TCATS #351 - Sweet Immersion

Just a quick experience to share for today's post...

I had a birthday recently and one of the presents I received was some wireless earbuds. Think Airpods but cheaper and of the Sony variety. I'm probably the last person on the planet (or so it seems) to get some. So many people I see these days have them in their ears no matter where I go. But anyway, I went running several days ago, put in my new earbuds and started listening to my current "Liking Now" playlist. As I became immersed in the sound, I suddenly started thinking of the Tabernacle Choir and how one of the things I enjoy most about singing in the choir is being immersed in the sound that's all around me. Whether it's the voices themselves that come from all directions, or the sound that bounces off the Tabernacle walls and ceiling, it's quite the overwhelming experience. As those thoughts came to me, tears came to my eyes. I hadn't really realized it, but feeling that immersion of sound is something that I've missed. A lot.

One of the reasons such immersion of sound is so powerful right now in my life is that it can dispel negative thoughts. And such thoughts seem to habitate in my mind quite a bit given the pandemic stuff, the political stuff, and everything in-between. So when all of those thoughts finally cleared my mind and I began thinking about the choir at the same time, I guess my emotions just got the better of me during that run.

That's about all I've got for today. My hope for you is that you can find something to aid you in "unplugging" from the negative and feeling an immersion of the positive. For certainly there is still much positive to find even when commotion swirls all around us. And if any of you reading this aren't members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I extend a special invitation to you to tune into our upcoming General Conference that will be broadcast and streamed  this coming Saturday and Sunday. I can guarantee you'll find at least a tiny bit of peace and hope. And maybe even more than that! 

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #350 - Peripheral Thoughts

It seems like post #350 should be something really grand, don't you think? It's interesting our society puts such emphasis on the numbers they do. This phenomenon shows up in anniversaries, reunions, and birthdays--just to name of few. If you think about it, what's more special about your 50th anniversary than your 49th? A year is a year...

With that said, I wish I had something grand to say for this post. But alas, I do not. It's true that when the "choir train" slows down (at least for the singers themselves), there is time for introspection, appreciation, and gaining new perspectives. But after 190 days of that, at least for today, I don't have a lot of insights to offer. I think, then, I'll just write about the things I'm thinking about. And you can decide if they are important enough to you, to keep reading this blog entry.

I made a decision...

I made a decision, in conjunction with my wife and heaven, not to go on the 2021 tour. It really came down to family priorities vs choir priorities. And family won out (as it should). I let the person who was going to be my roommate know about the decision. He was understandably sad about it, but was very supportive nonetheless. The positive things about the decision (aside from the family priorities it supports), is that I won't have to think about tour any longer--wondering if it will actually happen or not. I won't have to think about adjusting to a new time zone, or eating strange foods my stomach is not accustomed to, or potentially getting seasick from living on a ship for a couple of weeks, or missing my family, or figuring out who to spend free time with, or wondering if I spend time with person A, B, and C, will D, E, and F feel left out or sad; or how COVID-19 might affect this, or this, or that, or getting sad that the will of heaven and the realities of money and other commitments prevent my wife from going with me, or stressing the week before that I might get a cold or something, or a hundred other things. 

I need to promote...

I need to promote the Choir's soon-to-be-released CD/DVD of our Christmas show last year. Do I feel like promoting it? Not exactly (it's just the mood I'm in--sorry). But to be perfectly honest, the show last year was truly great IMO and I have no doubt you'd love to see it/listen to it during the upcoming holiday season. Check out the choir's website for more info or just go to Amazon or Deseretbook or the like to pre-order it. I promise you'll be inspired.

I'm thinking of friends...

I'm thinking of friends because I've come to realize that some of my choir friends who I believed were more than just choir friends actually ARE just choir friends (think friends of circumstance vs true friends). It made me sad. I fully realize that all of us are going through difficult times right now and some might even be struggling just to make it through every day. And keeping in contact with selfish Ryan is not at the top of their priority list. I get that. But that said, there are several who, despite their personal difficulties, actually DO make it a priority to stay in contact--even it if it's simply a weekly or biweekly text of "Hello--how are you doing? How are you holding up?". So I'm thankful for those friends of mine who take the time and the effort. And for those who don't, I still admire you and appreciate you and am grateful for you and look forward to when I can sing with you again so that our friendship can resume.

I'm thinking of today's broadcast...

I'm thinking of today's broadcast because it was actually a rerun of a rerun--haha. I'm not sure what happened (since there are plenty of past broadcasts to choose from), but if they wanted to repeat one, they picked a really good one to repeat (it was last week's). You can check out my original blog entry regarding that broadcast, HERE.

And that's all I'm really thinking about. Mostly. 

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #349 - Passing of Time (110y + 6m)

 

September 2020 marks 110 years since the first audio recording was made of The Tabernacle Choir. This notable event was celebrated with a mini press event in which Ron Jarrett (Choir President), Mack Wilberg (Music Director), and Richard Turley (Church Historian) spoke about the Choir and this significant milestone (hosted by Daniel Woodruff--Church Spokesman and Assistant Choir Publicist). 

