Monday, August 4, 2008
Hong Kong Disneyworld
Danilo Quieros attempts to lower the temperature around Shyam Venkatekrishnan in a blistering heatwave of more than 35 degrees.
Sunday 3 August
We spend the afternoon at the Hong Kong Disneyworld. The temperature is already at 30 degrees when we land at 10:30, and reaches above 35 in the afternoon. 
Saturday Night concert
Three choirs are due to sing in the first half: A men's quartet from Georgia, a mixed adult quartet from Australia and St John's College choir. St John's College choir is the only children's choir, and also the first choir from the continent from Africa to sing at the festival. The fact that we have been invited to sing at the final concert is a wonderful opportunity.
The boys have had a long day - a morning rehearsal in the concert hall with organ, back to the hotel to change, luncheon and performance, back to the hotel, rest, and then a warm-up before the concert. Unfortunately our final sound check in the concert hall with the organ was moved earlier than originally planned, which meant that the very important resting time before the concert would be cut in half. I made the decision to do away completely with the final sound check, as a resting period is more essential for the boys. An additional aspect is the ever change of humidity and temperature which begins to affect the stability of the voices: We move from the hotel (at 20 degrees C and 50% humidity) into the road in 35 degrees C and an 85%+ humidity, to the underground with a situation very similar to the hotel's, and so forth. Three boys have now lost their voices completely in the process of the changing temperture and humidity.
We walk into the security area with our tags around our necks. Members from a Chinese choir awaits our arrival at the door, and when they see the boys appearing they start singing strains from our "Dubula", imitating the African music movements. They applaud loudly when the boys smile at them, and I start the warm-up at 18:25 with the realisation that tonight's performance will be without the crucial final sound check. Then Charlise, one of our guides, walk into the warm-up rehearsal and says: "The organisers can give you 20 minutes before the concert to do a final sound check." Five seconds later we march in three rows up the two levels straight into the concert hall, and use 15 of the granted 20 minutes. Just what was needed - the balance is good, Cameron Upchurch's registration works very well, and slight adjustments are done here and there. The boys are in good voice and in even better spirit.
We have our Chinese take away supper together, then the final dress, then the final warm - up, sorting our a treble who has fallen ill, hand out gifts to our two wonderful guides Charlese and Terence, get out of our shoes and socks, and move up to the green room area. The concert hall is totally packed, and not a single seat is available. The first choir sings, and we are next. The boys are excited, but not nervous. They cannot wait to start. Then the doors are flung open, we walk in three rows with "Siyahamba", followed by the first strains of the San Gloria with organ. The entrances are precise, diction is clear, intonation mostly faultless. The boys sing with their hearts, and the audience warms to the strange combination of African, Bushmen and western music with organ. At the end of the dissonant ending of the "Amen" there is silence for two seconds, and then the applause starts. Someone brings flowers, I gesture to Cameron who acknowledges the applause from the audience, and then the shouting for an encore starts. Clerly there must be South Africans in the audience. Then Sidumo takes over from me with the choir's redition of "Dubula". The boys leave the stage with pride and make their way down to the green room. The sense of musical fulfillment sets in, and they cannot believe this was the final performance.
We have been invited to the after party, where we arrive with the Philharmonic choir after their performance of Handel's "Israel in Egypt". The other choirs also arrive, and the conductors are given an opportuity to address everyone present. I thank the organisers for a superbly organised festival, and make the point that the boys have been given a life changing experience in Taipei.
We leave after 23:00 with a poster flag (intended for the music department) smuggled to us by one of the organisers of the festival.
Final instructions in the bus to the boys about the mext morning's 4:45 wake up call, and then we leave the bus for the hotel for the last time to do the final packing.
On Sunday morning all the boys arrive on time and we start with our packed breakfast at 6:15 from the Sheraton. Most of the boys have had little sleep, but the excitement of the previous night's performance is still ligering. Yes, we are on a high, and a well-deserved one!
The boys have had a long day - a morning rehearsal in the concert hall with organ, back to the hotel to change, luncheon and performance, back to the hotel, rest, and then a warm-up before the concert. Unfortunately our final sound check in the concert hall with the organ was moved earlier than originally planned, which meant that the very important resting time before the concert would be cut in half. I made the decision to do away completely with the final sound check, as a resting period is more essential for the boys. An additional aspect is the ever change of humidity and temperature which begins to affect the stability of the voices: We move from the hotel (at 20 degrees C and 50% humidity) into the road in 35 degrees C and an 85%+ humidity, to the underground with a situation very similar to the hotel's, and so forth. Three boys have now lost their voices completely in the process of the changing temperture and humidity.
