(ClassicalMovements.com)
Presents
The Morgan State University Choir
On Middle East Tour, May 18-30, 2014
Qatar, Oman & The United Arab Emirates
Dr. Eric Conway writes:
Today
we all received a wake-up call at 3:30AM in the morning - OUCH!!! Breakfast was scheduled for 4AM. We were scheduled to leave the hotel
at 5AM. Well, we did not accomplish this feat, but left shortly
thereafter. We arrived to the Doha airport in time for a 7:30 AM
flight. The flight to Muscat, Oman, the capital and largest city in the
country of Oman was only a little over an hour, although we lost yet
another hour. We were now only eight time zones away from Eastern
Standard Daylight Savings time!
We did have a
small issue at the airport. One of our students happened to be wearing
green camouflage pants. When he went through customs he was not allowed
to pass through customs unless he removed his pants. The camouflage pants either appeared to be offensive to the culture, or
appeared to be military which was not allowed. The student was not
given his passport back, until his pants were confiscated. This student
went to the private area to remove his pants. He gave his pants to the
officers His passport was eventually returned and he was then allowed
to enter the country. Just a small story to share with you that we were
not in Kansas anymore!
We arrived at a very
fine hotel in downtown, Muscat. We arrived at approximately 11:30 AM,
and had a very quick check-in. Quite atypically, all the rooms were
available for the group to check in immediately. I will send photos in
next communication of the building. We immediately had a very another
buffet meal at the hotel which again allowed us to sample many different
types of Omani cuisine. After the lunch, the choir had an hour and
half to prepare to leave for a concert at the American School of Muscat.
This concert was a 45 minute presentation only for the students for
the school. They enthusiastically received us a such way that one may
have thought we were rock stars! The school was thoroughly state-of the
art. The group's sound blended well.
After
the concert for the students, we knew that we had a 7PM joint concert
this evening with the Muscat Singers, the ONLY choir of this type in
Muscat at the American school. We decided to return to the hotel, (15
minute drive back to the hotel where traffic was not nearly the issue as
in Doha) to immediately turn-around for a sponsored dinner for the
group back at the school. If you are getting dizzy trying to follow
this story, imagine how we felt after the jet-lag experience from the
initial trip, and waking up at 3:30AM this morning.
The
meal served at the American School was catered authentic Indian
Cuisine. Many students in the group had not ever tasted Indian Cuisine.
Although they may have not liked every dish, they appreciated the
taste and spicy nature of the food.
At 7PM,
we started our joint concert with the Muscat singers. See attached the
program that was used for all of concerts. This program booklet
contained all music that choir could possibly sing on the tour. Every
concert, I announced specifically what was going to be sung. This
allowed the group and me the most flexibility in programming.
The
Muscat Singers opened up with a 20 minute set. We then entered the
stage and began to sing our music. This was a great contrast in
programming. Although the Muscat Singers performed well, their music or
sound was not as engaging or interesting as Morgan's offerings. This
concert was the first time that we sang excerpts from Carl Orff's
Carmina Burana, the piece that we will sing on the 27th with symphony
orchestra in Abu Dhabi, UAE . This was also the first concert that we
were bold enough to sing song of our vintage Gospel Music. Being an
American School, I believed that this would be well-received here - and I
was correct. The crowd immediately got out of their seats and
participated in our music. There may have been those in the audience
they praised the Nation of Islam, but you would have never have known
that from the almost unanimous positive reaction to our music. Our bus
drivers who were native to Oman proclaimed that they had just heard the
best choir in the world! The Muscat Singers said that they were
"profoundly moved by our music".
After the
concert, the Muscat Singers hosted a reception in our hotel, where wine
and cheese were served. The choir had an awesome exchange with the
Muscat Singers. One reason for these tours is the cultural exchange.
Both groups had a greater appreciation of each other after the
concert. See photos attached that may help tell the story.
Eric
************************************
Eric Conway, D.M.A.
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