Leyden Scratch

Yesterday I joined in again and sang the Scratch Messiah, in the Pieterskerk in Leyden. Scratching originated in England. It means building up a concert in one day from scratch. Anybody who can sing and/or play an instrument can sign up and join in. Three years ago the Leyden Scratch celebrated its 25^th anniversary! From only singing the Messiah after studying or rather rehearsing it for a full day, the Leyden Scratch now goes on for four full days and has grown into a very joyful festival.

 The doors of the Pieterskerk with flags announcing the Leyden Scratch

Leyden is flooded by singers and musicians, enjoying the event. Years ago I took part for several consecutive years, but the last time I sang the Scratch was in 2012. Perhaps I did not even sing, but just went to the concert in the evening, I can’t quite remember. Anyway, due to circumstances this year I could join in again. And the whole set-up seemed more professional than ever, running very smoothly. The first few years the singers sat on high bleachers, just on open planks. Only if one sat on the highest and top wooden bench, there was a railing to support one’s back. Bags had to be tied round the planks, otherwise things would fall down, into the abyss! Very inconvenient and risky. Everybody would tie pillows and cushions on the planks. Otherwise things would become very uncomfortable during the long day. It was very primitive, but it did not deter anybody from taking part. Gradually the open slits between the planks and the different levels, were replaced by closed ones which helped. And this year I noticed that there were even plastic seats fastened on the bleachers. Collapsible ones which made quite a noise when getting up and sitting down, even if one guided the seat with one’s hands. The springs would make a shrill and squeaking sound. But at least our backs were supported which makes a lot of difference.

The rehearsals during the day seen from my elevated place! Left: one of the soloists. Opposite the sopranos

 My side of the choir, the alto wing, during a coffee break.

Behind the heads in front of me the male section, and the surplus of altos.

Looking at the built up bleacher for the men and part of the altos, and the chairs of the orchestra. This was during the lunch break

looking towards the beautiful pipe organ partly hidden by lamps and microphones. Beneath the organ seats for the audience 

The bleachers are built up around the orchestra which this year consisted of some 70 musicians, all very well trained.

Besides the musicians and the 880 singers there are many volunteers, young and elderly men and women, who see to it that everything runs smoothly. They sell the tokens one has to buy for coffee and tea, drinks and sweets, they “man” the souvenir stalls, there are cleaning groups, tea and coffee ladies and people who provide lunch for those who ordered it.  The volunteers do it all and they all love it: the atmosphere, the enthusiasm of the singers and musicians, the way the professional soloists enjoy what they are doing with amateurs, it is just so very nice. One coffee lady I spoke with said she volunteered all 4 days, from 8 am till midnight, and loved it, although she needed a few very lazy and quiet days to recover!

Yesterday was the first of four days, to be followed by a Messiah for schoolchildren and college students only.

Saturday is “Musical Day”, when songs from popular musicals will be studied and performed.

And on Sunday Jenkins’ The Armed Man and the Carmina Burana by Carl Orff will be sung.

 Enjoying lunchunder the pulpit

Volunteers having a rest after serving soup, sandwiches and fruit at lunch time

It was a cold but sunny day, very exceptional this winter. Leyden looked its best: blue skies, billowing white clouds, but a cold wind. And inside the Pieterskerk it was warm and wonderful. And although the performance of the choir was not perfect by any means, the audience said that it sounded very good indeed and they enjoyed it. So did we, the singers, trying to help each other if parts were a bit confusing.

The orchestra was very good indeed this year.

 A narrow alley typical of historic Dutch towns, and the Townhall

 View of the Nieuwe Rijn from the Koornbrug

Above: interesting sky over the Nieuwe Rijn

A former almshouse

This year all the solos were sung by men, including the alto and the soprano parts. The soprano was a young countertenor from Israel who had the highest male voice I have ever heard in any countertenor.  He sang with such apparent ease, as a young child who is just enjoying the singing without thinking about it and without any visible effort. A woman next to me remarked that it would be marvellous to have a son like that, singing besides you while doing the washing up. In that case she would throw out the dishwasher!

It took some concentration to sing all the different - almost coloratura - runs. And the timing wasn’t always easy. But with 880 singers some will get it right.

Around the church

During lunchtime Leyden was flooded by singers, humming away. Restaurants offer “Scratch menus” in the evening, which doesn’t mean they are made from scratch, but that the meal will be served in the time slot available to the singers. I used the lunch break to get some fresh air and took a few pictures of Leiden as a blue sky is quite unusual this winter. But sunny days produce pictures with sharp contrasts, alas.

Sharing an evening meal at the home of one of my fellow amateur writers, just a two minute walk from the church, was an extra bonus.

The concert was the crown on our hard work. With the beautiful pipe organ in floodlight and its doors open, the pillars hung with flowers and surrounded by small candles, the church looked very festive. It was a wonderful day.