TCATS #441 - The Quartet

It's fairly common (from what I've heard and observed over the years) for Tabernacle Choir members to get pulled into other singing opportunities. Such an opportunity came my way today as I got to sing in a quartet at a ward missionary farewell (here's the song we sang). Rehearsals started a few weeks ago and since it was a capella, we wanted to make sure that our harmonies were as spot-on as they could be. Additionally, since I was singing Baritone (which was new to me), I spent quite a bit of on-my-own time getting it down. At any rate, the four of us feel like the performance today went well and enjoyed 1) getting actual feedback afterwards; and 2) getting to sing in a much smaller group where we knew each individual voice really mattered. I mean, I know (and have blogged about it) that each voice matters in the 400-voice Tabernacle Choir. But, if small mistakes are made in a large choir, no one really notices (plus, you have plenty of opportunities to breath!). It's when you're singing your part all by yourself that you feel like the spotlight is on you (and on you the whole time!). 

I suppose it would be well for me to adopt that concept though as I continue my journey in the Choir. Feeling like the spotlight is always on me would prompt me to do certain things: 1) if I didn't exactly know the notes or rhythm at a certain spot in the song, I'd pull out the sheet music and verify instead of just listening around me and self-correcting as I realized what mistakes I made. 2) I'd take my music home every week to look over it. Even if I felt confident in the notes and rhythm, reading over the lyrics and letting them be a part of my week might help me appreciate the songs and their messages all the more (or even at all). 3) I could be one of those singers in my section that leads out instead of follows along. 4) I'd feel the blessings of being fully prepared. I re-recognized that feeling today while singing my part in the quartet. 

I'll try better to do these things. After all, as a disciple of Christ, I should be living as if the spotlight were always on me.
Because it is. 

And now, switching gears a bit to just mention some Choir "odds and ends"...

First, we have been given the opportunity to record a music video with the Piano Guys--soon. It's no small feat to pull off any type of performance with a large choir--so it'll be interesting to see how this goes. I can't say that recording is even remotely associated with the word "fun" (think retake after retake after retake), but the finished product will, I'm sure, be pretty darn cool. If I remember right, the video will be released sometime in 2023. 

Second, we have General Conference coming up. I'd love some time to have the orchestra join us and let the Seventy General Authorities go sit with their wives (the orchestra needs the space they take up), but that's not happening this time. Or probably ever. (Tradition, you know?)  Standard conference music is being rehearsed and I suspect everything will go just as it always goes. 

Third, the announcement for the Christmas Concert guest artist is coming up here soon (I don't know exactly when, but would expect something to come out in October). Choir members have not been told anything about who it will be. But, if I were a gambling man, I'd wager it might just be The Piano Guys. It's not completely without precedent that special guests that join the Choir for Music & the Spoken Word or for the summer concert end up being the guest artist for the Christmas concert. Guess we'll see. Who knows? Maybe it's someone completely off my radar. 

That as they say, is that.
Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #440 - The Virtual Sick Room

I wasn't planning on posting anything today given the fact I missed attending both the in-person rehearsal Thursday and the performance today. But I thought I'd share a few thoughts about what it's like when a choir member gets sick and still tries to fulfill his/her calling.

First of all though, I have to comment on the timing of all of this. Given my attitude and reluctance to be "all-in" with Choir lately, you might think that missing a week would of sort have been a treat for me. Ironically though, I was actually very excited to go to Choir Thursday--for four main reasons.  1) It was the first time back to the Tabernacle after what seemed like a long summer in the Conference Center--and I was anxious to finally be able to look into the faces of those who came to listen to us rehearse. 2) I was going to go early and rehearse a quartet number that a friend of mine invited me to be a part of (to be performed in a sacrament meeting later this month). 3) The songs we were rehearsing for both the performance today and for future broadcasts were songs I really loved. And 4) I was anxious to say hello to my buddy Wes who I hadn't seen for a few weeks. 

But, it was all not to be. 

I started feeling sick on Tuesday and it was clear on Thursday that I was in no condition to go sing. So I contacted an individual on the Choir admin team letting her know I was sick. And she put me in contact with someone on the medical committee who asked about my symptoms and laid out how things would go. Basically, the medical committee is treating every illness as covid-19 and in order to come back, I'd have to have two negative tests within 48 hrs of each other. I could choose not to do the test, but would have to wait longer to come back to ensure I wasn't potentially bringing the virus with me. Anyway, for rehearsal, I received authorization to attend the virtual sick room which is basically just a Zoom meeting that, when logged in, is zoomed in on the conductor leading the Choir. Attending the sick room would allow me to get partial attendance credit. The sick room felt a bit lonely as it wasn't like a typical zoom call. I couldn't see anyone else who was logged in and therefore had no chance to chat about the rehearsal as it went along. However, I knew my friend Willy was in the sick room too so we started up an external chat and enjoyed commenting on the various songs being rehearsed. 

On Saturday, I again contacted "Jill" from the medical committee to let her know I still wasn't feeling that great and she authorized me to attend the sick room again, the next morning (today). She also said I'd need to test Monday and then again on Wednesday if I wanted to come back to choir on Thursday. Willy was again in the virtual room and I later found out Wes was there too. The bonus to being in the sick room today was getting credit for joining the extra post-broadcast rehearsal even though we didn't have to actually stay logged in (technical issues). 

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a glimpse into the "being sick process". Hopefully I'll be back on Thursday and not have to find out anything more about it!  :) 

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #439 - The Super Six

A shorter post today, but I did want to mention a few things.

First, I really liked all six songs we sang today. Saints Bound for Heaven brought me back to my Concert Choir days at BYU where I was first introduced to that song and fell in love with it. We Thank Thee Lord for This New Day is a new song by Mack Wilberg that debuted several months ago. I love the harmonics, the changes between major and minor keys, and how it's different from our standard fare. O Come Ye Nations of the Earth talks about letting your light shine. Each of us has something to give and I appreciate that reminder. My Song in the Night is one I've always loved mainly because I feel like, at least for me, much of our lives is spent wading through the dark as we search for more light. I mean, we live in the light that we feel like we have and that light is important to cling to. But there's also our ever growing "faith shelf" which contains oh so many questions and causes us to feel like we're in the dark. Hold On is definitely a favorite musical song with an important message about patience and perseverance. And Come Labor On is a relatively new hymn for me personally, but reminds me of missionary work since my daughter is out serving (Ryan Murphy shared the same sentiment). Apparently this hymn is widely known in other Christian sects--so it's nice to finally know it now myself. And while the message can apply to missionaries, it also applies to each of us since "work" is a very important part of finding happiness.

Second, the Choir started using a new attendance app called "Roll Call". Up until now, there have been designated individuals in each section of the choir that would take attendance the good ol' fashioned way. By observation and pen/paper. This was very time consuming and prone to error. Now we all just scan a QR code on our way in, and then again on our way out, and bam! All done. While the Church (and by extension, the Choir) is always a bit slow to adopt technology, I'm glad we're making progress on this front. Especially, as mentioned before, putting more emphasis on the digital music streaming apps instead of always taking about buying CDs. 

Third, we have a new Director of Travel - Justin Smith. I guess the choir will once again go on tours after all. Some of my choir friends had begun to wonder. 

Fourth, the best part of today? Having my wife surprise me by coming to watch Music & the Spoken Word ! 

Until next time, God be with you.