We walk into the security area with our tags around our necks. Members from a Chinese choir awaits our arrival at the door, and when they see the boys appearing they start singing strains from our "Dubula", imitating the African music movements. They applaud loudly when the boys smile at them, and I start the warm-up at 18:25 with the realisation that tonight's performance will be without the crucial final sound check. Then Charlise, one of our guides, walk into the warm-up rehearsal and says: "The organisers can give you 20 minutes before the concert to do a final sound check." Five seconds later we march in three rows up the two levels straight into the concert hall, and use 15 of the granted 20 minutes. Just what was needed - the balance is good, Cameron Upchurch's registration works very well, and slight adjustments are done here and there. The boys are in good voice and in even better spirit.
We have our Chinese take away supper together, then the final dress, then the final warm - up, sorting our a treble who has fallen ill, hand out gifts to our two wonderful guides Charlese and Terence, get out of our shoes and socks, and move up to the green room area. The concert hall is totally packed, and not a single seat is available. The first choir sings, and we are next. The boys are excited, but not nervous. They cannot wait to start. Then the doors are flung open, we walk in three rows with "Siyahamba", followed by the first strains of the San Gloria with organ. The entrances are precise, diction is clear, intonation mostly faultless. The boys sing with their hearts, and the audience warms to the strange combination of African, Bushmen and western music with organ. At the end of the dissonant ending of the "Amen" there is silence for two seconds, and then the applause starts. Someone brings flowers, I gesture to Cameron who acknowledges the applause from the audience, and then the shouting for an encore starts. Clerly there must be South Africans in the audience. Then Sidumo takes over from me with the choir's redition of "Dubula". The boys leave the stage with pride and make their way down to the green room. The sense of musical fulfillment sets in, and they cannot believe this was the final performance.
We have been invited to the after party, where we arrive with the Philharmonic choir after their performance of Handel's "Israel in Egypt". The other choirs also arrive, and the conductors are given an opportuity to address everyone present. I thank the organisers for a superbly organised festival, and make the point that the boys have been given a life changing experience in Taipei.
We leave after 23:00 with a poster flag (intended for the music department) smuggled to us by one of the organisers of the festival.
Final instructions in the bus to the boys about the mext morning's 4:45 wake up call, and then we leave the bus for the hotel for the last time to do the final packing.
On Sunday morning all the boys arrive on time and we start with our packed breakfast at 6:15 from the Sheraton. Most of the boys have had little sleep, but the excitement of the previous night's performance is still ligering. Yes, we are on a high, and a well-deserved one!
We have been invited to attend an "Allumni lunch". This was the only details given to us, and we were very curious about the event. The organisers did not give any more information to us, and we simply thought that this is a corporate performance.
On arrival at one of the finest restaurants in Taipei, we were led to our tables by a number of waiters. The familiar face of Old Johannian Joseph Huang (Nash 1991) appears from the main table, greating us with a warm smile. Joseph heard about the choir's visit to Taipei, made contact with the organisers of the choir festival, and then Joseph arranged this suprise luncheon for the choir. I promptly introduced Joseph to the boys table by table and we were treated to a wonderful meal. Such generosity from an Old Johannian makes an incredible impact on the boys, and we realise that St John's College must have a very special place in the heart of Joseph. Those who were with Joseph at school and lost contact with him would be delighted to know that he studied engineering at Cambridge, and after completion of his studies returned to Taiwan where he is now working in Taipei in a construction company. And this is how the puzzle fit together - Joseph's company will be building the Parc de Sol, the new building where we sang at the previous evening. It was a pleasure to meet Joseph's father Charles and his brother Peter and the rest of the family.
The boys were grouped in four, and competed for magnificent gift, all portraying a series of Taiwanese stamps. We will never forget the generosity of the Huang family!!
On arrival at one of the finest restaurants in Taipei, we were led to our tables by a number of waiters. The familiar face of Old Johannian Joseph Huang (Nash 1991) appears from the main table, greating us with a warm smile. Joseph heard about the choir's visit to Taipei, made contact with the organisers of the choir festival, and then Joseph arranged this suprise luncheon for the choir. I promptly introduced Joseph to the boys table by table and we were treated to a wonderful meal. Such generosity from an Old Johannian makes an incredible impact on the boys, and we realise that St John's College must have a very special place in the heart of Joseph. Those who were with Joseph at school and lost contact with him would be delighted to know that he studied engineering at Cambridge, and after completion of his studies returned to Taiwan where he is now working in Taipei in a construction company. And this is how the puzzle fit together - Joseph's company will be building the Parc de Sol, the new building where we sang at the previous evening. It was a pleasure to meet Joseph's father Charles and his brother Peter and the rest of the family.
