REFLECTIONS OF NEW YORK – TEN YEARS ON
In September 2011, three Scottish choirs made an inspirational journey to New York to represent Scotland at the tenth anniversary of 9/11. After over a year of fundraising, The Lothian and Borders Police Choir, The Tayside Police Choir and the Peebles community choir, InChorus, took the trip across the Atlantic to give their musical gift to the people of New York. Here, Musical Director Andrew Russel describes the impact this unique musical journey had on the choirs and the people of New York.
“On the highly significant 10 year anniversary of 9/11, we travelled through the streets of Manhattan to play our part in the commemoration. We said we’d be there for the event, and we were. We said we’d show Scotland’s compassion, and we truly did. We sang ‘Lean on me, and I’ll be your friend’.
The choirs stood and sang in Penn Station, Times Square Red Steps, Central Park, The Town Hall, The British Garden, The New York Public Library, Union Square, The Police Museum, Wall Street and several other well-known locations. Each venue had its own feel, its own ambience and its own sound, and each time the choirs drew a large and appreciative crowd. There were different audiences across different areas of Manhattan, but some took the trouble to find out where the Scottish choirs would be performing and returned again and again.
The emotional reaction to our singing in New York was humbling. One of the early comments came from an off duty cop who said that he’d been at the 9/11 scene, thanked us profoundly and walked off with tears in his eyes. That’s when we realised we were doing something really special.
In fact, at every performance there were tears – a young mother at the first ‘flash choir’ event at Penn Station; an elderly couple looking on, simply remembering. Then the choir members themselves felt it, fully understanding why they were there and what it meant, and sang with such true passion that the atmosphere became electric everywhere they went.
The choirs sang at the New York Police Department Commemorative Concert in Town Hall where, before the last note had died away, the audience was on its feet with an ovation the choirs will never forget. They sang on 9/11 at The British Garden in the presence of two Prime Ministers and other dignitaries, where they stood yards from, and facing, the families of British victims, whilst being asked to Reflect, Remember, and Rebuild. For some, this was the emotional charge that brought the greatest challenge.
“I can’t find the right words. Just thank you, thank you so very much.”
The people of New York took the choirs to their hearts, and choir members have lots of memorable stories of gratitude. After the NYPD Concert the choirs walked behind the bands in the famous parade, during which people lining the streets constantly came forward to thank them for coming all the way from Scotland. On 9/11 a police officer about to stop people crossing at a junction close to Ground Zero, recognising their choir attire, said, “On you ladies go. I enjoyed your performance so much the traffic can wait a little longer while you cross.” Two ladies shopping in Macy’s were stopped by a young woman who expressed similar sentiments. Many a time when choir members stopped to consult a Manhattan map a member of the public stopped to assist. In the Subway, the public sometimes escorted singers to the correct platform. The choir had made its mark on New York. For every member of the choirs it was an unforgettable experience.
The particular gift the choirs brought to the people of New York was a breathtaking musical arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner together with Amazing Grace. The choirs’ performance of this piece was evidently heart rending and uplifting. The two soloists, Fife singer Ali Bell who sang the Star Spangled Banner with such feeling, and Peebles soprano Sophie Dyer whose rendition of Amazing Grace brought gasps of appreciation from all, augmented the whole experience. Each time the arrangement was sung many were in tears, reduced to the raw emotion that symbolised the reason for being there.
On the last day of the trip the choirs were invited into a major recording studio where one or two of them had a shot of the piano used and signed by artists such as Elton John, Billy Joel and Alicia Keys, to record The Star Spangled Banner/Amazing Grace song. The arrangement, already in demand on both sides of the Atlantic, can be heard on YouTube accompanied by pictures taken by Peebles photographer and InChorus member Kenny Martin.
“My god, that would bring a tear to a stone. Astonishingly beautiful.”
“There are no words. But there is this. Thank you.”
Comments on You Tube video of choirs performing their music in NY
The choirs owe gratitude to their major sponsors. The Royal Bank of Scotland supported Lothian and Borders Police Choir, and Peebles Common Good Fund and Aberdeen Asset Management supported InChorus. On top of this there were numerous smaller businesses throughout the east of Scotland and the Borders who supported them, and many individuals who made donations, attended fund raising events and concerts.
“We want to give back to the communities and families of choir members who supported us so splendidly.”
The choirs now move forward appearing early in November with Dougie Maclean at the Perth Amber Festival, and after that the choirs are anxious to put on free local concerts to show their appreciation to the communities who helped raised funds. Details of future events can be seen on the choirs’ websites.”
