The Art of Choral Music

Excerpt from Voice of Faith Magazine Article/ Plus a Reminder About Upcoming Spring 2012 Choral Concerts!

2012-01-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Please find below an excerpt from an article I wrote for the Voice of Faith magazine last year:

"Located in Barbourville, Kentucky, Union College is a small liberal arts college nestled in the rolling hills of Knox County. Union, a college of the United Methodist Church, offers twenty nine majors on a beautiful campus in the heart of Appalachia. It has been my great privilege to teach music at Union for the past nine years. One of the highlights of my job is directing the Union College Singers, Union Harmony, and the UC Regional Chorus. At the risk of waxing poetic, there is nothing like the art of choral music. Where else does one have the pleasure of being part of an ¬¬art form that weds well written texts and beautiful melodies and harmonies? I am blessed to work in a field that I not only love, but to which I feel called.

The Union College Singers is an ensemble whose membership includes any student who wishes to sing, while Union Harmony is an auditioned group of eight singers. The UC Regional Chorus is predominantly a community based choir whose membership includes singers from Barbourville and other surrounding towns and communities, as well as, Union College faculty, staff, and students. Two very fine pianists accompany the UC choirs. Kathy Smith of Barbourville accompanies the UC Singers and Union Harmony, while Danny Phelps of London serves as the accompanist for the Regional Chorus."

The two major performances this spring are the Valentine Concert on Feb. 14th at 8:00 p.m. in Conway Boatman Chapel and the Spring Concert on April 19th at 8:00 p.m. also in the Chapel. If you would like to know more about Union's Choral Program, please give my a call, send an email, or stop by my office.

Blessings....

Short Video Clip of the Union College Choral Program, 2011

2011-12-25T17:05:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Please enjoy this short video clip featuring the Union College Singers, Union Harmony, and the UC Regional Chorus. 2011 has been a great year for our choral program -- I am looking forward to our first concert of 2012 on Valentine's Day.

Blessings......

I Was Blogging and Found

2011-12-07T14:37:00.002-05:00

Sixth Post in the Series

"Thoughts on Love and Care"

I first came across this link on http://www.challies.com/. I don't know what I could possibly add......please view the short clip below.

Sola Gratia

Fall 2011 UC Singers & Harmony Pics!!

2011-10-31T22:37:00.006-04:00

I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the Union College Singers and Union Harmony a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share them here with you. There were a few members from the Singers who were absent and therefore not present in the pictures, however, all members of Harmony are present.

Two pictures of the Singers were taken from the "window" in my office that looks down into the chapel. One pic was taken from floor level in the chapel. Harmony pics were taken at the Gazebo on the front lawn of Union College.

Enjoy the pictures and don't forget to put the December 3rd Christmas Festival Concert on your calendar. The concert is at 8:00 p.m. in Conway Boatman Chapel. More details about the Christmas Festival are forthcoming. Sola Gratia.....

The Beauty and Power of Hymns: Opus 5

2011-09-22T16:28:00.001-04:00

This is the fifth post in a quasi regular series about hymn tunes, lyrics, sources, etc....

This semester Union Harmony is singing a beautiful piece entitled "Abide with Me" which is based on the hymn of the same name. The lyrics were penned by Henry F. Lyte (1793-1847) and the tune composed by William H. Monk (1823-1889). The tune is known as "Eventide" and is lyrical and flowing in nature. The text takes its inspiration from Luke 24:29 which reads -- But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. (NIV)

Connie Ruth Christiansen (http://www.sharefaith.com/) says this about the writing of this hymn - "In 1844, Henry was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Over the next three years his physical condition deteriorated until finally on September 4, 1847, at the age of 54, he stood in the pulpit for the last time to deliver his farewell message.

That same afternoon, after taking a walk on the beach, Henry retired to his room. He emerged about an hour later with a written copy of Abide With Me. He left soon after for a trip to Italy, to get away from the cold, damp coastal weather. While en route to his destination, he mailed a revised copy of Abide With Me to his wife. A few days later while resting in a hotel on the French Riviera, Henry went home to be with Jesus."

