Harmony and social justice

By BERNADETTE RAE


Community choirs, with an emphasis on world music, open membership, and singing for fun, have added a new dimension to the choral scene in recent years, appealing to those who want to sing with less formality and constraint than required by Bach, madrigal and barbershop traditions.

The Brunswick Women's Choir, from Melbourne - one of Australia's finest community choirs with a 12-year history of musical acumen and success - is in New Zealand this week to lend its voice to the growing phenomenon.

Tonight they perform at the Alleluya Cafe, and participate in an open workshop on Saturday before heading south for Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch.

The 21-strong touring group is renowned for its powerful and passionate repertoire which encompasses traditional folk songs from Italy, Estonia, South Africa and Spain, Beatles numbers, and items by choir members that lend melody and feeling to political issues such as the detention of refugees and child sexual abuse.

Political significance is among the choir's aims, alongside celebrating community, expansion of awareness and, in touring New Zealand, establishing links with community choirs, women's and social justice groups, and festivals here.

Hazel Hodgkin, a member of the One Voice Choir which sang with the Brunswick Choir last night at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, heard the Melbourne women last year and was blown away by their performance. She was keen to link up with them.

She describes choir singing as "a great stress reliever, a creative, right brain activity, hugely satisfying and guaranteed to send you home on a healthy high".

The One Voice Choir meets weekly for rehearsals, has members aged from their early 20s to 65 years-plus, and there are no auditions for entry.

"We have a 'try out' period of a few weeks, just to make sure the new voices can carry a tune most of the time.

"Everybody can sing and the choir experience is not too different to the campfire sing-along - except we put the right words in front of you."

The workshop on Saturday offers an enjoyable taste of what choir singing offers, she says.

Performance

*What: Brunswick Women's Choir with the One Voice Choir and GALS

*Where and when: Alleluya Cafe, St Kevin's Arcade, tonight, 8pm; workshop, Saturday, 10am-noon, Auckland Horticultural Council, 990 Great North Rd, Pt Chevalier (inquiries: ph 376 9596)