Re: Complaint Choirs Worldwide

[paul phillips <phillipsp@xxxxxxx>]

Sabri,
Back in the 1960s when I was quite active in the coffee house and
protest demonstration folk song circuit, a leftist activist friend of
mine made the comment that it wasn't religion that was the opiate of the
people, "it is folk music that is the opiate of the working class."
Instead of doing anything, we sang about it.  While I found music was
useful in raising morale on the picket line or getting publicity for a
particular campaign (ban the bomb, civil rights, labour dispute, etc.)
it was only useful when directed at a specific event or goal. Perhaps
the most successful motivating choir I ever sang in was the Winnipeg
Labour Choir (still going strong) though I moved away from Winnipeg  4
years ago. So while I found the complaint chorus amusing and
entertaining (though some of the complaints were rather trivial), it was
rather unfocussed and did not seem to be directed at any specific end or
goal.
    Besides which, I have twice tried to organize choirs of different
sorts.  I don't really have the technical talent to properly direct a
choir nor the patience to 'herd cats' (which describes the usual gaggle
of choristers). :-[  In addition, I am already singing in two choirs and
my wife is singing in a third.  My biggest complaint is 'why don't I
have  time to practice the music I am already trying to sing?' Now that
is a complaint chorus I could really get my vocal  chords into!  If I
had time.

Why do I never have time,
To sing of my endless complaints,
Cause pen-l is filling my day,
Just one of my many constraints.

Paul P

Sabri Oncu wrote:

> http://www.complaintschoir.org/
>
> Paul,
>
> As I recall, you are also into singing, aren't you? Why don't you start one
> where you are?  I am planning to start one here in New York.
>
> Best,
>
> Sabri
>
>
>
>
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