Jack Schrader's arrangement begins with the opening lines of the hymn -- Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! It is a moving text that has been utilized by numerous composers through the years; however, I find this arrangement to be most moving and appealing. Schrader set verses 1, 3, and 5 and weaves between unison singing and SATB divisi. In reading the background to the writing of this hymn it appears that the ocean was ever present in Henry's life. Likewise, it is interesting to note that much of the opening accompaniment of Schraders' arrangement contains a "rolling" triplet motion. It is as if the sea is musically being depicted -- a technique akin to wordpainting. As I was working on this piece with my choir, I noticed this wavelike motion and wondered if this musical allusion to the sea was intentional. I cannot know if Jack Schrader new the background of this hymn, although my educated guess (after reading the background myself) would be yes, he did.

Fellow choral musicians -- I highly recommend this piece. It is published by Hope Publishing and you can listen to a performance of this arrangement at J.W. Pepper dot com. Type Abide with Me Schrader (without quotes) into the keyword box - once the page loads simply "click" to play a recording.

As mentioned above, this arrangement utilizes verses 1, 3, and 5; however, please find the complete hymn text below. Enjoy and Sola Gratia!

Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

(from: http://www.sharefaith.com/)

A New Year Awaits: Looking forward...

2011-08-15T15:49:00.002-04:00

Fall classes begin a week from tomorrow and I couldn’t be happier. Yes, you heard me right – I couldn’t be happier! I love the beginning of a new school year. This time last year I wrote a post on that very subject. Here is just a small portion of what I wrote –

“Each new semester brings with it a new beginning, a “do over” if you will. One can reflect upon the previous semester(s) and decide what worked, what didn’t work, and what worked even though one may be unclear why! … This feeling I get (especially as the Fall semester approaches) reminds me of how I felt growing up -- a new school year would be on the horizon and I knew it was a time to make changes, to try something new, to be a better student, etc… . It is my hope and prayer that I can, in some small way, make a difference in [my student's] lives. So, as a new academic year begins, I want to challenge you to embrace this time of new beginnings. Sola gratia…”

It is indeed a time of new beginnings! I am looking forward to the Union College Singers as they begin rehearsals on Wednesday, August 24th at 1:00 p.m. If you are a UC student and want to be a part of this outstanding ensemble, simply register for MUSC 152! Although Union Harmony has a singing engagement even before classes begin, their first “official” rehearsal of the semester is Wednesday, August 24th at 3:00 p.m.

The UC Regional Chorus will also be starting up again very soon. Their first rehearsal will be on Tuesday, September 6th at 7:30 p.m. This fine choir is made up of singers from Barbourville, surrounding communities, faculty, staff, and students. If you would like to be a member of the RC, please contact me at 546-1333 or ggandy@unionky.edu.

Before I conclude my post today and as I get in the mindset of Christmas (yes, Christmas in August!) I want to share with you “What Sweeter Music” penned by Robert Herrick, set to music by John Rutter, and performed by the St. Olaf Choir. I have crossed paths with this beautiful carol several times through the years. It is set beautifully and this “marriage” of text and music is so profoundly moving. You will find the text and link below – please enjoy this thoughtful interpretation of "What Sweeter Music" by the St. Olaf Choir.

Blessings to you at this time of new beginnings…

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a Carol, for to sing
The Birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the Voice! Awake the String!

Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honor to this Day,
That sees December turn'd to May.

Why does the chilling Winter's morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell, like to a meadow newly-shorn,
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:

'Tis He is born, whose quick'ning Birth
Gives life and luster, public mirth,
To Heaven and the under-Earth.

We see Him come, and know Him ours,
Who, with His Sun-shine, and His Showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The Darling of the World is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome Him.

The nobler part
Of all the house here, is the Heart,

Which we will give Him; and bequeath
This Holly and this Ivy Wreath,
To do Him honor; who's our King,
And Lord of all this Revelling.

What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a Carol, for to sing
The Birth of this our heavenly King?

Announcing Union Harmony members for 2011-2012

2011-08-04T16:21:00.001-04:00

I am very pleased to announce those students who will make up Union Harmony 2011-2012. But, first I want to thank all who auditioned for Harmony. I am so fortunate to have so many outstanding (new and "old")singers in my choirs.

The members of Union Harmony have big responsibilities since one of their primary obligations is to sing for convocations, the homecoming service, hanging of the greens, baccalaureate, commencement, etc ... . So, to that end please find below members of Union Harmony 2011-2012.

