MTC #165 - Take My Heart

I never remember how much I miss choir, until I miss it. Two Thursdays ago, while the Choir was holding their regular rehearsal, I was driving down to St. George for my daughter's soccer tournament in Mesquite. And then during last week's broadcast Sunday morning, I was making French Toast for my daughter and the family we were staying with (while they all watched the broadcast on TV). As I listened to the singing, I felt grateful for music, and grateful for my weekly singing opportunities. 

Incidentally, one of the questions I get the most from people regarding my being a member of the Choir, is "How does time off from the Choir work? Can you take time off, and if so, how much?"

In answering that question, you need to know that there are more people in the choir than there are seats to fill them. I don't know what the current count is, but I THINK it's a little over 400. This is so that time off can more easily be accommodated without it impacting the choir's sound or the choir's sizable look. Take today, for example. As I looked at the balcony near the men's side and the women's side of the choir, there were about 40 choir members "sitting out". Either they didn't feel quite up to singing today for whatever reason, or, they had missed Thursday's rehearsal--making them ineligible to sing on the Sunday morning broadcast. Add to that others who were on trips or out sick, and we may have had 50 or 60 absent today. As mentioned though, the choir's overall large size can accommodate these absences.

As for how often we can miss, that all sort of depends. We are asked to have, at the very minimum, an 80% attendance record. Attendance it taken at every rehearsal, every extra rehearsal, and every broadcast or concert event. However, most choir members strive for much higher--simply because they love their opportunity to sing! Also, though, when it comes to going on tour every other year, attendance is a big factor on being able to go. The logistics of going on a tour typically make it impossible for all choir members to be included. So those who have highest attendance are given priority. 

At any rate, I'm grateful that we can miss choir from time to time so that we can attend and support family events and other "life activities". But I'm always very eager to return.

Singing "Come Thou Fount" today

Today on the broadcast we sang one of my favorite hymns arranged by Mack Wilberg--a song that many, many people have come to love: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. There's just something about it that brings my emotions to the surface and causes me to really want to be better in all aspects of my life. The words just resonate:  I AM prone to wander; at times I DO leave the God I love; I am in debt, and I do rely upon God's grace. Hither by His help have I come this far in life and I count on that help each day. By the last verse of the song, when the orchestra is so full and glorious, and all the choir members are singing from their heart, I want nothing more than for God to take my heart and seal it up. And the whole time I'm hoping that the listeners are feeling the same way. 

Just like I hoped they did today.

Until next time, God be with you.

 

MTC #163 - RootsTech

So every year, various companies that support and facilitate family history, put on a global conference event "where people of all ages learn to discover, share and celebrate their family connections across generations through technology." This event is called RootsTech. This year, the event planners invited the Tabernacle Choir to participate, by having them showcase songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein in an evening concert titled "It Runs in the Family." Oscar "Andy" Hammerstein III hosted, and sprinkled throughout the concert was dialogue and video telling the history of the Hammerstein family--and even a video highlighting members of the choir who have had siblings, parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents sing in the choir before and/or with them. [See a short summary video and some pictures, HERE]

To be completely honest, in the days leading up to the concert, I just wasn't feeling very thrilled to participate. It had nothing to do with the event itself, it was just lots of things happening on the home front, and life in general had my attentions turned elsewhere. In addition, the songs we were to perform were ones that we sing very often during broadcasts or other concerts throughout the year. 

That said, when I arrived Thursday night out of breath (traffic issues caused delays in getting there in time), I had a little "attitude readjustment" session within myself, and remembered some important things. First, how great I think family history work is, and how important it is to locate information on ancestors and learn their stories. Second, that music is an important part of my current family and the families I come from.  And third, that I had an opportunity to help do some good--to both entertain and uplift by singing some songs that have certainly endured the test of time.

Remembering all of those things, the concert turned out to be a beautiful event. I think my favorite part was when guest artist Dallyn Vail Bayles sang two solo numbers--just him accompanied by the piano. I love Dallyn's voice and the gentleman on the piano was amazing. I was all smiles. 

I'm grateful for family history. I'm thankful that families can be together, forever. And I'm thankful for the musical tapestry that runs through my ancestry. 

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC #162 - All Eyes on You

During rehearsal on Thursday, I scanned the audience as I normally do, just to notice who had come to watch and listen. About half-way through the evening, I looked out again and noticed a man who was obviously a big fan of the Choir. I could tell this because of three things strapped to his neck: two cameras and

some binoculars. It was this latter item he was holding up to his eyes at the moment I spotted him, and it was then that I thought: "gosh, what have I been doing for the past 5-10 minutes while he's been scanning the choir?" Yes, I had been singing, of course, but during those moments when I was sitting and listening to other sections going over their parts, did I look engaged? Had I been nodding off a bit? Did my outward appearance and facial expressions testify to the fact that I was thrilled to be there?

The same thought came to me this morning at the broadcast as a couple of the guys behind me mentioned this particular gentleman in the balcony closest to the choir who had his electronic device out recording the rehearsal, the broadcast, and everything in between! In fact, after the broadcast was over and most people had left his section, an usher had to come over and lovingly tell him it was time to go-- with the camera still in his outstretched hand. Only then did his device go down, but only after handing it over to the usher for him to take his picture. :)

It got me thinking about the fact that someone is always watching us (not just the Choir, ALL of us). Whether it's our Father in Heaven, or someone else when you're out in public, we're on display. Our actions, our countenance, our words, and our demeanor are being consciously or unconsciously reviewed. It's true that we shouldn't obsess over what other people think of us. But I believe it's important to remember to be our best selves at all times. After all, why wouldn't we strive for that?

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In other choir news, we get to sing a concert as part of the Roots Tech conference, this coming Thursday evening. It's all Rodgers and Hammerstein music and I'm sure it'll be a fun show. Also, today we finished up some recording for an upcoming CD to be released in the near future. I'm sure a public announcement on that will be coming out soon.

Until next time, God be with you.