As the waters of the Red and the Assiniboine flow earnestly again, the Winnipeg Boys Choir is preparing for its spring concert where the flowing of water mimics the peace they hope to see in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Peace Like a River marks the final concert of the year for the three choirs that make up the\u00a0Winnipeg Boys Choir family, Brio, Vivo and Continuo. Although the title\u00a0was first suggested by\u00a0Continuo conductor Spencer Duncanson based on an arrangement of the well-known hymn, the title also resonated with ideas that the other two conductors \u2013 Carolyn Boyes and Albert Bergen \u2013 had for their programs as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started talking about other rep that was inspiring for us and that we wanted to share,\u201d Boyes explains, \u201cand there was a theme of water and flowing and calm, and from that, we drew our title, Peace Like a River.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A musical reassurance\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although the conductors\u00a0had the vision for\u00a0a concert that posits peace in a troubled world, Duncanson has\u00a0observed\u00a0that the singers in his charge are\u00a0aware\u00a0of the stakes of a performance like this one. \u201cThe boys are unique, I think, in that they tend to be very great critical thinkers,\u201d he says, \u201cso I don\u2019t have to do much in the way of explanation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys will often have conversations about things that are happening in the world, and being able to address them in music is a way of making all of us come to terms with things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Boyes adds that a concert like this one\u00a0is an important one to\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0the power of music to the boys in the choirs. \u201cIt helps the boys know that their gift of music and singing can help others, that music and singing can be a responsibility and an important one and one they can bear gladly.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0pretty powerful\u00a0place to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
RELATED STORIES<\/p>\n
‘A continuum of promise and hope\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since the ensembles that make up the Winnipeg Boys Choir family consist of boys ranging from early school age through teenagers,\u00a0there is a noted difference in the sonic quality of the peace that they hope to convey. \u201cI think what\u2019s different is the audience can see and hear this continuum of promise and hope,\u201d says\u00a0Boyes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think whether\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the young, true, clear, pure, pinging, piercing laser voice of the trebles or the beautiful warm tones that the young men are getting with Spencer, they do hit differently but the same.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Duncanson adds that the\u00a0continuum approach of the Winnipeg Boys Choir also contributes to the musical and emotional intelligence needed to convey the message of peace. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not saying we have the corner on this, but these kids understand music differently, he explains. \u201cThey understand working together and they understand the idea of working towards something toward perfection, understanding we\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0get there but working\u00a0more and more\u00a0toward that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n