Courtney Sprinkles and Kelli Hensley, soprano

Cortni Thrasher and Shanya Jackson, alto

Eddie Smith and Michael Poff, tenor

Christian Bruce and Chris Adams, bass

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Let me conclude by saying that the UC Singers is looking to be another outstanding ensemble again this year. Excellent returning singers combined with the wonderful talents of new incoming singers makes for an exceptional ensemble. Union's Regional Chorus will also be starting rehearsals soon and will once again be filled with talented singers from Barbourville, surrounding communities, faculty, staff, and students.

Singers, warm up your voices -- rehearsals are right around the corner!

Blessings...

Coming Soon! Concert Schedule/Harmony results

2011-07-31T23:08:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe another school year is right around the corner. About three weeks until classes begin and I am really looking forward to the new semester.

The choral concert schedule for the year has been set and will be posted shortly. Also, an announcement naming the members of Union Harmony for the 2011-2012 school year will soon be posted. I am waiting on one call back audition to take place and then I can post the results.

Check back soon for further updates.

Blessings......

Union College Choirs -- Thank you (Check out the pics)

2011-05-31T23:40:00.002-04:00

The 2010-2011 Choral Concert Season has come and gone and I could not be more pleased with the efforts of all three choirs. The students that make up the Union College Singers and Union Harmony worked all year long to provide music for the campus and surrounding communities. Certainly, our campus and community would not be the same without the musical offerings they provide. The Regional Chorus is equal in their commitment. The RC provides an opportunity for qualified singers from Barbourville, surrounding communities, as well as UC faculty, staff, and interested students to be a part of the Union College Choral Program. As with the student choirs, the Regional Chorus works diligently all year to provide outstanding choral performances.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to all members of the UC Choral Program. It is my great privilege to work with all of you and I look forward to the opportunities that await us next year!

Please enjoy the following photos!

Blessings to you and the ones you love this summer....

The Voice of Faith Magazine

2011-04-01T14:07:00.000-04:00

The Voice of Faith Magazine is a quarterly publication of the Corbin-Times Tribune. The magazine offers articles on a variety of topics related to the Christian faith. I recently wrote a very brief article for the publication entitled "The Art of Choral Music at Union College."

If you haven't seen a hard copy of the March issue, an electronic copy may be found at the following link. http://www.branchsmith.com/eBook/CNHI/28159_CNHI/28159_CNHI/flash.html

I Was Blogging and Found..........

2011-03-29T00:59:00.001-04:00

Fifth post in the series.

I was blogging and found a series of articles on the role of the "Worship Leader." I must confess that I am not a fan of calling someone a Worship Leader. In fact, Bob Kauflin, the author of this series of articles, is not completely comfortable with its use either. He states "As far as using the term "worship leader" in the title - While I prefer terms like “music pastor” or “congregational worship leader,” I decided to use the term “worship leader” simply because most people can identify with it."

It is true that many of our churches today have a designated Worship Leader, who typically takes on the leadership role of incorporating music in worship. However, in many respects I agree with Bob Kauflin on not only the role of music in our churches, but also on the role of the one who takes leadership in this area.

I enjoyed many of these short articles written by Kauflin, but was particularly drawn to part 5, which you will find below. You can read all the articles at http://www.worshipmatters.com/.

