Fifty singers enjoyed an excellent workshop with Brendan at St Swithin’s Church in Bath. Traditional songs included On the Sea of Life from the Roper Mountain Singers, a wonderful version of the gospel number, Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land, taught to Brendan by the Rev Donna Cox from Ohio and a traditional Ndebele folk song collected on Brendan’s travels in Zimbabwe in 2014. Brendan also taught two of his original compositions: the hauntingly beautiful Chasm Lake shapenote song, and the wonderful Now the Mountains are Dancing – a setting of e.e. cummings’ poem including the beautiful phrase “Alive, we’re alive o! it’s kiss me now spring”.
“Five great songs, taught with great warmth and insight into the traditions and a spot of mbira playing too – wonderful”
“A hugely enjoyable day”
“Brendan was excellent, not only in teaching the songs, but also imparting his knowledge of vocal technique and giving us the historical and cultural backgrounds”
We look forward to Brendan’s next visit.