Religious fervor swept through the village after the Malt 'n' Music Choir sang all their way home from the previous Malt 'n' Music so it seemed only right that the next night should be 'Songs of Praise'
In the build up to any night, many times, people seek a definition of the theme - but it is never defined always open to interpretation...
Did any of us know what the evening would bring?
Once again the Little Drummer Boy opened up his home for the revival meeting and the Malt 'n' Music men rolled up resplendent in their freshly purchased Malt 'n' Music t-shirts. The evening started like all good praise meetings with Parish Notices - not all appreciated the suggestion that the evening should also include a collection - was the religious fervour beginning to wane - a bad omen for our theme perhaps!!
So with the parish notices ditched we got on with what we came for - to sit back while we sipped back a single malt or seven and listen to songs that lift the soul...
And what an evening it was...
The music didn't disappoint but the evening was strangely lacking in anything to blog about! Smashy and Nicey found their way to the right house and even found their way home again, Little Drummer Boy didn't burn any chips, the Quizmaster didn't attempt any big words while inebriated, the Mav didn't try and convert us to the way of British Sea Power, Malt 'n' Music Man wore long trousers and the young 'un didn't even bring his dad - in fact he didn't come at all!!
Glasses were charged, stories told, glasses recharged, music played, glasses recharged, food devoured, glasses recharged - you get the general picture!
Yes many dressed the same like sad soppy 80's couples...
the Quizmaster and Malt 'n' Music Man argued over the empty collection plate, the counch was passed around to see who could get a tune out of it...
But we were soon to realise that tonight wasn't about the laughter - it was a right of passage - when Malt 'n' Music men came of age...
...the moment of the evening was as the Little Drummer Boy introduced his second Song of Praise. He told us of his work on the Nimrod aircraft, how he had been invited to her last flight and how the band had played Elgar's piece entitled Nimrod.
As it played the hairs stood up on the back of our necks.
Was it the music?
Yes...
...and...
...no
Was it the story revealing so much about the Little Drummer Boy's life?
Yes...
...and...
...no
It was the connection between the two.
Malt 'n' Music is at best a chance to drink, laugh, argue and listen to great music but it is also an insight into the souls of those who go - for that is what good music does - it touches the soul, identifies the deepest feelings and lifts the spirit. Every story we tell, every insight into why a track means so much reveals who we are, where we have come from and perhaps even where we may go.
But we don't need to over analyse and we don't need to try and philosophise. Dudley summed it all up as the silence fell after Nimrod finished - quietly saying: 'Kwality'
Glasses were charged, stories told, glasses recharged, music played, glasses recharged, food devoured, glasses recharged - you get the general picture!
Yes many dressed the same like sad soppy 80's couples...
the Quizmaster and Malt 'n' Music Man argued over the empty collection plate, the counch was passed around to see who could get a tune out of it...
But we were soon to realise that tonight wasn't about the laughter - it was a right of passage - when Malt 'n' Music men came of age...
...the moment of the evening was as the Little Drummer Boy introduced his second Song of Praise. He told us of his work on the Nimrod aircraft, how he had been invited to her last flight and how the band had played Elgar's piece entitled Nimrod.
As it played the hairs stood up on the back of our necks.
Was it the music?
Yes...
...and...
...no
Yes...
...and...
...no
It was the connection between the two.
Malt 'n' Music is at best a chance to drink, laugh, argue and listen to great music but it is also an insight into the souls of those who go - for that is what good music does - it touches the soul, identifies the deepest feelings and lifts the spirit. Every story we tell, every insight into why a track means so much reveals who we are, where we have come from and perhaps even where we may go.
But we don't need to over analyse and we don't need to try and philosophise. Dudley summed it all up as the silence fell after Nimrod finished - quietly saying: 'Kwality'
Malt 'n' Music 8
Track List
- The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
- Reverence - Jesus and Mary Chain
- Aufzug - Wagner
- Next to Me - Emeli Sande
- Hello Bonjour - Michael Franti & Spearhead
- Golden Slumber/Carry that Weight/The End/Her Majesty - The Beatles
- Laid - James
- Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
- This is the One - The Stone Roses
- Liberty Fanfare - John Williams
- Raiders' March - John Williams
- Moondance - Van Morrison
- The Stumble - Gary Moore
- Some Fantastic Place - Squeeze
- Nimrod - Elgar
- Another Night - The Hollies
- I'd Rather Go Blind - Etta James
- For Crying Out Loud - Meatloaf
- Stripper Vicar - Manson
- Les Nozze Di Figaro - Mozart
- Nesicku Na Nebi Hlubokem - Dvorak
