The City Sings

The City Sings has been commissioned by Birmingham’s mac to celebrate its re-opening. For this, Artmusic’s composer Helen Ottaway has written a new anthem that spreads across the city of Birmingham.

The project culminates in a site-specific performance by choirs and musicians from all parts of the community joining together to re-launch the arts centre in Cannon Hill Park. The elements of the anthem will begin in the morning all over the city and gradually converge on the park and the new mac building for the grand finale on Bank Holiday Monday, May 3 2010.

From 2pm music will reach Cannon Hill Park in a variety of forms. The event’s crescendo is a finale on terrace at 4pm.

Song workshops are open to all in Randle Studio at 11am and 12 noon on May 3 to prepare you for the finale.

The City Sings started in the summer of 2009, with versions performed on the bells of Bournville Carillon, in a flashmob event by trumpets and massed voices for ArtsFest and in an arrangement for orchestra and community choirs at Birmingham Conservatoire’s Adrian Boult Hall. If you were there, you’ll want to be at the climax; if you missed the earlier versions, don’t miss the ultimate one.

Photo by Adrian Burrows