failloubaz

I'm in the midst of playing my first bad gig in Switzerland. Except it's not completely bad because: 1) they feed us well 2) it's slightly amusing.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Failloubaz

Read this, it's about the first person to make a flight between two cities in Switzerland, as Ernest Failloubaz did in 1910. I am now in the midst of playing a musical/oratorio based on his life and work. This work includes choir of 1000, orchestra, and 4 soloists. It is divided into 5 parts, each conducted by the composer who wrote the music (5 parts, 5 composer/conductors). The music is pretty (ahem) bad, much of it following a write one cliché sounding theme, then cut and paste it several times tactic.

What I find amusing is how desperately, in concert, the conductors wish that the choir could read lips, mouthing/singing under their breaths the words to each number with a vigor I rarely see.

In all seriousness, what I like about this is seeing people of all ages get really excited about singing and dancing. I have grown up mostly around church choirs, which is a bit more routine, though lovely thing. These choirs have memorized a 2 hour + work written by local composers about a national hero.

Just to give you an idea I'll describe a scene briefly. Near the beginning there is a men's choir (20 or so out of the 1000) that march onstage to the opening of "Vissez l'helice" ("Screw on the propeller") wearing work overalls and carrying tools (wrenches, hammers, you get the idea). They make gestures pretending to fix things with their tools as they march on stage, and when they arrive at their designated spot on stage, they continue their 'fixing things' gestures with the tools as they sing the song. It's kind of kitch, but heartfelt. very heartfelt.

three concerts to go.