The boys were grouped in four, and competed for magnificent gift, all portraying a series of Taiwanese stamps. We will never forget the generosity of the Huang family!!
One is struck by the effort of the Taiwanese to promote the arts in general - here on the way to the underground station, is a link where portraits are hung with a short description of the work, the title, as well as the contact details of the artists. All an effort to promote painting and artists works to the general public. These painting were changed three times in the short period we were there. And no, there is no security guard watching to see that this does not get damaged or stolen. Surely in a modern society anyone should repect other people's property! I wander how long such painting would hang in a public place in our motherland before they are stolen or vandelised. We can certainly learn so many lessons from Taiwan!!!
In preparation for tonight's performance, Cameron Upchurch is spending time trying out different stops, working at combinations. We listen to possibilities, discuss combinations, and eventually everything is worked out for the next event: A rehearsal with choir and organ. The flags representing the participating musicians are hanging from the ceiling, and the Norwegian and South African flags are proudly displayed next to each other, symbolising the ongoing musical outreach from Norway to South Africa.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Saturday, 2 August
We have reahed the evening of the final concert. I will load pictures and a more comprehensive text tonight after the concert if possible.
A remider to parents that to collect your boys from the airport on Monday morning. The flight details are as follows:
3 Aug
Taipei – Hong Kong
Flight CX471 Departing 08h55
Hong Kong – Jhb
Flight CX749 Departing 23h45
Arriving Johannesburg 4 Aug at approx 07h00
If there are any changes to the floght schedule, I will post it on the blog. So, no news is good news. We have asked the organisers if we could change tonight's programme to allow us to perform the San Gloria. We had a quick rehearsal this morning, and Cameron Upchurch met the Taiwanese wife. He is very impressived with the instrument. So, here we go! In less than an hour we will board the bus to the concert hall.
Ben Oosthuizen
We have reahed the evening of the final concert. I will load pictures and a more comprehensive text tonight after the concert if possible.
A remider to parents that to collect your boys from the airport on Monday morning. The flight details are as follows:
3 Aug
Taipei – Hong Kong
Flight CX471 Departing 08h55
Hong Kong – Jhb
Flight CX749 Departing 23h45
Arriving Johannesburg 4 Aug at approx 07h00
If there are any changes to the floght schedule, I will post it on the blog. So, no news is good news. We have asked the organisers if we could change tonight's programme to allow us to perform the San Gloria. We had a quick rehearsal this morning, and Cameron Upchurch met the Taiwanese wife. He is very impressived with the instrument. So, here we go! In less than an hour we will board the bus to the concert hall.
Ben Oosthuizen
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Michael Alberti's Tuesday 30 July blog!!!!
Tuesday
We stopped off at Zu-Shi temple, a 200 year old temple in the centre of San-Xia. A glance here and there created a very real sense of grandeur, but only a few managed to notice the unbelievably intricate detail on every centimeter of wall and ceiling. After a short drive in the bus, we stopped off for lunch at a Chinese restaurant called Long-Tan. After happily paying a meager R40, plate after plate of beautifully presented food was served and everyone dug in, some with a little more enthusiasm than others. Some ate the duck, some the pork. Some ate the fish or lamb, while others tucked into the squid, crab and bamboo. The variety of food was astounding, and it was our first real Taiwanese meal together, void of the popularly sought McDonald’s.
Upon arriving at our concert destination, we walked straight onto the stage for a 60-minute sound check. Some of the boys were a little disappointed at the acoustics of the hall. When singing, the choir received no reverberation from the surroundings, making the success of the upcoming concert a little more difficult. After the long and tiring bus-drive, the boys were given the opportunity to curl up on a scrunched up anorak for a well-received afternoon nap. Waking up to a warm dinner and ready to perform, we put on our performance clothes and quietly sat back-stage, listening to the traditional songs of four Georgians, with whom we shared the night’s concert. We finally walked on stage to the applause of small audience, a lot of which were young children. After the tranquil and relaxing harmony of the Russian singers, we woke the audience with the beginning of our lively African programme. Next, our unrehearsed San Gloria started a little shakily, but we found confidence in the thought that only the choir and Dr. Oosthuizen would really acknowledge any mistakes made. We had some very good moments, and some of the members in the audience were truly intrigued by the strange sounds and dissonant harmonies. We performed the Italian Salad with exaggerated gestures and all, and it appealed to the younger members in the audience, who laughed excessively. Finally, with the ‘Click Song’, we finished off with a bang, and smiles spread through the boys as we heard cries of “encore” ringing through the hall. After ‘Dubula’, we left the stage happy, and satisfied with our overall energetic and well-received performance.
