Once More With Feeling

I used to sing with a choir. The beauty of singing with a choir is that your voice is not the main thing, it contributes to the main thing.

When we rehearsed what we were singing, time was given to get accustomed to the structure of the song and the parts in it. Time was also given to understand the lyrics not just for how they rhythmically fitted, but for what they were to convey. Time was given for these things, but pretty soon the musing and figuring out would have to turn to singing the song as it was supposed to be sung. The reason to be in the choir was to be able to do that.

Being in the choir was not all about good technical quality. It was that capacity to sing it the way it was meant to be sung which was with your entire being in the song. That did not mean theatrical renditions and flourishes – it was clear when it was contrived. It did mean, however, engaging with the song and allowing it to mean something to you and then expressing that while singing it. Not everyone could do that – and that’s no slight on the people, that was clear observable reality. In those cases of recognising that, it just made sense to leave choir singing to others who could.

So I left it to those who could.

It was great learning, however, the importance of the service shared when the choir sang it with feeling. When people could clearly see the fruits of the hours of rehearsal to deliver the message in the song. When listeners could witness that the song was rich and enriching, something that moved and was moving, the power of those occasions was unforgettable.

It also informed me that this was not something just applicable to choirs and songs.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden