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Genevieve Visits Greenland (1)
(4 May 2004)
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Cookham Dean Soprano Geneviève Usher has just returned from a month-long professional concert tour of Greenland with internationally renowned composer and organist/pianist Adrian Vernon Fish. This is Adrian’s tenth visit to Greenland, taking classical music to both the Inuit and Danish populations.
Narsaq: Typical house with harbour behind
They performed a total of ten concerts in Narsaq on the southern tip moving on to the capital Nuuk and finally Aasiaat on the northwest coast within the polar circle. On this occasion he invited Geneviève to join him to widen the scope of the concerts to include vocal music as well as piano and organ recitals.
Adrian on a walk outside Narsaq
Traditional Inuit music is based on old whaling tunes and hymn tunes taken over by missionaries. It is therefore very slow and limited in range, rarely going above the stave. Therefore Geneviève’s high trills and top Cs were greeted with awe and enthusiasm, especially by the schoolchildren. Perhaps the best compliment paid to her was by an Inuit fisherman who attended one concert complete with fishing gear and wellies who said her singing was ‘Like being on a caribou hunt with all the birds singing around you’.
Narsak: View from Genevieve's hotel window
Greenland has very low humidity, but temperatures can be well below freezing especially with the wind chill. In Nuuk Geneviève and Adrian encountered the worst storms in many years with high winds and low visibility as the snow whipped around them and temperatures reached –40 C with the wind chill.
Interior of Narsaq Church
During their visit they were taken out to explore islands around Aasiaat in a fishing boat, breaking the ice as they went and getting close to huge icebergs. Geneviève also went on a dog sledge, pulled by ten huskies.
Narsaq at Night
Geneviève will always remember above all the kindness of the hosts and people she met as well as the stunning scenery of multi-coloured wooden houses dotted around the snow covered mountain slopes leading down to the water with floating, bright blue icebergs, as the pictures here show clearly.
Narsaq: Genevieve and Adrian in Narsaq Church before their first Concert
Geneviève sings professionally at weddings and entertains at parties, soirées, dinners, charity events, corporate events, in fact anywhere where music is needed. She can be contacted on 01628 482015
The oldest part of Nuuk, Capital of Greenland
Adrian gives lectures and talks on Greenland and composes music on a commission basis. His website with contact details is www.adrianvernonfish.com
Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk
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