Sing-along-a-Glasgow

To be honest, this isn't my thing at all: but I quite like UNESCO City of Music and Stephen Deazley doesn't usually do rubbish. So read on, if you like to sing along...  Press release begins Britain is a nation of great singers and choirs and, in 2014, Big Big Sing - a UK-wide celebration of singing - will work with partners across the country to inspire thousands more people to start singing for fun, enjoyment of music and for their wellbeing.   An initiative of Glasgow UNESCO City of Music, Big Big Sing is set to be one of the highlights of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund in conjunction with Spirit of 2012 Trust, Glasgow 2014, Creative Scotland, and Glasgow UNESCO City of Music. Today’s announcement reveals the first details of its UK-wide programme to promote singing in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, including the first in a series of Big Big Sing Days, the launch of the Big Big Commonwealth Songbook, and a Schools’ Songwriting Competition.   A series of Big Big Sing Days will be held across the country between February and July, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities to discover the joy of singing in some of the UK’s top music venues – no previous experience is required, singers can simply go along and enjoy a fun filled day packed with singing, workshops and a huge variety of music from across the Commonwealth.   Events kick off with Big Big Sing Days in Scotland’s largest cities before spreading across the UK.   The first venues to host Big Big Sing Days will be:   Dundee Caird Hall                              Saturday 1st February Glasgow Royal Concert Hall             Sunday 9th February Edinburgh Usher Hall                         Sunday 16th February Aberdeen Music Hall                          Saturday 8th March   Big Big Sing is also in discussion with partners in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales about Big Big Sing Days between February and June which will be announced via the website and social media as they are confirmed.    The musical backbone of the programme is the Big Big Commonwealth Songbook, which opens with a newly commissioned work from Scotland - Corrina Hewat’s ‘One Song’ - and a traditional Samoan song, L’au Lupe.  A further nine songs from around the Commonwealth will be added to the Songbook over the coming months in the run-up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in July.    Available at www.bigbigsing.org, the Songbook includes online learning resources for each song enabling choirs and individuals to download, listen to, learn and sing the songs in celebration of the Games.  Big Big Sing is working to promote the songs to choirs throughout the Commonwealth, and they will be heard at singing events including the Big Big BIG Sing in Glasgow on 27 July 2014. This will bring together thousands of singers and some very special guests at a to-be-confirmed secret location in Glasgow for a spectacular and fun mass singing performance.   Big Big Commonwealth Songbook curator and arranger Stephen Deazley said:   “The Big Big Commonwealth Songbook is a celebration of global traditions, cultures and musical genres, embracing folk and roots music alongside songs by contemporary artists - it has been a great treat to delve into the rich choral traditions that the Commonwealth has to offer. We want to find simple and engaging ways for everyone to open themselves up to new languages, melodies and choral traditions and to make it as easy as possible for singers of all abilities to have a go themselves.   All over the country people are reconnecting with singing as a way of bringing communities together. The Big Big Commonwealth Songbook is an invitation for people to start exploring some amazing music from around the world - we hope it inspires you on a fun life-long adventure with song.”    Schools have also been invited to celebrate the Commonwealth Games by writing their own songs for 2014 in the Schools’ Songwriting Competition. Big Big Sing invites pupils to write a song inspired by the Commonwealth Games, either individually or as a class.  The prize on offer for the winning song includes having a video of the song made and the chance to perform the song in front of thousands as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.  One winning entry will be picked from each of the two categories (Primary School and Secondary School) by an expert judging panel.  Full details on how to enter can be found at www.bigbigsing.org/start-singing/song-competition.   Big Big Sing is proud to be working with distinguished partners in the choral and wider musical world and in the voluntary arts to make this project possible. Confirmed partners include Voluntary Arts, who are encouraging singing groups across the UK to organise pop-up sings for Voluntary Arts Week 2014 (9 – 18 May, www.voluntaryartsweek.org);UK Choir of the Year with whom Big Big Sing will work to inspire community singers at all levels of experience; and Love Music Productions, whose Love Music Community Choir offers a model for excellence in Community Choirs.   The sound of choirs is so uplifting that it is easy to forget that singing is also great physical and mental exercise. Extensive academic research by such bodies as the Sidney De Haan Centre (Canterbury Christ Church University) has revealed benefits to all, from soothing babies to offering a key to lost memories for dementia sufferers. Joining a choir improves your social life, your breathing, your brainpower and even your posture. Therefore, Big Big Sing is encouraging the whole nation to make singing its New Year Resolution and enjoy the social, physical and mental health benefits in 2014.   Chief Medical Officer for Scotland and Spirit of 2012 Trustee, Sir Harry Burns said:   “Singing in a choir - indeed, any singing - is one of the simplest, most inclusive and readily available ways to improve social, mental and physical health. Socially it enables people of all ages and from all walks of life to come together, develop friendships and engenders positivity whilst, physically, it promotes good breathing, an active lifestyle and relieves stress.  Big Big Sing is a fantastic project which offers anyone looking for a fun way to improve their health and wellbeing this year with a great opportunity to get involved and start singing.”   Choir member Alison Jenkins of Glasgow choir, Merchant Voices said:   “The joy of singing is something I have enjoyed since I was in primary school. To be part of an organisation that allows you to grow week by week and create a musical event that gives such pleasure to the person taking part and hopefully to those listening is awesome. The friendships grow gradually and are a huge part of my weekly rehearsals.  I just love all aspects of singing!”    Director of Big Big Sing, Svend Brown said:    “We firmly believe two things: one is that anyone can sing and the other is that the world is divided into those people who sing and those who do not… yet! Britain is truly blessed in having many amazing organisations and individuals that are passionate and committed about singing – and we want to take the opportunity of the Commonwealth Games year to work with them to champion and boost their work. Everything we do over the coming months we do with the hope that after 2014 many more people will sing regularly than did before, and we want to make it as attractive and easy a thing to do as possible.”   Independent Director on the Glasgow 2014 Board and Chair of the Ceremonies, Culture and Queen’s Baton Relay Committee, Eileen Gallagher said:   “Big Big Sing is already an important part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, allowing people wherever they are across Scotland to get involved in the Games experience. As it grows and spreads more and more people will get the chance to become part of a choir and improve their health whilst being part of the wonderful performances being staged as part of this exciting project.”     BIG BIG SING – HOW TO GET INVOLVED   The Big Big Sing’s online singing portal – www.bigbigsing.org – provides a wealth of materials and information for those wishing to take up singing, including a searchable network of choirs, a guide on how to set up your own choir, and details on all Big Big Sing events. Further information will be added during the project, including more songs for the Big Big Commonwealth Songbook and details of specific opportunities and events.   For further details, visit www.bigbigsing.org and keep up-to-date with Big Big Sing onFacebook and Twitter.   -