Camerata making music in moss side

From September to December 2017, Manchester Camerata practitioners and the Community team are making weekly visits to four sheltered housing schemes in the Moss Side area, in partnership with Mosscare St. Vincent’s Housing Group.

The residents from each centre are creating songs and drama on the subject of their ‘Journey to Home’. Many have come from abroad and settled in Manchester, while some were born in the area, travelled extensively within their lifetime, but have found their way back one way or another. The songs they create reflect this and are created entirely by the participants within the sessions.

Residents are creating one song per housing scheme on a topic of their choice, discovered by discussing participants childhoods and memories of the Moss Side area, or other areas that have had a particular impact on their lives. However, residents have teamed together to create a finale song as an ensemble, entitled Home. Each have written either a verse, chorus or bridge, and Camerata practitioners have merged these together, to create a moving description of what makes a home. You can see a sneak preview of one of the verses in the above picture.

These pieces are to be performed twice by the residents. First, at the Albert Hall in Manchester on the 10th December, where they will have a post-interval slot at the Camerata Festive Happening, showcasing their finale song Home, plus a select one or two from the other songs created. There will also be a longer performance of all songs at a community centre in the Moss Side area at a date later in December, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mosscare housing schemes.