What Does a Worship Leader Do? Pt. 5
We've almost reached the place where I talk about what a corporate worship leader is actually supposed to be doing. But not quite. There’s one more thing I want to say about the tools we use to lead congregational worship.
An effective worship leader “skillfully combines biblical truth with music.”
Skillfully.
Skill has been defined as the “the ability to do something well.” With all the benefits of the mass outpouring of worship songs in the past decade, there have been some down sides. One is the belief that a sincere heart, a guitar, and a knowledge of three chords qualifies someone to lead worship in a church. Fortunately, more and more churches are realizing that it takes skill to put music and biblical truth together in such a way that people actually worship God rather than the leader, the music, themselves, or other idols. That skill may come from natural gifting, training, or experience; but it’s an important part of what a worship leader does.
Combines biblical truth with music.
Leading God’s people in corporate worship isn’t just about truth and it isn’t simply about music. It’s about both. If I had to choose one, obviously, I’d take truth. But God, for some reason, mentions singing over 400 times in his word, including 50 direct commands to sing His praise. He makes it pretty obvious what He wants us to do in Ps. 47:6:
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
Worship involves all of life, to be sure. We can worship God when we evangelize, care for our children, serve a neighbor, or obey the traffic laws. But God wants at least some of praise to be musical. Have you ever wondered why? I have. And I’ve realized that if I use music in corporate praise without understanding God's purpose for it, I’ll be prone to misuse it. Even worse, God won’t be glorified by sincere, but misguided, attempts.
So, let me start by suggesting what music doesn’t do when we meet to exalt God. It doesn’t reveal God’s presence or bring us closer to God. Only the Holy Spirit and the finished work of our Savior can do that. Harold Best writes:
“Christian musicians must be particularly cautious. They can create the impression that God is more present when music is being made than when it is not; that worship is more possible with music than without it; and that God might possibly depend on its presence before appearing." (Music Through the Eyes of Faith, p. 153)
Music doesn’t sanctify or morally change us. Again, that is the work of God’s Spirit working through His word. Music doesn’t preach propositional truth to us, and has no power to save us. Apart from lyrics or a surrounding context, music is a “truth-less” form of communication. By that I mean that while music affects us in many ways (which I'll address later), it can never accurately articulate realities like substitutionary atonement or the relationship of the Father and the Son on its own.
Next week, I’ll talk about how I think God intends for music to function as we lead people to praise Him. Thanks for reading.

[Article by Bob Kauflin as found on http://www.worshipmatters.com/]

It Was All About Love: The 2011 Valentine Concert

2011-02-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

On Monday evening, February 14, 2011 the UC Music Program presented its fourth annual Valentine Concert. The Union College Singers sang Can't Buy Me Love and I Heard it Through the Grapevine. Union Harmony presented I'm a Believer and If You Don't Know Me By Now, while the Regional Chorus sang Dream a Little Dream of Me and Ain't Misbehavin'.

There were also three mixed ensemble numbers that included Somewhere Out There, Take a Chance (on me), and When I Fall in Love (our signature piece). As a finale, all the choirs came together to sing Isn't it Romantic? Two soloists, Eddie Campbell and Stephanie Cagle sang Fields of Gold and Taylor the Latte Boy, respectively.

All the choirs, mixed ensembles, and soloists sang beautifully. I want to express my appreciation for all their hard work in preparing for this concert, especially in light of the fact that there was such a short time span between the first rehearsal of the semester and the concert itself.

Music that is drawn from pop culture very often contains very complicated rhythms, which take a great deal of time and attention to master. I know many in the choir who may be reading this are smiling (I hope :) knowing how hard we worked on those complex and syncopated rhythms. Again, I couldn't be more proud of all three choirs!

The Valentine Concert, from the beginning, has been a campus and Barbourville community favorite; it rivals the Christmas Festival in attendance. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Union College campus community, the Barbourville community, as well as surrounding communities who come to our concerts and support music at Union College!

Please look for another post, coming soon, with pictures taken the evening of the concert.

Blessings......

"Snow had Fallen, Snow on Snow"

2011-01-07T22:30:00.013-05:00

As the snow came down today, I was taken with the beauty and charm of Union's campus. The snow had fallen to paint quite a picture for us. I couldn't help but whip out the new camera I got for Christmas (thanks mom) and take some pictures.

Before we begin a new semester next week, please indulge me as we visit one more Christmas song. Known by many, "In the Bleak Midwinter" was penned by Christina G. Rossetti and the tune we are most accustomed to was composed by Gustav Holst. Please follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ
to enjoy a performance of "In the Bleak Midwinter" by the Gloucester Cathedral Choir. Also, please enjoy pictures taken today (1/7/11) of our lovely campus.

Blessings...

Photo Gallery: 2010 Christmas Festival Concert

2010-12-07T17:24:00.000-05:00

I want to express my appreciation to the Union College Singers, Union Harmony, UC Regional Chorus, pianists Kathy Smith and Danny Phelps, and guest artist Amy Foulkes (flute) for the beautiful music they present during the 2010 Christmas Festival Concert. I was so pleased with their musicality and expressivity; what a privilege it is to be the director of these outstanding ensembles.

