Orchestra Unwrapped

Theres more excitement and noise than you'd expect then as the lights dim they cheer eagerly as the musicians enter.. Its not the usually audiance in DMH nor the welcome for a orchrister. Today that welcomed Philharmonia Orchestra. The auditorium was packed with children from all over leicester. I went along with Scraptoft Valley Primary School 

so what is it all about 

Orchestra Unwrapped is a uniquely ambitious project, offering every 7-11 year old child in Leicester the opportunity to hear the world-class Philharmonia Orchestra. The project will offer children, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, access to music education through a dynamic programme of interactive schools concerts, bespoke educational materials for the classroom, and online learning guides, all adhering to the National Curriculum.

This project is a national first, because it will reach every Key Stage 2 child in the City, and as Resident Orchestra at De Montfort Hall the Philharmonia is launching this initiative in Leicester.  We hope that will make a real difference to children across the City.

Throughout the performance everything is explained how the music works, the names for different styles and ways of playing.

the large screen and video images show the musicians and conductor close up. 

As part of the project the children had been learning Merlin, and so to that we turned as the story narrated from the stage a little symbol appears on the screen and everyone stand we are the choir. and it sounded wonderful. 

They clapped in the wrong places and and giggled and laughed there way through the concert and it was fantastic. 

There's a song we sing from time to time. It goes something like this in part....

Brother let me be your servant let me be as Christ to you

It is easier for us to serve another. To be there to give a lift take a meal offer a place to stay. To care, but. E able to not do anything. It is far harder to be the person on the receiving end of that care. So much harder to be the one who is allowing the other to be as Christ and serve. Why is that, that we would never see it as putting ourselves out to be there for another, yet we feel a burden in the way so often

What brings this thought, in part the maunday Thursday service as the Priest kneels to wash the feet of parishioners. The same way in which Jesus knelt to was the disciples feet.

Partly as this week I've not felt well, now this isn't fun I don't like not being able to do things. I'm deffinatly the worst patient ESP when doctors and tests are involved. The dummy doesnt just get thrown out its sent into orbit. That happened a few times this week (hangs head)

Let me serve you from offers of a room so as not to be alone, and SMS and calls those word of the song from others has been so real.

The real challenge is the words LET ME BE AS we I have to allow others to come alongside to be Jesus with skin on..... and definitely need a dose of grace to do that.

Tough lessons for each of us to learn.

And thankful that even in the impression of a teenager throwing out the dummy some. Ery special people carried on being just that Jesus with skin on.

Maundy Thursday

This morning I was at Southwark cathedral for the service there which was great  was so glad I went the opening Hymn was sung with such power and truth that you thought the roof really would be shaken. I'd never sung this before but was hit by the words 

Refrain:

Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore
his sacred Name.

Come, brethren, follow where our Captain trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God. Refrain

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain

Each newborn soldier of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Refrain

This is the sign which Satan's legions fear
and angels veil their faces to rever. Refrain

Saved by this Cross whereon their Lord was slain,
the sons of Adam their lost home regain. Refrain

From north and south, from east and west they raise
in growing unison their songs of praise. Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Refrain

Let every race and every language tell
of him who saves our souls from death and hell. Refrain

From farthest regions let their homage bring,
and on his Cross adore their Savior King. Refrain

Set up thy throne, that earth's despair may cease
beneath the shadow of its healing peace. Refrain

For thy blest Cross which doth for all atone
creation's praises rise before thy throne. Refrain

I'm missing a service tonight at St Peters vauxhall one I'm sad to miss last year it was a amazing service and the first time i had witnessed the stripping of a church and was very much looking forward a agin to being part of it again this year.....

but I will be at another place and my first visit to the famous globe theatre and will be hearing the King james bible read...

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

6pm – Midnight: Esther, Job and Psalms

Free tea and coffee will provided after 11pm.

This session features the book of Psalms containing 150 beautifully written hymns, psalms and prayers covering the whole range of human emotions from joy to anger, from hope to despair. Many famous verses have roots in the psalms including, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, ‘The Rivers of Babylon’, ‘Handel’s Messiah’. The book of Job explores the problem of sufferance in an unjust world, where God appears not to care about the fate of the just.

Two of my favourite books will be read Esther and psalms and yeah I'm very much planning to listen to the whole evening not sure what it is going to be like but I'm sure it will be a wonderful evening though the expectation is that people will drop in and drop out throughout the sessions. its suggested it will take a team of actors 69 hours to read through the bible in Holy week and will conclude on easter tuesday. What I found really interesting is that there will be no reading on Holy saturday. That it was actually called by the theatre Holy saturday the real name for the time of waiting and not easter saturday as it's often miss called.

I like the statement in a interview too that The Globe's artistic director, Dominic Dromgoole

"We are celebrating the word," he says. Whatever one's spiritual convictions, the anniversary is significant; it is hard to think of any other work that has played such a large role in shaping English-speaking culture.  

celebrating the word.

Tonight I just plan to sit and listen no distraction no phone or gadgets this Maundy Thursday no words of my own just the words inspired by God written down by man to wash over

Somewhere over the rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high,

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.

