In November 2007, MBT Trustees BJ Stewart and Chris MacLullich travelled to Argentina to visit a music project for 25 children that the Martyn Bennett Trust has been funding. The Project culminated in November with two concerts by the Children’s Choir and a performance of Martyn’s 'MacKay's Memoirs' in the University of Buenos Aires and the immense Cathedral of La Plata. The project has involved an intensive schedule of rehearsals (combined with a lot of games!) over 8 months. Members of the Buenos Aires Conservatory Orchestra have been providing weekly tuition to the children who are participants in the programme provided by the Fundacion Emmanuel.
The area where the project is taking place has high levels of poverty and associated social problems. Most of the families are immigrants, who have found work on plantations where they endure extremely long hours, earn very little and have no labour rights. The Fundacion Emmanuel supports families in an integrated way to assist them to achieve a better quality of life and to help children in their schooling and adjustment to their new life in Argentina.
The aim of the project has been to enhance the musical experience and social inclusion of the young people living in the area through tuition and encouragement in developing their talents.
Many of the children in the choir are recently arrived immigrants from other parts of South America, such as Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay as well as indigenous communities in the north of Argentina. The choice of music has reflected these origins - with the choir performing songs originating in their own communities as well as tangos and Gospel Spirituals. The children’s choir also joined a full orchestra and the University Conservatory Choir to sing Ave Verum Corpus in Latin. The project has been directed by Edgar Ferrer the Conservatory Director. An additional aspect of the project is the first international performance of Martyn Bennett's 'MacKay's Memoirs' in the Conservatory and in the Cathedral performance. Members of the Martyn Bennett Trust visited the project for the performances in November, to visit the communities and to consider how the Trust can continue to support this life enhancing initiative.
The Project has been a real success - both performances finishing with standing ovations and broadcasts on Channel 9 one of Argentina’s biggest channels. Footage from one of the events can be viewed below:
An evaluation has been undertaken with the children and their families and its conclusions show that the children have loved the project and very much want to continue in their musical development. In addition to unearthing previously unexplored musical talent, the project has enhanced social inclusion, Self esteem, and has enhanced family life for participants.
For 'MacKay's Memoirs', the Orchestra's Director, Edgar managed to track down an Argentinean piper of Scottish descent – Freddie Santana MacKinlay - who performed brilliantly in this challenging piece. The piece ended in the Cathedral with 400 people singing the outro. Edgar later said that conducting 'MacKay's Memoirs' had been one of the most beautiful musical experiences of his life. He understood Martyn's intention in the structure of the piece of bringing the music from the community and bringing it back in the audience's participation. He also identified with the resonance of music, of ancient voices, that Martyn explored in this piece – where 'MacKay's Memoirs' speak of feeling the harmony of his Hebridean roots with the music of the Peruvian Andes.
While in Argentina, Chris and BJ took the opportunity to explore future work for the Trust. In 2008, the Trust will be supporting the Fundacion Emmanuel to continue with the Children’s Choir and also to provide individual tuition for two choir members with exceptional voices. Chris and Edgar discussed how links could be built between an indigenous arts project in the mountains of the north of Argentina and the indigenous Gaelic music of Scotland. There was also a very positive meeting with the British Council and there may be scope for some interesting developments in 2009! Watch this space!!
The evaluation trip to Argentina was generously funded by the Scottish Arts Council as part of the Trust’s Organisational Development.
