Protest in Harmony
Radical singing group
This radical singing group was established in 2003 following the success of a workshop led by Jane Schonveld, founder and original Musical Director of the Edinburgh Harmonise community choir. It was organised by a small planning group of friends who included Jane, John Ireson and Brid Cullen. The workshop featured protest songs about social justice in response to the almost total absence of protest singing at anti-Iraq-war demonstrations. The intention was to kick-start a regular protest choir – the immediate response was highly encouraging.
What soon became different about Protest in Harmony was the diversity of themes rather than focus on a single political movement. A further ground-breaking approach was to have the aspect of community at its core by running monthly rather than weekly facilitator-led sessions. This allowed a much bigger community to engage in songs about human rights, peace, justice and the environment with members often becoming aware of a wider range of issues than they might otherwise have done. Priority was given to singing protest songs in public on a regular basis, not just at major demonstrations, marches and rallies. Using songs provided an alternative vocal expression to shouts and chants, making such events more accessible to those demonstrating and to those listening (or trying not to). Protest in Harmony’s community model has led to a strong democratic ethos with members voicing opinions about the content of songs and nominating supported campaigns.
Jane Schonveld continued to lead for three more years together with co-leaders Jane Lewis, Eileen Penman and Yvonne Burgess. To reinforce the broad-based approach, each session is now co-led by three primary song leaders, currently Shereen Benjamin, Jane Lewis and Penny Stone. In the Scottish tradition, the group’s ever-expanding repertoire contains a strong element of satirical song-writing, penned and/or arranged by its various leaders, all women and all instrumental in the group’s development. This was and is a radical singing group with a ground-breaking approach.
Helen Harris
Sources:
Protest in Harmony website www.protestinharmony.org.uk
Stone, Penny. Interview 2014
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