"RiverSing"
Bridging The Charles with Voice & Light

On Sunday, September 21, thousands of singers will gather along the banks of The Charles for "RiverSing: Bridging The Charles with Voice and Light," a special community event designed to welcome in the fall while drawing attention to The Charles River, its parklands and bridges.

"RiverSing" is a free celebration featuring seasonal music and communal singing led by Revels music director George Emlen with help from over 100 members of Boston area choruses (including Mystic Chorale, the Halalisa Singers and Revels Repertory Company), saxophones, a folk band and giant puppets, all perched atop the John W. Weeks Footbridge linking Allston and Cambridge. Folksinger Bill Staines and Revels favorite David Coffin will be among the featured soloists.

Revelers are invited to come early and spread their picnic blankets along both sides of the river.The communal singing begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until sunset when the underbelly of the Weeks Bridge will be uniquely illuminated by LED lighting.

The night will close with a “River Hymn” (written for "RiverSing " by George Emlen, the evening’s conductor) and spontaneous dancing along The Charles to the sounds of the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band.

The public is invited to join in Pre-Show Entertainments in Harvard Square. At 5:00 p.m., Winthrop Park in Cambridge’s Harvard Square will be filled with "RiverSing" entertainments of all kinds including brass bands, giant puppets and circus performers. (Those who arrive early can make a RiverSing memento in the Family Activity Tents sponsored by Passim’s Culture for Kids. The tents, placed along Winthrop Street, will open at 4:00 pm).

At 5:45 p.m., The Grand Procession will head down to the river for the community sing. "RiverSing2008 is supported in part by WBUR-FM, Titan Worldwide - Boston, Harvard University Community Affairs, Allston Development Group, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Passim's, and the Harvard Square Business Association.

Weeks Bridge lighting is designed by John Powell and provided by Luminus.
RiverSing is a collaboration between Revels (The Christmas Revels, SummersDay Revels) and the Charles River Conservancy.

For more information, call 617-972-8300 or visit www.revels.org.

Photo: Arthur Ferguson

-- OnStage Boston