robert frith's posterous http://robfrith.posterous.com occasionally posterous.com Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:38:00 -0800 Carols by Candlelight except that it's Christian Rock Concert by Torches That Mimic Candles http://robfrith.posterous.com/carols-by-candlelight-except-that-its-christi http://robfrith.posterous.com/carols-by-candlelight-except-that-its-christi

Rk20091220_7156

The Cottesloe Civic Centre Gardens are a great venue for just about everything. The Carols by Candlelight that's been running for a decade or so has become overwrought. 

First of all there's the "candlelight". The risk of burning picnic blankets and hot wax burns must have the council lawyers in a lather because on entry one is issued with a thing that represents a candle. It is actually a torch. Thousands of these bits of plastic with a battery will be binned over the next few days as they cease functioning. 
Then there's the amplification. In the end it's only the "choir" singing because no-one else can hear themselves think. 

Finally, the the teeth grindingly awful doggerel that is inserted into the programme to satisfy a perceived need for something modern with local references. It's neither rock and roll nor religious. In fact were it not for the misery endured while it was being "sung" I would doubt its existence. 

Right, so here's what the organisers should do; dump the electric candles. The risk of a burn would actually mean that parents would pay attention to their kids instead of gas-bagging to their boozehound friends 
dump the amps. The folk on the lawn are participants not an audience 
bring the programme up to the standard of the venue. Traditional carols have majesty and grace when sung by a mass of people. Uninspired rock and roll does not.

Robert Frith
Acorn Photo
http://www.twitter.com/robfrith
http://www.acorn.com.au

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/56942/RK20090413_296crop.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1lSwvIQPNVn Robert Frith acornphoto Robert Frith