The words of the well loved well known song sung by Judy Garland in the The Wizard of Oz. The end of the Rainbow is the west end black comedy/ musical that tells the story of the come back again of Judy Garland in 1968 tormented by drugs and drink and life spiralling out of control a place where the words of this song have a very different longing to what was sung thirty years before as a young girl.

Tracie Bennet as Judy garland Photo - official show photo

I've loved the theatre since I was very small after being introduced to it by my Nan like many children here in the uk through the christmas pantomime. Like one of my friends it is something that refills the tank.

 I wasn't expecting what I got tonight. the anguish and life that was shown on the stage was truly amazing. What came through from the actors was a enjoyment of what they were doing and the story they were portraying.

During the show there are a few places where the challenge that faces many of us, myself included comes through so strongly. A mentor,lecturer and friend of mine often uses the this "who are you going to listen to". I was hearing this as I watched the the turmoil unfold, as Judy listened and fell back into old habits as she listened and relied on her new young fiance and said goodbye to a old friend who wanted to and truly cared for her. 

I came away with that in my ears who are you going to listen to, when things are rough, which friends are you going to listen to those who lead to life or those who lead to destruction. 

LionKing

Tonight was the end of a long wait for my friends daughter. She had never been to the West-end theatre though me and my friend have been a few times over the year I've been in this patch. We've seen.....

The Phantom of the Opera

Les Mis 

We Will Rock You 

Dirty Dancing  

Sister Act 

Les Mis for my friends 50th had to be the most special of shows that we have seen, the struggle between grace and law of hope. It being the first time my friend and I had been together and had the most wonderful seats in the stalls on the front row....

Lion King was great the look on my friends daughters face when she realised where we were going was priceless... again we were back in the stalls surrounded by colour and sound... 

How my friends daughter hadn't worked out where we were going I don't know sunday we went to see the lion king exhibition at the national geographic store and watched the film.


 two things really hit me at the exhibition the detail in the masks and clothes

With Rafiki 

n the costume was amazing and unlike the film Rafiki in the show is a woman 

the second thing was this quote on one of the walls 

That made me wonder how would someone sculpt me whats the trait that comes through in me to the world around me 

Masquerade!

Last night a long awaited visit to see The phantom of the Opera. 

This was a show that for as long as I can remember I have wanted to see... where better to see it than in London's West End, a place that is almost becoming a second home for a friend and me :)... And was very much worth the wait...

One of the songs called Masquerade set in a ball... 

the owners of the theatre joke of the Phantom not being able to make it... in the chorus two sections really stood out

Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade!
Hide your face, so the world will never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade.
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you! 

The second part  being 

Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies.
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!

The original author was interested in story but led to be a lawyer by his father never let this aspect of his life fall to far away. led a interesting life and one that in some parts resembles the story of the younger brother in the Prodigal Son inheriting a large amount of money and loosing it all within a year.. though inheriting after his fathers death. He to came too his senses

Not downhearted, Leroux begged a job on L'Echo de Paris in 1890 and was asked to combine his knowledge of the law and love of the theater as court reporter and drama critic! It was as an investigative reporter that Leroux found the greatest satisfaction at this period of his life. His paper allowed him to probe suspected malpractice in the local police force and public administration and his hard-hitting reports not only exposed several corrupt officials but also made his name as a journalist.This passport to adventure took him from Finland, south to the Caspian Sea, through Italy, Egypt and Morocco, frequently disguising himself in order to be able to witness events at first hand.

We all wear masks for many different reasons... though not always for the good, masks that we make to protect us or at least we think they do.

 Just down from where I live at vauxhall cross is  The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), often known as MI6, where masks and secrets are part an parcel of everyday life 

The song led me to thinking and wondering what masks do I wear, do those who live as my neighbour wear and what led them to put those masks on. What are the masks of the people in my patch of garden.. And how to come alongside, to bring Jesus into those places those private fears... 

In the phantom the mask was to cover a disfigured face... 

what tortured souls lay buried beneath a masked smile in the lift... a well dressed life hides a what is truly going on. the smiling face we put on as we walk into the church building not letting our brothers and sisters be Christ to us. hiding behind the words "I'm Good, Thing's are good"   I know I am and have been guilty of doing that.

When I've been asked in the past to share testimony I start it something like this

Have you ever taken a mug out of the cupboard from the outside it look fine. You place you coffee or tea bag in, it still seem fine. it is only when you put the hot water in that the crack that has been there hiding just below the surface just out of sight shows it's presence.

The cracks had been there for some time but hidden, waiting for that one time when stress, weight or heat would be to much and things come apart...

During the show the young women whom the phantom has become attracted to pulls the mask off to show what lies behind. without any walking alongside, without any place of having dealt with the fear. that mask being removed was terrifying, painful devastating.

To let someone walk with you, slowly ( though often faster than would want) letting God into those fears, giving him those experiences. That is a hard place to be. It's a raw place a very vulnerable place... Am I willing to let Jesus come and remove the masks that are in my life...  or to continue to be like the person in the song to fool any friend who ever new you or to be real and honest that others may feel safe to lay aside or at least begin to remove there mask one sequin at a time!!!!