Powell River Hosts The World

1992

"Capacity crowd expected for Tuesday's opening ceremonies for fifth Kathaumixw music festival."

Powell River is the focus of the choral music world this week as more than 1,000 singers from around the world arrive for the fifth Kathaumixw International Choral Music Festival.

It opens Tuesday night with a concert that festival director Don James will give viewers a taste of the 19 concerts to come during the next week.

James anticipates a capacity audience for the 8 p.m. opening in the Recreational Complex arena, or the Great Hall as it's being called for the duration of the festival.

The concert begins with the official opening by L.t. governor David Lam and the parade of the 24 choirs each bearing their country's flag. Escorting them into the hall are the Clansman Pipe Band, the Royal Canadian Legion and RCMP.

The opening will see two world wide premieres, the first being the Kathaumixw anthem, the Hymn of the Universe, written by Hungarian composer and Kathaumixw jury member Jozef Karai. James described the anthem as a "very timely topic about the magnificance and beauty of heaven and the earth, that touches the need for us to treat it with reverence." 

Other performances during the first half of the program include selections by each of the artist in residence choirs and the Nyonza Singers and dancers, said James.

The second part of the program is given over to the production of Hamn Kwu E Tlaukw Hahm Kwu E Metl. It's a Coast Salish name used by the Sliammon people who settled in this region and was used at the end of each story they told, said James. The English translation is May the Skies be Clear May the Waters be Calm and James said the phrase was supposed to make the story come true.

"This work was developed in cooperation with the Sliammon elders and composer Tobin Stokes, a former Powell River Boys choir member, Vancouver choreographer Carol Coulson and myself," said James.

It features four animals from the Salish legends, the mink, otter, whale and thunderbird, and will be sung by artist-in residence choirs who accompanied by the orchestra and a cast of about 250 actors and dancers. The performance will end with the prayer given to the Sliammon people by the late Chief Dan George an sung by all Kathaumixw participants, said James.

Despite the arrival of more than 1,000 singers from around the world over the weekend, James remains calm about the festival. Community support continues to make Kathaumixw a success, he said. "It still is a lot of work but we are encouraged by the tremendous support given by the local people and the municipal council. Without this support, it wouldn't be possible.