My eldest daughter’s first word was ‘Don’t’.
I was changing her nappy and happily singing away when this little emphatic one syllable contraction was directed at me. I ignored it, thinking that couldn’t be an intentional word, let alone the very first proper one coming out of my little Cabbage Patch look alike child and continued to sing as I pinned – we used cloth nappies back then.
When she repeated the word, looking straight at me I was certain; even my 6 month-old was telling me; I am vocally challenged, meaning I can’t sing very well at all.
Apart from the recognition that ‘Don’t’ was a word I must have used regularly with her, my now 29year old daughter is still blunt and forthcoming, but that is another story.
Being vocally challenged means I totally appreciate anyone who can sing and someone who takes me on an instructional theatrical journey about singers and songs has me hooked from the start, particularly when said very talented singer expresses an insecurity about their voice from the get go and had been told by his high school choir master to be an accountant!
Seth Drury is a baritone. Apparently no one cares about the workhorse baritones of the singing world while the tenors get all the glory. He learnt he was a baritone when asked to sing “Tonight, Tonight” a tone higher and cracked on the final high note.
Fortunately, Seth ignored his high school teacher and as for being a baritone he is in good company with others like Hugh Jackman, Michael Buble, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jnr to name a few.
BRING BACK THE BARITONE is a self devised work with Seth, accompanied by his brother Anyerin Drury on guitar and backing vocals and Callum Close on keyboard, taking us through a bit of a history of the baritone, peppering the narrative with extracts from and complete songs. It’s fun and informative.
For example, I learnt that The Golden Age of Broadway was when the baritone was celebrated and he won the ladies hearts. Gilbert and Sullivan and Rogers and Hammerstein made good use of the baritone and one of the greatest baritone anthems is Old man River from Showboat.
The 60’s and Frankie Valle was the nemesis of the baritone, but Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, both deep lovers of gospel, kept the flag flying.
He continues his 65 minute tour up to the present, alternating between humour and caricature and deep, soulful engagement with the songs. Seth’s stripped back and pure rendition of How Great Thou Art is beautiful.
He also establishes an easy relationship with the audience and welcomes us into his journey. It is a very pleasant, informative and entertaining interlude.
Future performances of BRING BACK THE BARITONE are yet to be scheduled but Seth’s other work, UNMASKING PRINCE CHARMING will be presented as part of The Sydney Fringe 15th-17th of Sept at The Knox Street Bar. Tickets may be booked through the fringe website.
As for my musical prowess, I am now learning piano. I have no talent for that either, but just because you are no good at something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a go.
Seth Drury’s concert BRING BACK THE BARITONE played the Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Sunday 29th May, 2016.