The Whole World!

The African Children’s choir can sing with great joy I wonder if you can name the only ‘Spiritual’ which got to the number one spot in the USA’s singles top 20? It is a difficult question even for a pop...

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Songs for Freedom

Every journey begins with a single step. Even to sing or dance we sometimes have to undertake a journey. It will be hugely impressive to experience the power of music as over 100,000 people journey from all over the globe...

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Did Video kill the Radio Star?

The answer was Yes! Buggles were the group who predicted the radio being hi-jacked by filmed images. They had a decent video though it dated quickly. By October 1979 they reached number 1 in the UK charts. Their lyric caught the...

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New Year Hymn

Ever tried to capture the dynamic of that transition in time which is New Year? Few have bettered Scotsman, Rabbie Burns attempt in 1790: “And what is this day’s strong suggestion?/‘The passing moment is all we...

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Musical instruments save lives

  Musical Instruments By offering free instruments and tuition through a network of after-school centres all over Venezuela, playing music has kept thousands of children away from drugs, alcohol and gang-related violence. ...

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Do They Know Its Christmas?

1984 was the focus for George Orwell’s terrifying prophetic novel entitled 1984. It is also remembered as the year ‘pop’ musicians worked together as a generous caring community.  At the time this group were...

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Silent Night is making a beautiful noise

An Austrian carol has an astonishing cultural history. It was first sung 200 years ago on Christmas Eve 1818. Bing Crosby’s version is one of the top selling singles ever. Initially published in a collection of Four Genuine...

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Street Busker flies past Saturn

Blind Willie Johnson, an influential early blues singer was born just before the 20th century began.  His thirty recordings were cut in just three years. They display a powerful combination of ‘chest’ singing, ...

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Singing- How did it begin?

A question for you… Who sang the first song on planet earth? When? Where? and Why did humans start singing? Profound questions. I do not know who but I do know where? An African sang the first song. And an African made...

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Beethoven rolls over

Roll Over Beethoven will surely return to the charts soon. The hit was written by Chuck Berry, covered by the Beatles, ELO and many others.  It reveals the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music. Allegedly, it...

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