We got back onto the bus, and a 3-hour drive saw us walking back into the familiar, air-conditioned lobby of the Sheraton Hotel.
We stopped off at Zu-Shi temple, a 200 year old temple in the centre of San-Xia. A glance here and there created a very real sense of grandeur, but only a few managed to notice the unbelievably intricate detail on every centimeter of wall and ceiling. After a short drive in the bus, we stopped off for lunch at a Chinese restaurant called Long-Tan. After happily paying a meager R40, plate after plate of beautifully presented food was served and everyone dug in, some with a little more enthusiasm than others. Some ate the duck, some the pork. Some ate the fish or lamb, while others tucked into the squid, crab and bamboo. The variety of food was astounding, and it was our first real Taiwanese meal together, void of the popularly sought McDonald’s.
Upon arriving at our concert destination, we walked straight onto the stage for a 60-minute sound check. Some of the boys were a little disappointed at the acoustics of the hall. When singing, the choir received no reverberation from the surroundings, making the success of the upcoming concert a little more difficult. After the long and tiring bus-drive, the boys were given the opportunity to curl up on a scrunched up anorak for a well-received afternoon nap. Waking up to a warm dinner and ready to perform, we put on our performance clothes and quietly sat back-stage, listening to the traditional songs of four Georgians, with whom we shared the night’s concert. We finally walked on stage to the applause of small audience, a lot of which were young children. After the tranquil and relaxing harmony of the Russian singers, we woke the audience with the beginning of our lively African programme. Next, our unrehearsed San Gloria started a little shakily, but we found confidence in the thought that only the choir and Dr. Oosthuizen would really acknowledge any mistakes made. We had some very good moments, and some of the members in the audience were truly intrigued by the strange sounds and dissonant harmonies. We performed the Italian Salad with exaggerated gestures and all, and it appealed to the younger members in the audience, who laughed excessively. Finally, with the ‘Click Song’, we finished off with a bang, and smiles spread through the boys as we heard cries of “encore” ringing through the hall. After ‘Dubula’, we left the stage happy, and satisfied with our overall energetic and well-received performance.
We got back onto the bus, and a 3-hour drive saw us walking back into the familiar, air-conditioned lobby of the Sheraton Hotel.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Updated schedule for the rest of the week.
Due to the typhoon, the schedule has been changed for the rest of the week. I think it will be good for parents to have an idea what is lying ahead of us:
After last night’s concert, we arrived back at the hotel shortly after midnight. We all had breakfast, and will be enjoying another Taiwanese shopping experience today. We plan to visit the electronics market today, and later tonight the famous Night market. So today will be a tourist experience, with no music or rehearsals.
Thursday 31 July:
We will have a rehearsal in the morning in preparation for the evening’s performance at Taoyuan, about 40 minutes by bus on the outskirts of Taipei. This concert will be in the same format as last nights – two choirs sharing the stage, each performing 20 minutes in each half.
Friday 1 August:
We have a demonstration lecture at 9:00 where 350 conductors will experience the joy of African music. At 12:00 there will a luncheon with the representative of South Africa. This will be followed by a visit at 14:00 to the National Museu, where after we will leave for the sound check in preparation for tonight’s concert at Parc del Sol. This will be shorter concert of 20 minutes, shared by other choirs. Today will be a very busy day!
Saturday 2 August
Morning rehearsal at the concert Hall, followed by a sound check with organ in the afternoon in preparation for the final concert performance, which is already sold out. We will perform the San Gloria with organ, follwed by some African music. The second half will be a performance of Handel’s Israel in Egypt. This is followed by a farewell party at the Sheraton.
Sunday 3 August
We will depart at 5:45 for the airport to depart to Hong Kong. Mail on the plane, followed by visit to Disney World.
After last night’s concert, we arrived back at the hotel shortly after midnight. We all had breakfast, and will be enjoying another Taiwanese shopping experience today. We plan to visit the electronics market today, and later tonight the famous Night market. So today will be a tourist experience, with no music or rehearsals.
Thursday 31 July:
We will have a rehearsal in the morning in preparation for the evening’s performance at Taoyuan, about 40 minutes by bus on the outskirts of Taipei. This concert will be in the same format as last nights – two choirs sharing the stage, each performing 20 minutes in each half.
