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Concert delves into port’s past, pairs music with history
KELSEY PYE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
SAINT JOHN • Those interested in pirate stories set in Saint John or harrowing tales on the high seas should head to the port on Monday night for a new kind of storytelling experience.
Tales from the Port will feature the teaching artists from Sistema NB’s Saint John headquarters. The concert will match musical selections with real stories of the history of the port. Aaron McFarlane, director of Sistema NB, thought up the idea a few months ago after realizing how many musicians the city has to offer.
“We have all these talented musicians in town who want to play concerts, and for me as a new New Brunswicker and a new Saint Johner hoping to delve into some of the stories of the city, I saw an opportunity.”
McFarlane grew up in Montreal, another city with a large port. But there the port wasn’t as prominent as it is in Saint John. He reached out to Port Saint John, who connected him with the Saint John Seafarer’s Mission. From there, he learned all about the port’s relatively unknown history and even everyday stories of how the port operates. “Some of this is stuff the public probably doesn’t know. Maybe I’m just naive, but it never occurred to me that the captain of the ship didn’t just pilot it in himself, there are pilots that do that job.”
McFarlane spoke with one of those pilots who shared with him stories from his career and others. McFarlane also read up on the history of the port and learned about life on the open seas from the Seafarer’s Mission.
Without giving too much away but wanting to whet appetites, McFarlane spoke of one story the musicians will be covering on Monday night. One story revolves around how difficult it can be for a seafarer to have access to things like reliable Internet or phone services.
“One seafarer has been on a ship for several months and had a new baby born at home while he as at sea. Arriving in Saint John and having access to the Seafarer’s Mission, it was the first time he had the opportunity to see his newborn baby over Skype.”
To help listeners imagine the emotion of that scene, the group is pairing the story with a Brahms’ Lullaby.
A second story centres around Saint John sailors in the 1850s. A group of pilots hear about treasure buried in the Caribbean and set off on a wild adventure.
“We’ve got some really good pirate music to go with that,”McFarlane said.
Paula Copeland from Port Saint John said they were thrilled when McFarlane approached them to help share their tales.
“For us, it is another way we are able to facilitate a connection between the community and the port which is at its heart.”
While the musicians are performing because they want to feel more connected to the city, there’s also an ulterior motive. McFarlane said he wants to open up classical music to everybody.
Some people may find classical music inaccessible, he argues, and having a fun event can get more people interested. The songs are short, lasting six minutes at the most, and they come with a story related to the music rather than a biography of the composer which Mc-Farlane said is common at some concerts.
“It’s a more compelling thing to tell a story and then play music that evokes some of the emotions of that story.”
Another layer of the event is its unusual venue. The concert will be on the rooftop patio of the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal – nothing like a concert hall. The acoustics may prove challenging, but it’s more about the atmosphere than the audio.
“It’s a cool opportunity to play music about something that’s central to our city, overlooking that very thing, while telling stories from the people who work right there (at the port).”
The concert is also a benefit for the Saint John Seafarer’s Mission. Admission is free, but a freewill donation will be accepted. The music starts at 7 p.m.
