Shine
on Me”
Gospel
Singing Retreat
With
Tony
Backhouse
April 26 - 28, 2006
Halleluia !
“The Hippest Hybrid in Ages.
A reminder that Music is the Ecstatic Art”
CLEO MAGAZINE
In this two-day workshop learn and sing in
four-part harmony a number of songs from various gospel and other traditions.
Practice a variety of warm-up exercises, develop listening and
improvisation skills, rhythm and range.
Gospel reaches parts of you that other music doesn't -
whatever your spiritual orientation. Interpretation
is individual and free expression makes each rendition unique.
Gospel
allows you to sing with passion, freedom, rhythm and spirit – you
can get your whole body into it.
Everyone participates, at their own level, whether they have a
conventionally beautiful voice or not. Every
part in the harmony is important. Everyone's role is valued and everyone's
contribution enriches the whole.
Comments from previous participants.
“TB has probably introduced more people to the
physical pleasures of singing gospel music than anyone else in
Australasia
.
On both sides of the Tasman and further afield,
dozens of gospel choirs have emerged from his itinerant workshopping, and his
arrangements form the backbone of much of their repertoire.
Put
simply, as far as this part of the gospel world goes, he’s the man!”
Rick Bryant, Singer“
“What
an inspirational weekend! Tony
teaches with such ease and such an obvious love of the music that it makes for a
joyous experience for everyone.”
Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Actor
”As
someone who finds singing in the shower stressful, I wasn’t expecting to
exactly enjoy Tony’s workshop. However,
he soon had me singing loudly and
exuberantly with the rest of the group. I
had a blast!”
Cal Wilson, Actor
Introducing
Tony
Backhouse
Singer, composer, vocal arranger,
musical director, workshop leader and author Tony Backhouse, is one of the
leaders in the Sydney a cappella movement. He currently directs the Café of the Gate of Salvation gospel choir and male trio
the Heavenly Lights, and recently also directed community choir the Honeybees
for six years.
In his pre-a cappella life, he took a B.A. (English) and B.Mus.
(Composition) at Victoria University of Wellington, NZ. He played guitar and
sang in many notable bands in
New Zealand
including Mammal (who recorded one LP
with poet Sam Hunt) and the Crocodiles, who won three NZ Recording
Industry Awards in 1980).
Moving to Australia in 1981, Tony sang
and played with Renée Geyer, Joe Walsh, Jenny Morris, the Umbrellas
and Jump Back Jack, and arranged and recorded backing vocals for Dave
Dobbyn, Tim Finn, Vince Jones and Kate Ceberano.
In the late '80s, eschewing amplified bands and the attendant lugging, Tony went
a more portable musical route: he founded several a cappella groups, the Elevators
(1985-1990), the Café of the Gate of Salvation (1986+),
the gospel choir the Honeybees (1996-2001) and the Heavenly
Light Quartet (1996+ ) who released one CD in 1997.
He has appeared at Womadelaide three times.
Tony has had songs recorded by Jenny Morris, Renée Geyer, the Dynamic
Hepnotics and the Umbrellas, and on film soundtracks - including Sweetie
(Jane Campion), Rodney & Juliet (Fane Flaws - in which Tony played
the lead role), and Brain Dead (Peter Jackson). He performed as
singer/musical director for Steve J. Spears' a cappella musical Namatjira
Park (1992), and he researched and coordinated the 1993 TVNZ documentary on
NZ vocal traditions, Strictly A cappella.
Tony was the recipient of the Contemporary A Cappella Society of
America
's 1993 Contemporary Recording Awards for Best
Song and Best Soloist (Runner-up); the Café of the Gate of Salvation received
Best Album (Runner-up) Award. He has received many commissions to write songs
and recognition of his work and in Study Grant awards to research Black gospel
traditions in the
USA
.
Tony has made several trips to the
USA
to research African-American gospel
traditions. He has studied ethnomusicology at
Memphis
State
University
, observing and singing with African American
choirs, quartets and congregations.
Since
1987, he has been running vocal workshops throughout
Australia
and
New
Zealand
, for the public, choirs,
organisations, festivals, educational institutions, (including Body & Soul
workshops for 4 years with Alexander /Feldenkrais practitioner David Hall). His
African American gospel songbook A
cappella - Rehearsing For Heaven was first published in 1995 by
Redback Press, Sydney.
Mana
provides comfortable accommodation, excellent vegetarian meals, a sauna and
bushwalks all at extremely reasonable cost.
Costs $260 shared bathroom, $290 en suite
click
HERE to check availability and make a reservation
Contact
Mana for more details on
07 866 8972
e-mail be@manaretreat.com
Visit Tony’s truly
interest-packed website, see how he is getting together with amazing musicians
to support social causes such as the refugee issue.
Learn how his enthusiasm for sharing gospel takes him all around the
world and read feedback from those who have been on his courses.
Visit http://www.tonybackhouse.com.au
