Flowing Waters with the Cape Breton Chorale
Do you need a break from your yard work, gardening and spring cleaning? Why not treat yourself, your friends, and your loved ones to a relaxing and revitalizing evening of music.
The Cape Breton Chorale, directed by Ryan Billington and accompanied by Paula Jane Francis, is excited to present Flowing Waters, our final concert of the season, on May 29 at 8 p.m. in The Church of Christ the King, 19 Trinity Ave., Sydney.
The concert will explore themes of water and water security — its importance to life and livelihood — through music and readings, complemented by select photographs by nature photographer, Adam Hill.
Flowing waters invoke many images: rushing rivers, rolling ocean waves, rippling lakes, cascading waterfalls, gently falling rain, and clean water gushing from the tap — something too many lack, particularly in Indigenous communities across Canada.
Many of us rely on water for our economic survival. Where would Cape Breton be without the fisheries?
We can all relate to the changing landscape caused by the decline of the fishing industry.
Many Stan Rogers songs address the hardships experienced by small Maritime fishing communities. We will present a moving rendition of his classic, Make or Break Harbour, about a dying community and the tenacity of the crew and boat that he calls a ‘Kindly Cape Islander, old but
still sound.’
We will perform a number of pieces that attest to the endless pull of the sea for so many — human and animal. The beautiful and haunting Seal Lullaby, a poem by Rudyard Kipling set to music by Eric Whitacre, reminds us that we are not the only ones seeking safety and sustenance in the water.
This is one of those simple yet moving songs that is sure to stick with you long after you return home.
Moving inland, we take you on a trip into French Canadian
History as we sing Les Raftsmen, a jaunty folk tune dating from the 19th century about life as a raftsman or logger. If you’ve ever wanted to hear a group of adults sing about eating pork and beans, this is your chance.
I don’t want to give away the whole program but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention that there will be rain songs. Stephen Hatfield’s La Luvia is particularly beautiful and unique.
The music will be interspersed with readings and complemented by screenings of photographs by Adam Hill. We hope that by bringing together the power of different but equally moving and inspiring art forms, we will raise awareness of the importance of water and water security in all aspects of our lives.
We are thrilled to be able to offer this concert to close what has been a rewarding, if challenging, season. We invite you to join us for an evening of song, word, photograph, and community.
If you have attended one of our concerts in the past, then you know this is not to be missed. If you are new to our audience, what a great introduction this will be!
There is limited seating for this concert and we encourage you to get your tickets early.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased on our website at www.capebretonchorale.com, from members of the chorale, by calling (902)539-1243, or at the door.