2nd Wataboshi Music Festival

Background

The success of the 2^nd Wataboshi Music Festival for the Disabled in June 1993 was the driving force behind the production of this CD between October and December of the same year. I was the vice-chairman of the concert and took this CD on as a personal project as there was no budget for it after the concert.

It started with me persuading the principal of The School of Audio Engineering, Singapore, to take this on as a School project. Not only did he agree to do so, but he also volunteered the resources of the school for the recordings at the same time!

I had to make a presentation to the final year class of the school to secure the sound engineers needed for the recordings. The support was overwhelming as the entire class volunteered for the project; that the principal was using this project as a final grading exercise for their final year project might also have had something to do with it…

What remained to be done was to clear a two-month window for the recordings and sound mixing; work out the schedules for all the participants; had mini-fund raisers amongst friends and relatives for the CD pressing and cover printing and, the CD came into being.

The CD

I did not want this CD to just feature all the songs as just individual works and nothing more, to do so would not be doing justice to the spirit which brought these songs about. I felt a common thread was needed to run through all the songs to make it a whole; to show the ability of the human spirit to not only rise above our many failings, physical or otherwise, but to also show, despite our many failings, the oneness of the human spirit.

The following was what I wrote after my many listening of the songs to find that common thread:

In our journey through life,

we need to take different tracks

at different times…

And, as we travel these tracks,

we discover more,

not only of others,

but also of ourselves.

There is so much we can learn

from each other.

We just have to be willing to listen…

With our hearts…

The track of self-discovery

often leads to one of acceptance.

Where a little determination,

with faith and hope,

makes us willing to take that first step

to find the answer for ourselves.

The track now leads to joy,

where we can sing of love,

be inspired by others and,

more importantly, care for each other.

To want a more beautiful world

because we know we are a part of it.

Do you not feel that these tracks

have been traveled by many…

… maybe… even you?

Why is it…?

Much as our lives might differ,

we seem to share the same

struggles and triumphs,

hopes and aspirations…?

It is really because…

… in spirit…

… we are ONE.

By not realising this,

Our world is

Handicapped.

The songs were arranged to flow according to the thread conceived. A prologue and epilogue were added to give it all a final wholeness. The CD cover and booklet were conceptualized accordingly.