"THIS IS THE PLACE" - a pioneer musical fireside
This all British production, written by Ralph Stokes and David Fagg, has already been widely acclaimed as an inspirational work ideally suited to a fireside context. This was seen last at the Maidstone Stake Centre, London Road, Maidstone, ME16 0DT on Saturday 19th February 7.30 p.m.
Review
"This is the Place" is a wonderfully balanced production that was performed and presented to a very high level. David Fagg and Ralph Stokes have worked up a lyric and music writing partnership that has produced this mature and high quality Fireside production depicting the trials, tribulations and monumental achievements of the Mormon pioneers who crossed 1500 miles of sun baked and frozen plains of North America to settle in the Salt Lake Valley. Many of these people were men women and children form Britain, of course, and the historically extracted stories that unfold through word and music are poignant and brought home to us the extent of their sufferings and sacrifices in establishing Zion in the mountains.
We were treated to a visual evening not only through the accompanying slides, but also visually the 32 strong choir looked great - with the sisters stunningly dressed all in black and the brethren in white shirts and black bow ties. This was an outfit that looked good the moment they entered the large Maidstone chapel. We were not disappointed from the opening duet 'The Call' to the final choral 'Sing Alleluia'. The choir in particular was the finest I have heard within the Church coming as it did from the Chelmsford Ward, Ipswich Stake, almost exclusively. The sisters sung in tune with such clarity and unity of tone that you would have from past experience of church choirs presumed that a hand-selected choir at least from the region had been put together. The brethren also had a special soft, but also strong tone that provided us when combined with the altos and sopranos with a resonant and unique sound.
All the numbers were originally written by David and Ralph working one evening a week together for a year. David's lyrics and Ralph's intuitive melodies, harmonies and arrangements were enjoyable to hear in part for the variety of tempos and styles used but also because this was a set of choral and vocal items that explored harmonies and arrangements with sometimes deceptively simple devices that nevertheless created a sense of real creativity at work in matching the sometime extremes of emotions to the musical expression.
I had invited two friends from work to experience this evening - the wife being an ex-concert pianist. Regrettably they had booked a weekend away and so missed it. Should this production ever be put on again I can say categorically that the standard of music, presentation and and all technical aspects of the sound were such that you would be proud to showcase the church to your non-member relatives and friends. I will be telling them all about what they missed.
The good news is that the evening was recorded by the intrepid Charles Humphrey's from the Selsdon ward, Maidstone stake. You will no doubt get to hear of the release of this cd in due course this year, not least here on LDS Culture, I hope.
If you want to know more about this production and its originators, or want some tips on writing and producing a quality Fireside production in the first instance you can contact me on info@ldsculture.co.uk
Finally my personal thanks to David and Ralph and all associated with them in this production of 'This is the Place', and for setting such a high musical and artistic standard that shows what can be done even at ward level.
In closing I leave you with this quote Joseph Smith: "Go forward not backward" [D&C 128:22]. I am looking forward to seeing the next British produced quality and uplifting production.
Keep LDS Culture posted to advertise your cultural events. One I will mention here is the:
Tsunami Appeal Concert
taking place in East Grinstead Chapel, Crawley Stake on Saturday 5th March starting at 7.30 p.m.
This promises to be a rich evening where the best LDS performing artists in music and the spoken word from the S.E. England region will be performing for your pleasure!.
Terry O'Dea
LDS Culture