The SFGMC recently celebrated its 40th birthday with a sold-out tribute concert in San Francisco, plus the dedication of an Artist Circle in Golden Gate Park, in part to honor the 300 members the Chorus has lost to HIV/AIDS epidemic.
“Throughout history, a bell or chime or gong has been used in meditation and ceremonies. Our dream included an aural component, since the site is honoring many people who made music a huge part of their lives. The contrabass Emperor Chime is 8½ feet tall. It is cast from anodized aluminum and is characterized by a deep resonant tone that is heard and felt in its reverberation. It is rung with a mallet. It is our hope that when a person visits, they will ring the chime and speak a name of someone they lost. The sound will resonate into the park and beyond.” – Tim Seelig in Poz Magazine