9/01/2001

That's more than give and take

How many concert you have attend? And do you remember what was it and how was it? I mean, for most of the time, the relationship among us and the musician is in a "give-n-take" condition. They play the music, we enjoy out of it and giving our applause in showing our appreciation.

This is what I mean for a traditional and usual listening behaviour.

But is this the only relationship it can be? I thought so, until I saw "Swinging Bach" today.l

"Swinging Bach" was an event taken place in Leizipig, Germany in the year 2000, for the memorance of the 200th birthday of J.S. Bach. Musician from different places are gathering to perform music, of course, by Bach. And one of the program is featuring the "Ave Maria", I am sure you have listened to this before, you just don't know how it is named. Usually in movie scene taken place inside or church or alike.

Anyway, enough for the background information, let's go back to what I saw. Bobby McFerrin, a vocalist, is performing Ave Maria on the stage, but before he started, he asked the audience beneath -- which is over thousands of them, all standing in a BIG podium, if they can sing the choral part of Ave Maria, he sing out part of it to remind them of course. And guess what, he is expecting the audience to take part in this program, by singing out the chorus and he will be accompanying them!

So, what the heck? If you have listened to this before, you will know how peaceful the music actually is, just like what we felt after our pray, feels like angel is flying around you. And imagine, in a big podium like this, EVERYONE is humming out the peaceful piece! It is so touching and I am sure everyone in it can feel the resonance and synergy among themselves!

Bobby is not simply a musician but a magician, he can trigger something deep within the audience, to make the FEEL the music, not simply taken what he is performing as a whole. This already beyond the "give and take" tradition but an immersing experience.