Thursday, June 28, 2012

Symphony Choir and Orchestra


I went and sketched at a rehearsal of the Johannesburg Symphony choir and Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday. They were practising for a performance of Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, a celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and the 80th birthday of Prof Mzilikazi Khumalo on Sunday. These two Ebony pencil sketches were done last, after I'd tried first my rollerball pen with Ecoline watercolour-filled waterbrushes - the blue one is still working well, but the brown one has clogged up badly! - and then a disposable fountain pen with waterbrush to wash in the tones.
Members of the choir and orchestra setting up the stage


Warming up and tuning the instruments


Conductor Richard Cock with part of the orchestra
 
A section of the 100-strong choir

soloist Siyabonga Maqungo singing "Onaway! Awake, beloved!" from Hiawatha's Wedding

Beautiful music, a warm Linder Auditorium and sketching on a cold winter's afternoon - what could be nicer?

7 comments:

Robyn Sinclair said...

Wow, Cathy this is a fantastic collection of sketches from one event. Amazing. Your people always have such character and variety. Composition is beautiful as are the musical instruments. Awesome.

Unknown said...

These are fabulous especially the wash ones.

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks Robyn and Sue!

Midori Yoshino said...

I like this black and white very much. There is no waste lines. I wish I could like you.
Beautiful work!

http://carolking.wordpress.com said...

I love the sketches, particularly the black and white one with the musicians and their instruments.

Unknown said...

hey sup, can i use this for my oschestra album? looks very nice btw

Cathy Gatland said...

hey sup, nah, you wouldn't want a very nice pic for your oschestra, you'd want something kickass, and for free btw. sorry