Saugeen Shores' Bill Rayner participated in Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 6, featuring over 17,000 vocalists from 129 countries.

Hub Staff

COVID-19 has closed the doors to many aspects of day to day living. As society adapted around the barriers imposed by the virus, new routines and new norms were created. However, some activities lost to the virus left a void of surprising depth. The world of performing arts is therapeutic, not just to those in the audience, but also to those on stage. In an August 4 telephone interview, local chorister Bill Rayner explained how choirs very quickly became taboo, and labeled as ‘superspreaders’. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) documented a case in Washington involving a choir practice of 61 attendees and one symptomatic individual resulted in 55 COVID-19 cases and two deaths. As curtains closed and microphones turned off, “the silence was deafening” recalled Rayner.

While searching for resources online to help him continue with his singing, Rayner stumbled upon something called Virtual Choir 6 (VC6). Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choirs date back to 2009 when singers from around the world recorded solo performances of ‘Lux Aurumque’ conducted by Whitacre. These performances, both audio and video, were layered and merged into a single digital performance, creating Virtual Choir 1 (VC1). The concept ignited a movement that began with 185 singers in VC1 and grew to over 17,500 vocalists from 129 countries in VC6.

In the midst of a pandemic that has isolated friends and family and restricted social events, Whitacre’s latest Virtual Choir performance has struck a chord with many lonely souls across the globe. The video that debuted on July 19 surpassed 1 million views in under two weeks, 1.3 million at the time of publishing, garnered significant media coverage and provided comfort to listeners. Whitacre composed the piece, Sing Gently, as a way to unite individuals within these confined circumstances.

“It was just a composition to bring people together at every level,” explained Rayner. “The music brings the choristers together but the people who sing it also seem to have an identity with, this is the way the world should be, all of us together. No colour, no race, no sex, no discrimination, no anything. Just one collaborative effort to make something beautiful,” he said.

Rayner confessed that he had no idea what he was getting into but jumped at the opportunity to be part of a choir during the pandemic. “It’s just an outlet because all of us that are choristers and vocalists, we’re so desperate to sing," he said, adding that the end product was much more than he ever imagined. “I had no idea, I don’t think anyone did, including the composer."

Rayner continued. "Right now, at a time when every single person on the planet is touched by this disease, it really became a phenomenon in its way."

Every individual who signed up for the Virtual Choir received the score and a video of the quartet performance with Whitacre conducting the specific part selected. Every video submitted that met the requirements was used in the final production.

Rayner talked about his own recording for VC6 as he tried to juggle the headphones, microphone, keeping one eye on Whitacre’s instruction and the other on his own video recording. “It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do,” admitted Rayner who is currently involved with five different local choirs and has hundreds of performances to his name. “I bet you I sang that piece 50 times before I actually finally thought, 'Okay, that’s as good as I can do.'"

Rayner said he didn't think anyone involved in the project could have anticipated its impact. "I still kind of get choked up about it," he said. “My hope, my dream, is that when this is all over they rent a stadium somewhere and invite all the people who sang on that piece to physically show up... and then sing it together. I don’t even know if I’d be able to get through it," he confessed.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 6: Sing Gently can be viewed on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=InULYfJHKI0.