In no way diminishing our collective gratitude for safe return, or for the many blessings of home, there is no doubt that the experience of sharing art with new international audiences, while growing together as we traveled, has proven to be an experience by which we have all been changed. Lively pre-dawn e-activity among our jet-lagged traveling family this morning brings to mind the Old Testament passage (also seen posted on a church nursery door some years ago) which reads: "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." Changed, indeed!
Yet, is this not rather the point? When our brilliant Chairman (and equally brilliant tenor!), Salvatore Diana, first created our interactive blog, he did so with the expansive intent that it provide a "forum for everyone who . . . has thoughts to express about the role of arts organizations, both locally and globally." And when Schola's visionary Board of Directors updated and filled out our mission statement one year ago, it included the lofty notion of "global cultural impact." Even given all of that, I don't believe that any of us could have predicted the impact this tour would have. --and the ripples are just beginning to be seen.
On a most finite level, we, as artists, grew enormously through our ten days of rehearsing and performing together. Our five exciting performances were met with full and enthusiastic audiences, communication in no way impeded by language barriers. One audience member followed us from Chesky Krumlov to hear us again in Prague--and was surprised and delighted to find a different concert than she had first heard! (Our repertoire was different in each venue visited, decisions regarding which were made upon arrival, once the space had 'spoken' to us.) Encore selections were demanded. Many post-concert sentiments were exchanged. People were very clearly moved.
In addition to the performances themselves, and the attendant usually-one-hour sound-checks in each venue prior to performance, we rehearsed approximately ten hours while away. This is rehearsal intensity that conductors usually only dream of, and the results have been enormously gratifying. Our marvelous tour guide, Ondrej Strejcek (), was good natured about arranging rehearsal spots as we traveled, none of which had been part of the tour company's plan for us. (Perhaps we are unusual in rehearsing while traveling.)
I couldn't begin to recount all of the interactions enjoyed following concerts with audience members from around the world. Some of these have been shared in the blog contributions typed into the computers passed around on the bus as we traveled, uploaded to the blog each evening in the lobby where we enjoyed wifi access. Scroll down, and you'll find them.
The 'performing' experience which was the culmination of all of our activities--indeed, the one around which our entire tour was formed!--was our last: 10:00 AM Sunday Mass at the Salzberger Dom. All of our performing venues were stunning. The Dom was by far the largest among them. It was there that we met the gracious Herr Professor Kappellmeister Janos Cifra. It was there that we rehearsed the full European Premiere Mass with composer Randall Svane and Kappellmeister Cifra in attendance. It was there that we met our greatest musical challenge in the stunning and densely dramatic eight-part Latin a cappella Mass setting by New Jersey composer Svane. It was there that we felt the power of our 32 voices fill the space that held well over a thousand worshippers from around the world, in Salzburg for the most active weekend of the world-renowned Salzburg Music Festival.
A conductor knows that eye contact with one individual musician somehow magically communicates with all. In the same way, it is our collective belief that the impact of this artistic experience--on our esteemed composer, who was at one point struggling for utterance, for the heightened emotion of the experience; upon us, for whom the experience approached the surreal--became one which was also somehow magically shared on a high level with the large international collection of individuals in attendance on Sunday. Many approached us afterwards to say as much--in many different languages.
Although we may not yet quite have a handle on "that pesky world peace problem" (Yes, we do talk about it!), we know that "Great works of art, music and architecture . . . can transport us temporarily to higher levels of consciousness . . . " (David Hawkins, Power vs. Force, p. 74). And, in being part of what brings such spiritual 'transportation' into our own lives and those of others, we know that we are part of something much larger than ourselves and permanent beyond our own lives . . . indeed, something with major--dare we even say 'global'--impact.
So, welcome home, my beloved singers. Sleep well tonight. Tomorrow is a new day which brings new opportunity for impact, which will require the intense focus of all of us.
All here on the bus? It takes the whole singing village; right, Carter? Patrice, take it away with the count-off!
With love for all of the SCH 'Ambassadors;'
And with admiration and gratitude for all committed to profound impact!
Deborah Simpkin King, PhD
Founding Artistic Director
Schola Cantorum on Hudson
www.ScholaOnHudson.org
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