"Magical Mr Malone!"
Gareth Malone is going places. He really is.
At birth, Gareth Malone received Charisma in excess. His fairy godmother clearly upped his dosage.....and NOW I bet she's fluttering her wings with glee!
Choirmaster Malone is 34 but looks about 17. Recently he's been in South Oxhey ( a housing estate outside London) starting a fantastic Community Choir with over 200 singers, all local folk, including lots who had only ever sung in their showers.....
The choir's 1st performance last November took place on a dreary Saturday in the local shopping centre....in front of hundreds of people who, in a matter of moments, became gob-smacked with delight.
This crowd saw their neighbours singing starry-eyed. This crowd saw their mums/uncles/sisters/grandads singing with a confidence they could scarcely believe.
AND this crowd also heard and saw both rhythm and harmony... in BOTH the music and in the community feeling Malone has so brilliantly created.....
***AND afterwards, I wondered: WAS Sarah, Duchess of York, watching this wonderful programme??! ***
" The Choir: Unsung Town" is on BBC 2 again next Tuesday at 9pm.
At birth, Gareth Malone received Charisma in excess. His fairy godmother clearly upped his dosage.....and NOW I bet she's fluttering her wings with glee!
Choirmaster Malone is 34 but looks about 17. Recently he's been in South Oxhey ( a housing estate outside London) starting a fantastic Community Choir with over 200 singers, all local folk, including lots who had only ever sung in their showers.....
The choir's 1st performance last November took place on a dreary Saturday in the local shopping centre....in front of hundreds of people who, in a matter of moments, became gob-smacked with delight.
This crowd saw their neighbours singing starry-eyed. This crowd saw their mums/uncles/sisters/grandads singing with a confidence they could scarcely believe.
AND this crowd also heard and saw both rhythm and harmony... in BOTH the music and in the community feeling Malone has so brilliantly created.....
***AND afterwards, I wondered: WAS Sarah, Duchess of York, watching this wonderful programme??! ***
" The Choir: Unsung Town" is on BBC 2 again next Tuesday at 9pm.
posted by Jan at 10:39 am
13 Comments:
I thoroughly endorse your recommendation of this young man. Singing has been a pet pash of mine all my life, but so many of the choirs or choruses I've been a part of, have let political in fighting mar the underlying urge to simply sing with others! It's the best recreation ever.
There was a similar choir formed here in Melbourne called The Choir of Hard Knocks. They became quite famous.
Hah! Love the part about the gleeful fairy godmother...
I've been in a choir for a year--joined so that my daughter would--and find it a very interesting thing. Somehow the personalities are vividly exposed, and odd eruptive moments keep me amused.
Sounds remarkable! I echo Marly, I love the part about the fairy godmother! :-)
Oh yes, I love Gareth! And I love to sing.
Yes, I saw a trailer for this on TV. What an amazing guy. I really want a fairy godmother. Can you arrange it for me? Please? I write too - please come over and visit my blog any time. My first book was published two months ago - but I won't go into any details here. Please check out my blog as I'd really love to receive your feedback on it leighrussell2009@live.co.uk
Good for him. We could do with more inspirational people like that around.
Amazing what charismatic people can make others do - how much talent they can bring out!
I feel I'm missing something not seeing this show. There's a really good novel by Joanna Trollope called The Choir. I reviewed it here.
Nice to reconnect with you!
Oooh, out tomorrow night, but will be setting my video. Yes, indeed, I was a bit sceptical about the Sarah Duchess of York documentary. Would she REALLY have got up and sat on that woman's kitchen unit sipping nescafe if the cameras hadn't been around? This sounds Great, Jan - thanks for flagging it up.
(And thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comment, too. Hope to be back soon)
Yes, sometimes it's better to look at the things people can do if they get the chance and the inspirstion than to focus on their problems.
It makes me wonder why we don't invest in projects like this more than the millions poured into duff training/employment companies
Jinsky:
Great fun. Some very good friends of mine have been singing for years...they clearly get immense pleasure. ( And one of them does an amazing " House of The Rising Sun" at parties!)
AnneS:
Sounds good .
I wonder if Gareth knows about it?
Hope so.
Marly:
Odd eruptive moments? Marvellous.
I had an eruptive moment in my kitchen yesterday when the apple crumble ( in VERY old Pyrex dish) erupted in the oven..
Vanili:
Hope you can see this programme where YOU are!
Isabelle:
He did wonders forming a childrens choir too.
Some real characters emerged...
Leigh:
Thanks for visiting and I'll pay a visit ASAP.
Good to see you.
Debs:
Couldn't agree more!
Fennie:
I remember 1st hearing the word " charisma" at school and then making a painting within the words in Art...it's a very satisfying-sounding word as well as a magic one!
SArah:
Yes, great review and I loved that book.
Little Brown Dog:
The contrast betwixt those 2 programmes was astounding....how they " dealt" with people and how they "dealt" with their problems. ALSO how they " encouraged" folk to open up, "see what they're made of"....
Give me Gareth's attitudes ANYDAY!
LUCY:
Wise words as ever from you, Lucy. I love your CLEAR-EYED views.
APPRENTICE:
Absolutely!
Sometimes the obvious is so stupidly ignored...
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