Drakensberg Boys Choir Sharing 9 June 2011
Hi
All: Tonight, 9 June 2011, I attended what I thought was a formal
concert by the Drakensberg Boys Choir, in conjunction with the
Keystone State Boys Choir, at their home church, First Presbyterian
Church of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
I had arrived
about half an hour early and, much to my surprise, the KSBC was
already singing. I was told tonight was more of a sharing-experience
night than a formal concert, and a rest stop for the
Drakies.
Anyhow, I heard two African Songs by the KSBC
that left my jaw on the floor. At first, I thought it was the Drakies
singing [this was my first ever encounter with both groups], and I
quite frankly didn't know the difference. I was told afterward that
when the KSBC first started, they decided to model themselves after
the Drakies :)
After the KSBC, the Drakies took the stage
and gave us an excellent rendition of Ave Maria by eleven boys. Which
version it was, I don't recall at the moment. Well, dear reader, this
rendition was just as good as anything I have ever heard from Western
Europe [I'm used to the English Cathedral Tradition], and afterward,
when I spoke with the director of the Drakies for a moment, I told
him as much and, as you might expect, his eyes got as big as a pair
of Hockey Pucks when I said that, and of course he was very
appreciative.
The Drakies did other music along with
several numbers in combination with the KSBC, which was really great
:D
I will say one thing here: last December I paid $72 to
attend a concert by the WSK [This is nothing against the Choristers
of the WSK. What they had done was fine. My complaint is more
management-related.] Tonight I attended something that was free and
walked away spiritually uplifted :) I had told the assistant director
[I believe] of the KSBC this, and he told me I had just made his
day, LOL :)
It was nice seeing the boys on stage dressed
very informally, which is to say pullover shirts and shorts and, in
the Drakies case, barefoot :) The kids were nice and relaxed and
truly sang from their hearts. I found this much more enjoyable than
hearing them in a formal concert, all prim, proper, and stiff as
boards. Of course, the intimacy of the modest gathering [mostly
parents] in a "Parish Church" was a real bonus.
I
have been told when the Drakies perform in concert, they move about
with some kind of choreography that makes it all the more
interesting. I'm also told that in many of the African songs, body
and hand movements are an integral part of the song.
All
in all, I enjoyed an evening at a church where the Holy Spirit is
alive and well [I worshiped there the previous Sunday], and the
hospitality was warm and welcoming, not only on Sunday but last night
as well.
If you have a chance to hear either the
Drakensberg or the Keystone State Boys Choir and miss it, you deserve
to roast for it ;).
God Bless,
Terry
