“Do you hear the people sing”, do you? Do
you really? The postmodern world is prolific with recorded media and popular
performers are awarded celebrity status, but seriously how often do you hear
people really sing?
On September 21 at Flame Lilly in
Queensburgh, the exuberance of choral ecstasy was presented from two opposite
perspectives: youth verses maturity. The audience heard the voices of youth
demonstrating their mature grasp of classical works, contrasted against a blend of mature male voices celebrating their
passion for life and music.
Tuks Camerata, an official choir of the
University of Pretoria, appeared with local barbershop chorus The Highwaymen,
in the penultimate performance of their Spring-tour of the KZN province. This
choir comprises 66 students of all disciplines and their past achievements are
impressive, to say the least. Their current conductor, Michael Joseph Barrett - a member
of the Drakensberg Boys Choir for many years - continues the traditions of
predecessors like Johann van der Sandt, who is now the Musical Director of
Drakies.
This
September tour forms part of Tuks Camerata’s preparation for the World Choir
Games in Riga, Latvia, during July 2014. The group has won recognition at the
CA Seghizzi International Choral Competition, Gorizia, Italy and the V
Bratislava Advent and Christmas Music Festival. They have released two CD’s to
date titled A Reign of Rest and Voices of Autumn.
In
contrast, The Highwaymen are a rather unusual group of men, who freely admit
that they love to sing. They derive great enjoyment from taking their audiences
on a meander down memory lane. The charisma of Barbershop singing lies in being
able to sing unaccompanied, anywhere, anytime and to lead an audience to the
brink of tears, or have them clapping, singing and stamping their feet while
yelling for more.
Joyce
Campbell who directs The Highwaymen fell in love with music at the age of eight
after her first piano lesson and began playing the church organ at 10. Trinity
College theory exams were followed by UNISA examined courses during
high-school. Later, playing clarinet and choir singing awakened her ambition to
conduct. She remembers conducting a 350 voice choir about 10 years ago as the greatest
moment of her life. Joyce regularly plays in Richard Cock's annual mass orchestras
and sings in his Songs of Praise.
The
Highwaymen are the largest active Barbershop chorus in South Africa, supported
by a worldwide network of affiliated associations, dedicated to sharing this
unique vocal talent. New members are enthusiastically welcomed and anyone interested
should phone Glen on 082 085 8558 or Tony on 073 347 5061.
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