The Soul's Own Speech

From the Vault. Originally posted in May of 2008. The following is a reflection on the 50th Anniversary of the Emory & Henry College Concert Choir.

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A mountain top experience, in both the literal and figurative senses, is perhaps the best way to describe last weekend. I had the opportunity to return to the campus of Emory & Henry College to participate in the 50^th Anniversary Reunion of the college’s Concert Choir. As many small college musicians would likely express, our choir was different, exclusive, and uncommon. Since the Concert Choir’s founding 50 years ago there have been only three conductors. Yes, I said three. While only under one did I serve I can honestly say that my life, or at least my musical outlook therein, has been transformed by all three outstanding leaders. I have developed an understanding of how I believe a group of diverse voices can and should transcend the ordinary.

In my short three years I had the pleasure of working with our founder during a handful of special occasions. His principles of the choral sound are idealistic, and often not achievable. I respect his convictions and his faith in the system, but I am not naïve enough to consider what has been titled the Westminster Sound to be the only acceptable sound. When it all does come together, believe me friend, it is truly a sacred experience. His successor, my mentor and conductor, had a less idealistic design of choral sound but all the more romantic! We achieved moments of supreme musicality that would bring to tears even the toughest of accounting and public policy majors. Some of these moments were in rehearsals, while others were on the road during our countless concert tours here and abroad. We were not perfect…there were other moments of a lesser amount of musicality. Perhaps this is best termed as the ‘scuro’ to our ‘chiaro.’ I learned a great deal from our conductor…most significantly being how to not conduct a group of musicians. Saying that, I respected him and I will forever remember what he taught me in what I consider my vocal coming of age lessons!

Change was in the air, and change did transpire in the spring of my final year. Our conductor was released of his teaching responsibilities for a myriad of reasons – all well founded by the acting administration. I was pleased to have a hand in the selection of the current Concert Choir leadership. We saw numerous applicants for the position. Some were too short, too tall, too traditional, not traditional enough, wore too much black, lacked piano skills, but finally a fit was found. The Concert Choir received its third conductor, and might I add – a Yankee! As was expected, change was not well accepted by a few Concert Choir members both past and present. It was viewed as a fallen Dynasty, an empire destroyed, and a then 47-year tradition lost forever. I am and always have been a supporter of the current Concert Choir leadership. I even had the opportunity to host the choir at my church during their Mid-West tour; something that our alumni look forward to doing.

I attest that the Concert Choir sound is alive and well! The change has been for the better. At the reunion the current Concert Choir performed their Germany/Austria spring tour program. I was moved. However, during a reception afterward, the rift between the old and the new grew to an uncomfortable width. Nothing disparaging was said about the current choir, but all the while nothing altogether too positive was said either. “Good intonation, clear sound,” was all that was said to me. Is that all you heard? Are you so blinded by the ‘glorious’ days that you are not able to embrace something so Rich and Vibrant as what was before you? Sure, the process is different. I say the process is better. You call it ‘academic,’ and I call it progressive and more importantly successful – more successful than not. I beg you to open your heart of fire! The 2008 concert choir is our Emory & Henry Concert Choir. The tradition, my friends, lives on!