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Search forPitch-perfect pooch has The Rex Factor
Monday, August 18, 2008, 09:00
Often they did nothing other than tremble nervously and look about anxiously, inhibited by the attention focused on them.
But at the end of the day Swansea's doggy choir auditions turned out to be a howling success.
Artist Richard Higglet, who organised the weekend event in a tent on the National Waterfront Museum green, was a happy man.
He had a canine chorus in the making, and plans are now going ahead for the recording of a special musical tribute to the city's celebrated four-legged life-saver, Swansea Jack.
Richard was commissioned by Swansea arts charity Locws International to come up with a special project for the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts.
"I had the idea of creating a dog choir and recording A Song to Jack, a tribute to Swansea Jack," he said.
"Dogs instinctively howl as part of the pack, which goes back to their origins as wild dogs and wolves.
"Dogs are part of the fabric of the city, as much as anyone else.
"The idea was to celebrate the life of Swansea Jack and the chosen dogs will be part of that."
About 30 dogs and their owners turned up for auditions.
Some dogs sang, some chose not to. They were triggered by a variety of sounds and encouragements, ranging from a mobile phone ringtone to the Coronation Street theme tune and a Pavarotti rendition of Puccini's Nessun Dorma.
Reactions were mixed. A Bassett hound named Edward, from Morriston, proved an accomplished bass baritone capable of howling continuously.
Various terriers gave polished tenor performances while a Chinese Crested stood silently, shivering.
"It's been melodic and chaotic and spontaneous, a real bit of fun," said Richard.
"I will be choosing as many as a dozen dogs to perform and will decide where they will fit into the piece we will be recording.
"We will be making the recording at the Metropolitan University studios on September 8, and the dogs will be prompted to howl or sing at particular moments during the music."
The piece will be performed by the dog choir at a mini-concert being held on the museum green on October 5.
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