Thursday, December 16, 2010

While carol singing...

...some years ago at London's Victoria station, we were accosted by a man who had, I think, been to a rather good office party, and who told us that we weren't getting it right. We had spread ourselves out in a line on the concourse to try to make the sound spread, and were not doing very well at all. "No, no NO" he said. "Get together like this", and he formed us into a choir, standing together, shoulders overlapping. "Now get singing. Stomachs in, chests out, shoulders back." and he showed us to how to sing, really sing - and make the sound rise to the great arched ceiling above us, and out to the thousands of passengers teeming noisily into their trains.

And it worked! We were soon singing powerfully, and had attracted a considerable crowd, who were pouring money into our collecting-boxes and expressing delight at our performance.

Over the loudspeaker came the usual train announcements, and one of them caught the attention of our mentor "Bromley South!" he exclaimned "Bromley South! That's my train!" and off he dashed, heading for the platform...I swiftly followed him, and was just able to pant out "Who are you?" before the doors closed on him as the train made ready to take him away to the suburbs. "I run the choir at the Ministry of Defence" he called out. And then the train moved off and he was gone.

Each Christmas, as I form together a choir and get them singing, standing properly, shoulders overlapping, sound soaring upwards, I bless his memory. If he's reading this: THANK YOU!

5 comments:

Robert said...

Sounds great. Have you formed your Choir for this year and if so where are you singing if it,s in London I would love to come and hear the singing under your direction.Simply wonderful are my thoughts right now.

Elizabeth said...

What a wonderful story and how very British! Truly in the spirit of Christmas.

Big Sis said...

How marvellous!!!

Anonymous said...

"...And we didn't even get the chance to thank him..." said she, as the masked rider of the plains disappeared over the horizon...

****
That's about as much of a Yankee twist as I'm able to give on such a "very British" story!
You really know that your misnistry of defense is doing a good job when its officials go the second mile to defend the public from strain-voice Christmas Carolers and bring about a new revitalization of the art!

Have a Blessed Advent,
Avellina

Rich Leonardi said...

I never tire of your caroling stories, especially this anecdote. Thanks for sharing them, Joanna.