Revels and the Charles River Conservancy together for the 4th annual RiverSing:
Bridging the Charles with Voice and Light

Press Contact:
Alan Casso
617-972-8300 x22
acasso@revels.org

JPEGS Available

For Immediate Release

Thousands joined Revels and the Charles River Conservancy for a free community sing celebrating the first day of fall!

From atop the Weeks Bridge linking Boston and Cambridge, bathed in light, Revels music director George Emlen and giant puppets Oshun and Poseidon led everyone gathered along the banks of the Charles in river songs and songs of the season on Sunday, September 23rd.

The 4th annual RiverSing was a festive musical affair. Joining us on the bridge this year were members of Nick Page’s Mystic Chorale, Revels Circle of Song, the Halalisa Singers and other Boston area choruses, all accompanied by keyboard, guitar, bass and drums. In addition, local saxophone greats Stan Strickland, fresh off his award-winning one-man show, and Ken Field of The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, played antiphonally across the Charles with a third sax, played by Chris O’Brien, joining in as well. The public brought their own bells to ring in the new season (we rang our 40-pound River Bell) and joined the many singers, musicians and friends of the parklands in this exciting fall tradition that literally links Boston and Cambridge in song!

Picnics always encouraged! Spectators and participants came early and enjoyed picnics on their blankets in the grass. Then there was a 5:45 pm processional down to the Charles led by larger-than-life puppets created by the Puppet Collaborative, and local jazz legends the New Orleans-style Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band.

To see the RiverSing 2007 Program, including lyrics, click here.

Choruses interested in helping to lead from the bridge at next year’s 5th Annual RiverSing should contact George Emlen at gemlen@revels.org.

For more information on RiverSing 2007 call 617-972-8300 or visit www.revels.org.

The Charles River Conservancy (CRC) founded in 2000 takes as its mission to make the parklands more attractive, more active and accessible to all. Temporary bridge illuminations in 2001 and 2003 led to the wonderful RiverSing collaboration with Revels in September 2004 and resulted in the permanent illumination of the Weeks Bridge and in the following years the CRC illuminated the Anderson and then the Western Avenue Bridges with the RiverStreet Bridge being added this year. The parklands themselves are a living work of art, where seasonal changes of nature and mirrored light from the river play in concert with the bridges. By collaborating with Revels on RiverSing, the CRC seeks to achieve a fusion of musical and environmental art with full audience participation. The CRC also brings over 2500 landscape volunteers annually to the parklands and works on returning swimming to the Charles River.

Founded in 1971, Revels has a nearly four decade long tradition of marking the calendar with participatory, community- building events and festivities, the best known of which is the annual Christmas Revels winter solstice celebration at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Known for its seasonal celebrations that explore world cultures through their traditional music, dance and rituals, Revels also produces the free Summer Revels family celebration at the Boston Children’s Museum each year, has a standing 40-member touring ensemble, Circle of Song, produces recordings (Revels Records) and songbooks of traditional music and folk material and provides seasonal educational programming that cultivates appreciation of the arts and world cultures. www.revels.org

RiverSing sponsors include The LEF Foundation, Harvard University Community Affairs and Allston Development Group,
The Alchemy Foundation, Anchor Capital, The Harvard Square Business Association, Titan WorldWide and Flagraphics of Somerville.

The Charles River Conservancy (CRC) founded in 2000 takes as its mission to make the parklands more attractive, more active and accessible to all. Temporary bridge illuminations in 2001 and 2003 led to the wonderful RiverSing collaboration with Revels in September 2004 and resulted in the permanent illumination of the Weeks Bridge and in the following years the CRC illuminated the Anderson and then the Western Avenue Bridges with the RiverStreet Bridge being added this year. The parklands themselves are a living work of art, where seasonal changes of nature and mirrored light from the river play in concert with the bridges. By collaborating with Revels on RiverSing, the CRC seeks to achieve a fusion of musical and environmental art with full audience participation. The CRC also brings over 2500 landscape volunteers annually to the parklands and works on returning swimming to the Charles River. www.thecharles.org

Founded in 1971, Revels has a nearly four decade long tradition of marking the calendar with participatory, community- building events and festivities, the best known of which is the annual Christmas Revels winter solstice celebration at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Known for its seasonal celebrations that explore world cultures through their traditional music, dance and rituals, Revels also produces the free Summer Revels family celebration at the Boston Children’s Museum each year, has a standing 40-member touring ensemble, Circle of Song, produces recordings (Revels Records) and songbooks of traditional music and folk material and provides seasonal educational programming that cultivates appreciation of the arts and world cultures. www.revels.org

RiverSing sponsors include The LEF Foundation, Harvard University Community Affairs and Allston Development Group,
The Alchemy Foundation, Anchor Capital, The Harvard Square Business Association, Titan WorldWide and Flagraphics of Somerville.

Artist's Rendering of planned River Street Bridge illumination