A world where everyone is pulling the oars together at the same time is sorely needed during the best of times, but rarely never more than right now.
Longtime Peterborough musician, bandleader, and music teacher Curtis Driedger agrees wholeheartedly with that notion and, on Friday, September 20th, via the unifying power of a shared music experience, he’ll put that belief to the test.
Promoted as a free community sing-along, “Peterborough Community Sings” will see the sanctuary of St. James United Church at Romaine and Aylmer streets filled with the joyful sound of people — many of them strangers to each other — singing in four-part harmony.
Quite appropriately, the song chosen for the unique choral gathering is “Let’s Work Together,” a reworked version of Wilbert Harrison’s 1962 blues song “Let’s Stick Together.”
Recorded by Los Angeles-based blues and rock band Canned Heat in 1969, “Let’s Work Together” was released the following year as a single from the album Future Blues. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains the band’s biggest hit in the United Kingdom, having peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.
In the lead-up to Peterborough Community Sings, Driedger has issued a call for participants. Previous choral experience isn’t required but singing voices are, with the online registration form asking registrants to denote a preference for singing soprano, first alto, second alto, or bass. That said, there’s an “I’m not sure” option, with the welcoming disclaimer of “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out that day.”
VIDEO: “Let’s Work Together” – Canned Heat (1970)
The registration form can be found at bit.ly/ptbosings_Sept2024, but advance registration, while encouraged, isn’t mandatory, with last-minute drop-ins equally invited to join in.
Driedger says the concept for the community sing-along was born when it was learned that seed money was available via the United Way of Peterborough and District’s Neighbourhood Fund, an annual initiative that provides grants of up to $5,000 in support of informal groups of city and county individuals who are working together to improve their community.
“A few of us became aware of it (the grant) and thought ‘Well, what if we try to get a singing event going?'” says Driedger, noting an application was subsequently submitted and “they went for it.”
“It (the grant) procured us a venue — a beautiful sanctuary that’s set up with a sound stage and seating. Then there are tech requirements and insurance. Best of all, it’s free of charge for participants because we have the costs covered.”
The grant, adds Driedger, allows for the event to be held two more times next year — on January 17 and on April 11. Details on those events are forthcoming.
“Most people, somewhere in their background, have some (experience singing),” says Driedger. “There’s not really an opportunity once you become an adult to have that opportunity again. When we’re younger, (singing) tends to be spontaneous if you were not attached to a congregation or something like that.”
“I ran a community choir (The Zippity Doo Dah Community Soul Chorus) for 10 years. I was put up to it because people expressed a desire (to sing). I’m kind of embedded in choral singing. That was my music as a kid growing up in a religious conservative community, so I’ve always carried a germ of that along. That’s something I was able to call on in responding to this desire that I was hearing. I was able to call on those on those old resources of mine.”
Driedger has been a very familiar face and talent on the Peterborough music landscape since permanently locating in the city in 1989. A landscaping gardener by profession, he was able to indulge his passion for music in various forms, with particularly affinity for Celtic music.
Performing with The McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet as well as Cajun band Pays d’en Haut, and the founder and longtime member of the Mandolin Society of Peterborough, Driedger’s steadfast commitment to, and involvement with, the annual “In From The Cold” fundraiser for the YES Shelter for Youth and Families goes back to 2003.
Speaking to the choice of “Let’s Work Together” for the inaugural Peterborough Community Sings, Driedger says he’s planning to lead its singing as “kind of slower … more anthemic.”
“I’m not so much into the ’80s (music). That’s a little bit past my time, so I’m going a bit further back. I pick each each song kind of deliberately. This is one of any number of songs that would work. I think this one will work. It’s approachable and accessible.”
As for the prospect that the number of people who show up for the sing-along will be larger than expected, Driedger has adopted a more-the-merrier approach.
“If it (the song’s performance) doesn’t happen perfectly well, that’s to be expected,” he says.
“We’re not going to just stand there and sing ‘Kumbaya’ in unison. We’re going to try and make a sound like an actual choir. In my experience, it would pretty rare if we had more than 10 per cent men taking part. For that reason, I have one bass part and three parts that are suitable for female voices.”
As for the venue, Driedger is pleased that St. James United Church was made available, noting it combines traditional acoustics with a modern sound capability.
Driedger says his role as conductor comes naturally for him.
“I wear a guitar that I kind of conduct with. I’m not tied to a piano and I can give the notes on the guitar. I can accompany, I can gesture … that’s kind of my style.”
“The McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet is going to sing the song as a template. Then we’ll break it up with each individual in the quartet leading their section (of singers). I’ve never done it like this before, but it will speed things up.”
“Some might need a bit of urging or prodding to open their ears and take it in,” Driedger admits. “But they’ll be surrounded by others doing the same as them and that’s very powerful.”
As for his takeaway from an experience such as this, Driedger says it’s yet another example of how music has enriched his life.
“As a 25 year old in a bar band, I never thought that I would acquire some of the other things I ended up doing around town. I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to branch out and discover things about myself that I wouldn’t have known otherwise and, in the process, serve the community.”
For more information about the event, email ptbocommunitysings@gmail.com.
