New Plymouth composer Julian Raphael is artistic lead for Taranaki Sings. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
New Plymouth residents are being asked to embrace the power of song when seven local choirs hit the streets tomorrow for Taranaki Sings, a part of Spiegel Fest.
More than 200 singers will perform at three different locations before coming together to sing as one - with the audience - at the Puke Ariki Landing.
New Plymouth-based composer Julian Raphael is the artistic lead for the Taranaki Sings project.
A long-time champion of choirs, he came up with the idea of a promenade-style event where the choral singers - who most often performed in church - took to the streets in what he describes as a "singing circus".
Bryony Tubby (left) loves how songs come together. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
"Then I thought it would be really great if we could create some songs with the choirs about being in Taranaki and do a creative aspect to it because I love writing for voices and choirs," he said.
Each choir's set begins at a landmark in the inner city before they converge at Puke Ariki - where the public is encouraged to get involved.
"Those songs will be presented in the finale one by one interlinked with a growing canon and the audience gets involved as well, so it's like a big sort of festive singing event."
The canon or round will be repeated several times so the audience should have no trouble picking up their part.
Amber Pert sings to relax. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
Bryony Tubby sings with the City Sounds choir whose song 'My Taranaki' has taken on special meaning for her.
"I work on the mountain. Today I was up clearing traps, getting rats out of a line of traps for Predator Free Taranaki, so the mountain's really specially to me.
"I've kind of almost decided that 'My Taranaki' that City Sounds are singing will be sung at my funeral because I love it that much and it brings a tear to my eye."
She loves the process of putting together a piece.
"Working bit by bit on a part and studying it and then putting it all together and it just sounds amazing.
Indiana Waugh, 9, is City Sounds' youngest member. Photo: RNZ/Robin Martin
"You know we start with little pieces and you might think 'oh what's it going to sound like', but it all comes together in the end and you go home feeling on a high."
Amber Perk is a busy mother of two who runs her own business. She sings to relax.
"I have always loved singing as a kid and all the way through school and this was an opportunity for me have that as an outlet once a week.
"You cannot feel sad if you've been singing for a hour. You can't go home even on the hardest day without it making you feel so much better."
City Sound's youngest member is 9-year-old Indiana Waugh. She was looking forward to singing with the public.
"I think it's going to be real fun because we are going to sing to the audience and try to make them singalong with us. Like we'll be their audience.
"I think it will be real cool because I'm listening to people and they're listening to us being the choir who are singing."
Choir performances begin from 1pm tomorrow and culminate in the finale at Puke Ariki at 3.30pm.
The Spiegel Fest continues until 20 November.