Please enjoy looking through the photos taken just prior to the performance. All photos are courtesy of the UC Office of Communications, Missy Frederick, photographer.

I want to end this post with an excerpt from "A Christmas Blessing" (words and music by Dale Wood), which was the closing piece of the Christmas Festival Concert.

"Voices of angels are echoing still; Songs of the ages of peace and good will. May God be with you in all that you do at this wonderful time of the year."

Soli Deo Gloria

(To God Alone be the Glory)

I Was Blogging and Found........

2010-11-11T15:40:00.003-05:00

Fourth post in the series.

I came across a post, on a blog I frequent, that examines a book called Handel’s Messiah: Comfort for God’s People by Calvin Stapert. According to the author of this blog (who asserts that he knows very little about music) the book is accessible to non-musicians. Blogger, Tim Challies says "...the book serves as a guide to Handel’s great masterpiece." George Frideric Handel composed numerous oratorios, but his most beloved oratorio today is the Messiah.

I plan on purchasing the book myself and wanted to bring it to the attention of readers of my blog. If you look at the comments section of Tim's blog (see link at the end of this post) you will find numerous suggestions of good recordings of the Messiah. If you are interested in a recording that is mindful of correct performance practices of the era (for instance, the use of Baroque period instruments, reducing the size of the performing forces (de-romanticizing, if you will), as well as employing vocal and instrumental techniques of the era) you may want to check out John Eliot Gardner's recording with the Monteverdi Choir.

Happy reading and listening!

http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/handels-messiah-comfort-for-gods-people#more

Union College Homecoming 2010

2010-10-21T16:50:00.004-04:00

It is a busy week here at Union College and the weather could not be more beautiful. The students are having a grand time participating in the many activities planned in celebration of Homecoming 2010. Come this weekend, Union will be welcoming a great number of alumni to campus for a wide variety of planned activities, including the Homecoming football game and Banquet.

I want to highlight the Homecoming Worship Service, which takes place this Sunday, October 24th at 11:00 a.m. I am particularly encouraged to see Union embrace its Methodist (Christian) heritage as First United Methodist Church of Barbourville and the college come together for a time of worship in Conway Boatman Chapel. The service is a joint venture that includes Rev. Ernie Carmicle (Minister, FUMC, Barbourville), Rev. David Miller (UC Campus Minister), as well as, Union College alumni, and current UC students and faculty. President Ed de Rosset will offer a greeting and Dr. Jim Garrett, Professor of English, will offer a prayer.

The message will be brought by alumnus, Steve Poteet-Marshall who is currently Pastor of Walnut Methodist Church, Walnut, California. Serving as organist for the service, Kay Dawn McFarland is not only an alumna of Union College, but also serves as organist at Barbourville’s First United Methodist Church. UC alumna and Minister of Music at Barbourville FUMC, Paula Frase will lead the hymns and Kathy Smith, UC staff accompanist will accompany Union Harmony as they sing both the choral introit and the anthem. Harmony is one of the three choirs I direct here at the college. It is a select group of eight very talented singers. This year Harmony will sing the anthem in memory of Allan Green, Professor of Music, who faithfully served Union College for thirty-eight years.

I want to encourage students, alumni, faculty, staff, and all other friends of the college and FUMC, Barbourville to come to the 2010 Homecoming Service, which will be held this Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in Conway Boatman Chapel. I hope to see you there!

Blessings…

One Year and Counting...

2010-09-28T15:23:00.012-04:00

I can’t believe that I have been blogging for an entire year! My first post was on September 28, 2009. When I realized that I was coming up on the one year mark, I evaluated the blog to see if there were any changes or adjustments that I wanted to make. By and large, the blog’s purpose and function have been satisfactory. However, I have done some “tweaking” to not only the format of the blog, but also to its purpose.

From the beginning I intended for the blog to be meaningful to not only choral conductors/enthusiasts (through the topical blog posts), but I also wanted it to serve, in a more direct way, the Union College Choral Program. Essentially, I wanted two blogs in one. Of course, the topical blog posts are often an outgrowth of my work with the UC choirs, so there is some interrelated material between the topical posts and “Blog Too.” Nevertheless, as you look at the new format, you will find that I have indeed created two blogs in one.

