a concert for ukraine

 

 

On Friday our church hosted a special, 'Concert for Ukraine'. Over a hundred people came to hear a fantastic night of music. A local lady from Ukraine spoke to us about her country and a family of Ukrainians, fresh to the village, were in attendance too.

In all the concert raised over £760 from ticket sales, donations and refreshments, all of which is going to the DEC Ukrainian appeal. 

Thank you so much to Lindsey who organised the concert, to Michael, Joe, Karen and John, her fellow musicians, to the ladies who baked cakes, to our fantastic hard-working refreshments team, to all those who came or donated and to The Revd. Rachel who closed our night fittingly in prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

chorus

 

 

I have fond memories of a walk through red-light Amsterdam streets with two young boys and their parents. And now I stand next to one of those boys again.

 

Don't worry, this is not a story of child abuse!  Michael's parents were two fantastic Christian missionaries from the church where my wife and I  asked Jesus into our lives.  We visited them and their family in Amsterdam over three decades ago when they were serving in a place called 'The Ark'.

 

And now Michael and I are here together again. It's the sound-check for a 'Concert for Ukraine' and he's one of the musicians who will be playing later in the evening. 

 

We start to chat and before long discover our historical links.  A chance encounter or a reminder of how God brings paths to cross? 

 

Michael's changed a lot since I lost saw him - bigger and facially hirsute - but some things, like his passion for music, remain the same.   I love times like these.

 

urban driftwood

 

This is Yasmin Williams, a brilliant young American guitarist from North Virginia. We watched her play a few days ago and were mesmerised with the beauty of her music.

 

Yasmin's compositions are calming, almost gamelan in their haunting precision. The description 'guitarist' does not do her justice. Whilst her finger-picking is exemplary she explores the deeper dynamic textures of her instrument. 

 

Yasmin lays the guitar on her lap, taps the fret-board to coax out ringing notes, plays it like a dulcimer with a small mallet, takes a bow to the strings and tapes a kalimba (a type of thumb-piano) to the body .  At the same time she punctuates the music with percussive accompaniments tapped out on a kick-board at her feet. 

 

It was a performance not to be forgotten and unlike anything we had ever seen before.

Her second album, 'Urban Driftwood' was released last year. I was very fortunate indeed to buy it on CD, having been out of stock in the UK for several months.  You can listen to it on Spotify or check out her performances on YouTube, of which this is one. Take a listen. You won't be disappointed!

 

 

 

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The lights dim, Yasmin waves as she leaves the stage and the ghostly sounds of her guitar echo into the hot night-air. What an experience!

 

 

 

time has told me

 

 

a night of music

 

 

Will life ever return to 'normal'?

 

One of the things many of us have missed during the pandemic lock-down has been listening to live music. So it was really special when our fledgling community group met in a little village church to celebrate the joy of music.

 

Our three musicians were brilliant, the cakes served during the interval went down a treat and best of all, we raised £260 for the Ukrainian DEC appeal.

 

That's what happens when people join together.