Friday 1 August:
We have a demonstration lecture at 9:00 where 350 conductors will experience the joy of African music. At 12:00 there will a luncheon with the representative of South Africa. This will be followed by a visit at 14:00 to the National Museu, where after we will leave for the sound check in preparation for tonight’s concert at Parc del Sol. This will be shorter concert of 20 minutes, shared by other choirs. Today will be a very busy day!
Saturday 2 August
Morning rehearsal at the concert Hall, followed by a sound check with organ in the afternoon in preparation for the final concert performance, which is already sold out. We will perform the San Gloria with organ, follwed by some African music. The second half will be a performance of Handel’s Israel in Egypt. This is followed by a farewell party at the Sheraton.
Sunday 3 August
We will depart at 5:45 for the airport to depart to Hong Kong. Mail on the plane, followed by visit to Disney World.
Cameron Dry's Preble Blog
Hey all back in Jo’burg!
We had an excellent concert last night, it wasn’t particularly full but the people who were there enjoyed it a lot. We got an encore which was done brilliantly! We walked off with broad smiles on our faces down to the changing rooms.
It’s really hot and humid down here and you really have to keep your eyes out for scooters zooming by at a million miles an hour. Us prebles are loving it here but still missing you guys!
See you soon
Cameron J
P.S someone please tell my sister to check Facebook!
We had an excellent concert last night, it wasn’t particularly full but the people who were there enjoyed it a lot. We got an encore which was done brilliantly! We walked off with broad smiles on our faces down to the changing rooms.
It’s really hot and humid down here and you really have to keep your eyes out for scooters zooming by at a million miles an hour. Us prebles are loving it here but still missing you guys!
See you soon
Cameron J
P.S someone please tell my sister to check Facebook!
The wandering organist wanders
Tuesday was a fairly leisurely working day, save being travel intensive and long. The usual gastronomic delight of the Sheraton East-meets-West-and-everything-in-between breakfast was good preparation for the morning bus trip to see one of the older Tao temples of Taipei. The boys were intrigued by this little gem buried inconspicuously in the concrete jungle; beautiful stone carving, gilded rafters, clouds of incense and people at prayer provided an immediate experience of local life.
We pressed on to our final destination in Nantou County, an auditorium shabby on the exterior but smart and comfortable within. The extremely dry acoustic was a little bit of a shock for the boys, who struggled a little with intonation in the also stuffy environment. But that’s precisely what rehearsals are for; they were soon accustomed to the space. This was self-evident during the concert itself, in which they sang with a verve that did us proud. No organ in this venue: the San Gloria was accompanied on piano, but this did not impede a very convincing performance of the work. We shared the concert with a four-man ensemble from Georgia (NOT the one in the USA!) singing their ancient form of Orthodox Church Music. It was good for the boys to hear a small male ensemble and a style of performance that focused on minute detail. The slightly reserved audience warmed to our lads as their performance progressed, with yells for more at the end of the evening. Our singers left the stage on a well-deserved high and headed straight for the bus.
The journey back to Taipei was over two hours long, with us arriving at the hotel after midnight. Half the choir needed their McDonald’s fix, after which they retired for an apparently very welcome rest.
We still have much to do and see; we have been happy to hear that we will be able to do the Gloria on Saturday evening in the final concert, it’s originally scheduled performance having been near-typhooned on Tuesday. It would be fair to say that we are all having a fantastic time. We could certainly recommend it as a way to end any school term!
Cameron Upchurch
We pressed on to our final destination in Nantou County, an auditorium shabby on the exterior but smart and comfortable within. The extremely dry acoustic was a little bit of a shock for the boys, who struggled a little with intonation in the also stuffy environment. But that’s precisely what rehearsals are for; they were soon accustomed to the space. This was self-evident during the concert itself, in which they sang with a verve that did us proud. No organ in this venue: the San Gloria was accompanied on piano, but this did not impede a very convincing performance of the work. We shared the concert with a four-man ensemble from Georgia (NOT the one in the USA!) singing their ancient form of Orthodox Church Music. It was good for the boys to hear a small male ensemble and a style of performance that focused on minute detail. The slightly reserved audience warmed to our lads as their performance progressed, with yells for more at the end of the evening. Our singers left the stage on a well-deserved high and headed straight for the bus.
The journey back to Taipei was over two hours long, with us arriving at the hotel after midnight. Half the choir needed their McDonald’s fix, after which they retired for an apparently very welcome rest.
We still have much to do and see; we have been happy to hear that we will be able to do the Gloria on Saturday evening in the final concert, it’s originally scheduled performance having been near-typhooned on Tuesday. It would be fair to say that we are all having a fantastic time. We could certainly recommend it as a way to end any school term!
Cameron Upchurch
Monday, July 28, 2008
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