On the left side of the page you will find topical blog posts and on the right side of the page you will find frequent posts specifically directed toward members of the UC Singers, Union Harmony, and the Regional Chorus. In order to accomplish this I needed the right side of the blog to be more spacious (wider if you will), which after a bit of experimentation I was able to accomplish. I also needed to move my profile, blog archive, concert schedule, etc… to another part of the blog. Again, after some experimentation I found that the foot of each page seemed like the ideal spot.

I began working on the format change about a week ago and am happy with the new look and revised function. I did run into a few “snags” when changing the format. For instance, all (and I do mean all) of my blog posts no longer included paragraphs, lists, indentations, etc…. Sigh, I had to go back and “reformat” each post. But, I know that all things being equal, the transition has gone rather smoothly.

If you have a comment about the new design/function, please feel free to email me. In general, I have found that readers of blogs very often do not leave comments, so I have removed this option from my blog for now. However, please feel free to email me ggandy@unionky.edu with your comments/questions/observations.

So begins my second year of blogging. Please come back from time-to-time to read a topical post or to see what is happening within the Union College Choral Program!

Blessings…

I Was Blogging and Found.......

2010-09-20T18:05:00.007-04:00

Third post in the series.

I was blogging and found a great post called “Truths about Choral Leadership” by Tim Sharp, Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Dr. Sharp offers very good insight about choral leadership. I have sung under numerous choral directors and have found that the ones who were the best leaders were also those who inspired me. Inspiration can be elusive and enigmatic, but, make no mistake; the hope of "inspiration" begins with good choral leadership. This brief post can be found at www.choralnet.org/view/263424. Enjoy!

A Time of New Beginnings....

2010-08-20T15:03:00.011-04:00

It is hard to believe that I am beginning my ninth year here at Union College. And in many ways, the time seems to have flown by so quickly. At the risk of “waxing poetic” there is nothing like teaching at the collegiate level. Each new semester brings with it a new beginning, a “do over” if you will. One can reflect upon the previous semester(s) and decide what worked, what didn’t work, and what worked even though one may be unclear why! I can look at the previous semester and make adjustments, keep some things the same, or maybe even try something new and radical – well, I’m not exactly a radical kind of woman, but you get the idea. This feeling I get (especially as the Fall semester approaches) reminds me of how I felt growing up -- a new school year would be on the horizon and I knew it was a time to make changes, to try something new, to be a better student, etc…

As I look back over the last many years, I have many things for which to be thankful. I am proud that the Union College Choral Program consists of three solid choral ensembles and that any student who has the desire to sing, can be a part of the music program. The choirs have maintained a high profile and have presented quality choral performances that have not gone unnoticed by our college, community, as well as, surrounding communities. What a privilege to work in a discipline that “weds” wonderful texts to beautiful music.

I also love being what I call a “regular” classroom teacher. I thoroughly enjoy teaching -- whether it is Introduction to Music, Music History, or Music Theory. I also get to teach one-on-one voice lessons and watch (hopefully:) students bloom and grow in their vocal technique and singing. As I reflect upon my life (so far) as a college professor, I can say with all sincerity that I am grateful to work in a field I love and am equally grateful for being a part of my student’s lives. It is my hope and prayer that I can, in some small way, make a difference in their lives. So, as a new academic year begins, I want to challenge you to embrace this time of new beginnings. Sola gratia…

Union Harmony 2010-2011

2010-07-29T15:52:00.010-04:00

I want to thank everyone who auditioned for Union Harmony. I am so thankful for the wealth of talent amongst Union College students. Union Harmony is an audition-based ensemble that is typically made up of eight singers. These singers are also members of the college's "concert choir" the Union College Singers. Harmony sings for most of the college's academic events/convocations and may also be called upon for additional performances. The members of Union Harmony 2010-2011 are Chris Adams, Christian Bruce, Cassy Kost, Chelsi Deweese, Kara Beth Lundy, Michael Poff, Eddie Smith, and Cortni Thrasher. Alternates are Olivia Brock Corey Powell. When you see these singers, as they come back to campus in the next several weeks, please be sure to offer them your congratulations!! Soli Deo Gloria

The Union College Music Program Remembers Bruce Martin

2010-07-14T11:30:00.013-04:00

In picture: Bruce and I working with voice students as they prepare for voice juries -- Ashley Shipley, standing. Friend of Union College, Bruce Martin , passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2010. Bruce was not only a great pianist, he was also a highly skilled piano technician. For many years he worked to keep the college’s pianos in tune and in good repair. Bruce also played for innumerable college events through the years.

