Homework WE 12/12/16 - Flash Mob

[Shelley Hansen]

As Wen says, Maureen - these prompts were challenging! You and Wen have taken two entirely different (and delightful) paths, and I'm going to branch out in another direction! I focused on the "flash mob" prompt - and decided to write about a YouTube clip I saw a while back. It involved one of my favourite opera singers - the Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon - participating in a surprise event at a shopping Mall in Germany.

Here's the story ...

FLASH MOB
(c) Shelley Hansen 6/12/16

I watched it on YouTube – a flash mob designed
for quick entertainment – with music in mind.
It happened in Germany, inside a Mall -
but where, just exactly, I cannot recall.

Initially, things were quite normal to see ...
a mum on a seat with her babe on her knee,
two friends having coffee, a cleaner with mop,
folk filling the food hall, inspecting each shop.

Then softly at first, came the start of a song.
Soon, joining in unison, some sang along.
It rose in crescendo as people chimed in,
creating explosions of glorious din!

The music was Handel, his best known by far -
a beautiful chorus – the Hallelujah.
Feet darkened the stairways like lowering clouds
of midsummer rain overlooking the crowds.

No dull moment here, as sweet voices arose.
True harmony proved it was obvious those
who formed the scenario knew in advance
the parts they would play in this rich vocal dance.

A mezzanine floor jutted out like a shelf.
A world-famous tenor presented himself!
He ran from an aisle where he’d chosen to hide
and came to a stop with a slip and a slide.

With joy on his face that enhanced the surprise
he sang with exuberance filling his eyes.
His voice soared above all the chorus below
and flooded the space with a heart-warming glow.

At last they were finished. A short breathless pause
fell over the crowd, then they roared in applause!
A lesson for those who use crowds to cause dread ...
Please edify people with music, instead!

[Wendy Seddon]

Very, very nice. My kind of music!

I'd love to be somewhere when something like that happened.
You descibed it so well.
La la la !!!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Excellent - I love the paths our poetic minds wander - the same picture when viewed through different windows offers a completely altered perception.

[David Campbell]

Beautifully written, Shelley, with a most appropriate message. We saw a similar thing a few years ago in Zadar, a city in Croatia, when a single instrumentalist who suddenly appeared in a plaza was gradually joined by a whole orchestra. A magical experience!

Cheers
David

[Shelley Hansen]

Thanks Wendy, Maureen and David!

Yes, it would be a wonderful experience indeed!

Cheers
Shelley