2 concerts 1 night

Saturday night was super busy and awesome! I sang in a choir concert complete with a small accompanying orchestra, young girls choir, and an opera trained baritone and soprano. Afterwards, my boyfriend, a choir mate and I headed out to the Bradfordville Blues Club for some authentic, old-fashioned southern blues.

At 8:00pm, Dr. Andre Thomas, director of the Tallahassee Comunity Chorus, addressed the audience and promptly began the Unity Concert. We began with a Langston Hughes poem chorally arranged by Dr. Thomas, and then the lights dimmed and a video of highlighting Mr. Rogers' (as in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) achievements and dedication to the self-esteem of children. Following the video, Mrs. Rogers (an FSU College of Music alumnus) was brought on stage to be honored and presented with flowers. Then Dr. Thomas put on a sweater and conducted his own arrangement of "Won't you be my neighbor?".

Although Mrs. Rogers and her husband's song was supposedly the highlight of the evening, I thought felt like the real show stopper was "the Mass of the Children" by John Rutter. For this we had a baritone and soprano soloist and the SwiftCreek Middle School girls choir accompany us. To truly understand the soul of this piece, it is essential to know the context in which it was written. John Rutter's son was killed by a drunk driver on his way home from choir practice one day, and for two full years Rutter didn't compose anything. This mass was the first thing he composed after the tragedy of his son's death. Masses are long and have several movements, and it feels as though Rutter used this inherent structure to map out a life. The exchanges between the girls choir, the adult choir (me!) and the soloists was just beautifully written and very well executed. A particular movement that stands out is Agnus Dei, which is a movement in most all masses. The text that is sung is "agnus dei miserere nobis" which translates to "lamb of God have mercy". Text like that leaves room for a lot of drama, and boy did Rutter (and the student conductor and the choir) deliver!

Following the Rutter, the girls choir sang a cute song called something like "Peace on Earth (and lots of little crickets!)" and then we sang an arrangement of the old African proverb "it takes a whole village to raise our children".

After a quick change out of our hideous choir dresses, my choir buddy, my boyfriend and I headed out to join the FSU Adventure Club in the middle of no where for this amazing blues club. Just head north on Thomasville (about five miles past I-10) turn right on Bradfordville, drive about three miles, turn right at the sign for Bradfordville Blues Club, and when the dirt road forks, head left. You will be greeted by a HUGE oak tree. Seriously, the diameter of this thing had to have been more than a metre (you could fit 30 super models in its trunk). Although the Bradfordville Blues Club is a free-standing building, I think the term "hole in the wall" applies. The building is super old, with an uneven interior dark blue paint job, decorated with various signed portraits of local and signed musicians. Although the place is small, it boasts a dance floor and a pretty good sound system. Outside they had a bon fire and a kitchen stall vending fried catfish, mullet and french fries.
The real thing that struck me as awesome about this place was the ambiance. It had this authentic, gritty appeal. This was the REAL blues. The performers were old and looked the part and boy could they play! The guitarist, an emaciated looking fellow with long gray hair, called himself Mississippi James and the singer was an old black guy wearing a leopard print cowboy hat and a brown Bill Cosby-esque sweater. The audience and the performers alike were having a great time, and after an hour or so, the whole club (including the performers) went out to relax and chat around the bonfire for 30 minutes or so before resuming the blues. It was beautiful.

The end.

Seriously though guys, you should check that place out. It's totally awesome!
Beatrice Murray