You can read about all about this HERE and HERE, and watch it HERE.

Being in the Choir only six years, I don't have a whole lot to say about 110 years worth of recordings, but I can tell you most of what the Choir does today is recorded and we often have two to three official recording sessions every year--recordings that are used for an upcoming album release. I've spoken at length about how such sessions are never easy and take an enormous amount of time, patience, and perspective. But the results are always worth the pain and go on to bless the lives of many.

Speaking of recordings, I tried to think back to the first memory I could recall of listening to the Tabernacle Choir. The one that comes to mind is associated with a 1980 video that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints produced called Mr. Krueger's Christmas. As a youngster of nine years old, and one who loved music even at that young age, I fell in love with the story of a kind old man (Jimmy Stewart) who has several day dreams of conducting the choir and accompanying them on a winter adventure involving slay rides and decorating a huge Christmas tree. This man also imagines himself visiting the infant Jesus in a stable and professing his love for the baby King. I remember specifically feeling a warmth and admiration for all of the music that the Tabernacle Choir had recorded for that film and how it aided me in planting a seed of love in my heart for my Savior Jesus Christ. 

Fast forward to today and over 200 official recordings later, including the most recent video recording release of "Duel of the Fates", as heard in Star Wars, Episode 1. While I didn't get the chance to be a part of this particular recording (I had some family event going on that day that I didn't want to miss), it's certainly a very cool one! Check it out if you'd like. The Choir has actually been waiting a long time to have this released (we recorded it several years ago and always wondered if it would ever see the light of day), so we're happy that the public finally gets to see it.

Shifting gears, it's now been six months since the Choir met together to record another episode of Music & the Spoken Word. We all miss the ability to fulfill our musical missionary callings, but we take heart in the words of our Church leaders--several of which have assured us that this pandemic situation will eventually come to an end. When we do get to sing again, I think we will be a different choir. The subtle differences may not be heard by most, but this pandemic has changed each of us, just as it has changed each of you, and those changes will most definitely be reflected in our singing. 

Until that time, we are grateful that past recordings of the Choir can continue to uplift and inspire. You're invited to make such recordings a part of your week, every week. 

May God be with you.

TCATS #348 - Homecoming

One of my best friends through my experience in the Choir has been Ryan Bateman. Ryan started with the Choir back in 1999, long before I even considered auditioning for the Choir. Throughout his time with this musical organization, he has had some incredible experiences, insights, and feelings--many of which he shared today in a "homecoming" talk he gave via Zoom in his ward. I just wanted to share a few things I thought about as he spoke, but first wanted to say thanks to his bishop who asked him to speak in the first place. There aren't a lot of people who initially consider members of the Tabernacle Choir as actual missionaries. So I'm glad his bishop recognized that and glad that even though we're in the middle of this pandemic with non-traditional ward meetings going on, he remember Ryan's completion of 20 years of service and knew that he would bless the lives of those who chose to tune in and hear him speak.

Along with the large number of regular choir events Ryan attended (think 20 years x 52 broadcasts + 20 years x 6 sessions of Conference + 20 years x at least 3 concerts), Ryan also attended every single tour during that time that the Choir went on which spanned places from around the globe. He got to sing at the 2002 Utah Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony as well. Ryan also mentioned a more recent highlight that was part of the 2018 West Coast tour in which the Gay Men's Choir was asked to sing with the Tabernacle Choir during one of their concert rehearsals. Why was this significant? Mainly because there has traditionally been some tension between the gay community and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But on that occasion, those walls of tension came down and it was less about self-identity and doctrinal beliefs and more about singing together as brothers and sisters.  This theme of unity and having everyone come to believe they are all a part of God's family is one of the goals the Choir has as it spreads its message of "love thy neighbor" throughout the world. 

One thing Ryan mentioned was that of personal sacrifice. As Ryan's not a morning person, joining the Choir meant waking up at 6AM every Sunday for the next 1,000+ Sundays. But he was quick to say that such a sacrifice was worth it as he joined with his fellow Choir friends to make music that not only inspired and lifted others, but inspired and lifted himself. Who can measure the depth and breadth of spiritual connection that comes from singing about God, Christ, and every heavenly attribute? Who can calculate the tethering effects such music has on a person's personal testimony and connection with the divine?
 

As I reflected on the thoughts Ryan shared, I felt grateful for the experiences he's had and his willingness to give so that he and so many others could receive. I also felt grateful for the future time in which the choir will resume singing and bringing increased light to a world that is ever darkening. 

Overall, I'm grateful for the friendship I have with Ryan and the many things he's taught me personally. His patience, thoughtfulness, kindness, and support are only a handful of attributes that have not only blessed my life, but have blessed all members of the Choir who have associated with him. His uniqueness has reached souls that only he could uplift--and I have no doubt that one day he'll meet these currently unknown individuals who have been impacted by his service and come to realize first-hand how he blessed their lives in so many ways.

