confronted by the reality of its generous and warm people. We are met with smiles everywhere we go. When our tour busses pull alongside busses full of Chinese, they are always waving to us enthusiastically. Even when driving the hardest bargain possible at the Silk Market shops, there is a sense of play and fun in the process that makes it all the more enjoyable. Our immersion in this new world...one of progress, surprise and discovery...is a daily ritual of openness and possibility.
For those of us in the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir (and our friends from the Stetson University Chorus also performing with us), music has made all this possible. To the list of innumerable friends, profound explorations of the human experience, expressions of comfort, joy and praise each of us has received from our lives in music, we can now add cultural discovery and mutual understanding. The first selection we performed in China was Gerald Finzi's "My Spirit Sang All Day," which articulates the blessing of music in our lives:
"My spirit sang all day,
O my Joy!
Nothing my heart could say,
Only my Joy."
How lucky we all feel to be entrusted with the choral art, to perform in the magnificent venues of China, and to serve as musical ambassadors between our cultures.
Eric
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