Seldom is a small choir contacted by a world-famous choral composer after it had posted a recording of one of his songs on YouTube, and particularly as it was only posted just seven days before.
Like many choral groups during the pandemic lockdown, Chordiality has turned to meeting weekly through the remote conferencing platform, Zoom. However, the singers of Chordiality took this a stage further and have now produced a number of virtual recordings which have been posted on YouTube.
The song As Long As I Have Music is well known and sung by choirs the world over and was written and composed by lyricist Nancy Price and musician Don Besig in 1986.
Under the current constraints of lockdown and isolation, Chordiality’s Music Director Peter Sherlock chose the piece as a symbolic song of hope which also summed up the frustrations felt by many in the singing world who are presently unable to sing together.
The piece was recorded individually by the choir members, in isolation, and sound technician Richard Reeday sewed it together to produce a full choral sound, and it was posted on YouTube.
Mr Besig, who lives in Rochester, New York State, USA, even took the time to locate the Bradford choir’s website and praised the singers on their range of activities and for the “charitable contributions the choir made to the community”.
Just 10 days later, Peter Sherlock received an email, and the shock of his life, when none other than composer Don Besig wrote to him to thank Chordiality for choosing his song to record “during this challenging time” and complimented the choir on its “special blend of musical excellence”.
“I was staggered to receive the email,” said Peter Sherlock. “What was more amazing was that Mr Besig had also actually taken the time and trouble to seek out our website and had read it in depth.
“He was very sincere with what appeared to be heartfelt comments and was delighted that we had recorded his song during this troubled period.”