The power of service.
We always receive so much more than we give.

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #347 - Letting In

During much of this pandemic, I've consciously chosen to shut off the emotional connection I have to the Tabernacle Choir music itself--a connection I used to both thrive upon and count on to lift me up. The reason for severing that connection stemmed from an instinctive need to protect myself. A protection against the pain and disappointment of not being able to sing with the Choir right now. I thought that if I really let everything in--let the music envelop me--I'd just end up in a puddle of tears.

That said, I have been watching Music & the Spoken Word every Sunday morning. It seems an odd thing to do for someone wanting to distance themselves from the music. But I think watching the broadcast helps maintain a different kind of connection that I actually want to keep--a connection to the Choir itself that reminds me it still exists and I'm still a part of it. What's tricky is watching the broadcast while keeping my heart closed. I've been successful at doing that, until today. 

But backing up just a bit to earlier this week. I was in my car and feeling a bit low and was trying to think what would lift my spirits. My mind wandered to Choir since it was Thursday night (normal rehearsal night) and I finally thought "What the heck...I'm just going to listen to Tab Choir music and let me emotions go where they go!"  

So I did. 

And little by little my heart opened up.  I even started singing along and remembering how it felt to perform.  I thought about the lyrics I was singing and how applicable they were. And even though the pain came too, it was overshadowed by the joy and hope contained in the music. Tears flooded my eyes and I realized that this music I had originally performed for others, was also for me, too. Letting it all in had been the right call.

As I pondered on all of this later, feeling grateful for the experience, a part of me continued to feel  really ashamed that any one thing (like the choir) was so integral to my happiness. But in all honestly, I think my missing it so much has been amplified by the reality we're currently living in. One where we are all social distanced from each other; where connections have been broken; where uncertainty abounds; where political strife dominates; and where it's hard to hold onto things. 

In the end, I concluded that it was OK to miss choir. So what if I miss it a lot? God has put it into my life for multiple reasons, and while uplifting others through my service is one of them, another one is to uplift me. I need it right now. And in the absence of rehearsing and performing, at least I have plenty of music to listen to--plenty of music to let in. 

So as I watched and listened to the broadcast this morning, I took down my defenses and envisioned myself back at the Tabernacle, sitting next to Ben and Wes (who I was actually standing by today), and singing beautiful music. I let the emotions back in and I didn't let go. And it was great.

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #346 - It's a Wrap!

Usually when I know that the end of the year is only weeks away, I compile all of my choir stats and assist Siope (fellow choir member and friend) in double-checking the information he's added to his pictograph. The pictograph highlights what the choir's done throughout the year and has become a fun tradition to look forward to. 

Well, it's the end of the year....already.

At least for the Choir.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday that all remaining live events for the Tabernacle Choir that were scheduled for 2020 have been cancelled. Including the beloved Christmas Concert. So just like that, the choir year has ended already. The choir "train" that is typically a non-stop train that rarely even slows down not only came to a screeching halt in March, but has now been sent to the railyard where it will sit until recommissioned sometime in 2021. I guess.

None of this is a surprise really. But there's a saying "It's not over until it's over" which carries with it some hope. And it was that hope we were all holding onto. No longer though.

The other thing I was thinking about this week, choir-related, was the 2021 tour. My family and I are planning a big family trip the summer of 2021 because my son will be home from his mission to Albania/Kosovo finally and two of my kids have never really experienced Disneyland. But since we can't take that vacation anytime in June or August due to various things going on, that leaves the end of July, which is too soon after the tour is over (it would be hard to take three weeks off of work and then go back for one week, only to leave again the week after). So I just don't know if I can go. Then again, if there's no vaccine yet, the 2021 tour may just turn into a nice "if only" thought.

That's it my friends. 

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #345 - Tour Roster, Take 2

The tour roster for the now 2021 tour was posted this week. Members of the choir and orchestra were able to see if they had been selected to participate and were also able to see if their (optional) guest was selected to come along, too. Normally there's be a bit more buzz and excitement about the posting, but a lot of that buzz usually takes place in-person when we're meeting for rehearsal and since we're not meeting right now, the buzz was a bit lost. Plus, I think at least some of us were (are) wondering where we'll be next year in regards to the coronavirus-- and if the countries we're planning to visit (seven of them) who are currently very excited to have us will let us in to perform next June/July. One would think that by then we'd have a vaccine and things would be back to somewhat "normal" status. But who knows. If we've learned anything during this pandemic, it's that we can't really count on anything. 

The other thing of note this week is that in our weekly newsletter, Mack gave us a full page's worth of thoughts (which, up to this point, he hasn't done). I don't have the OK to post his words here, but in summary, he just wanted to thank us for our past performances (which are blessing the lives of many as they are being seen and heard by more people than ever before) and tell us that our best days are still to come. I appreciate the hope he shared as sometimes it seems like this pandemic will never end. 

That's really about it for this week. Short and sweet I guess. 

Until next time, God be with you.