MTC #232 - To The End

While rehearsing Thursday night, I occasionally diverted by attention to the various people coming in to Tabernacle--as I normally do. Around 8pm or so, I noticed a small family of four make their way to the balcony and find some seats. I don't know why they stood out to me because they weren't all that different from others who had filled the hall. For some reason though, I felt like I needed to keep tabs on them.

Awhile later, we began to rehearse one of my all-time favorite pieces, Psalm 148. As I've probably mentioned before, I love everything about this song. The lyrics, the orchestration, the phrasing, the melody, the harmonies--everything. And it concludes with one of the most heavenly chords I've ever heard! The choir holds out that chord at the end as the orchestration and organ cuts out--so that when we finally are given the signal to end, the sound just reverbs throughout the Tabernacle like some angelic chorus. (YouTube doesn't do it justice, but you can listen to the last 30 seconds here)

Anyway, whenever we sing this song for rehearsal, I just want to grab a microphone and tell all of our visitors that they need to endure our starting and stopping and note/pitch fixing so that they can finally hear us sing it from beginning to end (after rehearsing each song, we "tape and time" it--or rather, record it to CD--so that the directors can listen to it later and give us feedback). And Thursday night, while I still had the desire to pick up that microphone, I especially was wanting that family of four to stay. I don't know if they needed to hear it for a particular reason or if it was just me being crazy (probably the latter). All I know is that I was going to be really sad if they didn't just push through to the end--the end being the prize of listening to Psalm 148 in its entirety.

But stay they did! And as I sang the song, I kept stealing a glance at them and directing my conviction of the song's message, to them. Upon singing that last heavenly chord of notes, they were one of the first ones to start clapping--which led to a big smile appearing on my face. 

I suppose all of this can be likened to life (most of music can). If we work through the hard times and try and improve and listen to our heavenly director, we can, in the end, partake of those "payoff" moments in life--and ultimately partake of the eternal prize as well.

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So, this week, the Choir will present it's free pre-tour Concert at 7:30 pm in the Tabernacle. It's a first-come, first-seated event which is sure to "sell-out".  Those going on tour will commence that event on June 19th, while those of us who are not going will enjoy at 2 1/2 week break. After the tour concludes, the Pioneer Day Concert (a.k.a "Music for a Summer Evening") will be held in the Conference Center on July 20th and 21st, featuring three amazing guests—Matthew Morrison, Laura Michelle Kelly, and Oscar “Andy” Hammerstein the 3rd.

Until next time, God be with you.