An accomplished pianist, Bruce had a particular love for jazz and exploring the limits of improvisation within the genre. As a young man, he studied with Oscar Peterson who is renowned for his work in the field of jazz music. Oscar Peterson was one of the founders of “The Advanced School of Contemporary Music.” I found a great article (online) from a 1961 issue of Ebony magazine that spotlighted the school and Oscar Peterson -- there is even a picture of a young Bruce Martin in this article. The web address is extremely long, but if you google [“Bruce Martin” Ebony Magazine] the link will be at the top of the page. The article begins on page 43 and the picture of Bruce (at work with Oscar Peterson) is on page 44.

I first met Bruce when I came to Union eight years ago. I was unsure who was going to accompany the student ensembles, but am so grateful that Bruce was able to serve as accompanist for the UC Singers and Union Harmony during my first semester at the college. Bruce continued to be gracious in lending his talents to the music program when called upon to do so. One of the things I so appreciated about Bruce was his optimism. He was my brother in Christ who greeted me with a smile and was always eager to help in any way that he was able. On behalf of the Union College Music Program, I want to offer my condolences to his family and express our sincere appreciation for Bruce’s many years of dedicated service to our music program. Soli Deo Gloria

A Personal and Decidedly off the Topic Post

2010-06-27T16:29:00.018-04:00

Prelude: Before I get into the topic of the post, I want to say that I have gone back and forth about making this post and still feel somewhat uncomfortable with my decision. However, I hope this article will answer some of the questions I have been asked through the years and satisfy any lingering curiosity.

Some readers of this blog are aware that I have struggled with vertigo for almost four years. However, unless you are around me on a daily or nearly daily basis, you very well may not have any idea that I have this condition (and even then, you may not have noticed). It is true that I don’t talk about it a great deal, but it is something that I deal with on some level on a daily basis.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a disease process of the inner ear. It is thought to be caused by head injury, the aging process, ototoxicity, and in many instances the cause is unknown. It is believed that mine was caused by high dose antibiotics (http://www.vestibular.org/vestibular-disorders/specific-disorders/ototoxicity.php) that were administered during and after major surgery (ototoxicity). In the following you will find a brief and concise explanation of the workings of the inner ear and the disease process that is BPPV. “Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It includes three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. Other structures … in your ear monitor movements of your head — up and down, right and left, back and forth — and your head's position related to gravity. These … [structures] — the utricle and saccule — contain crystals that make you sensitive to movement and gravity. For a variety of reasons, these crystals can become dislodged. When they become dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals…. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to. As a result, you feel dizzy.” (source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vertigo/DS00534/DSECTION=causes)

Often times BPPV will resolve on its own without treatment. There is also a head positioning treatment (Epley maneuver) that is helpful to some patients. Sigh…I have been there, done that and more. In my experience and research I have found that the vast majority of individuals who get BPPV experience episodes that are brief, and are symptom free in a few days to perhaps a month or so. I am in the small percentage (perhaps 10% depending upon whose research you believe) who have an atypical, persistent case of BPPV. Some of you will remember when the disease process first began for me. I moved my head (and body) very carefully, experienced extreme nausea, had a difficult time concentrating (my brain was working overtime trying to compensate for the false signals coming from my inner ear), and I didn’t drive for eight months. Without going into more detail, suffice it to say that my quality of life was very poor. I am so very thankful that for several years now I have been on a medication (not originally intended to treat BPPV) that has tremendously helped with the symptoms. Even with the medication, I continue to struggle with this condition, although it is much more manageable. One of the frustrations of this condition is its unpredictability. For some weeks at a time I am doing quite well and then suddenly I am very vertiginous. I continue to learn what activities or movements might agitate the misplaced particles in my inner ear, however, often I cannot determine what has caused the agitation. Having said all that, I continue to hope that one day my inner ear will function normally.

So, you now know more than you probably ever wanted to know about BPPV! Yet, I hope I was able to answer some of the questions that I have been asked through the years. I also want to point out that there are people right here at Union College who have struggled with a life changing condition or who are struggling with some sort of chronic ailment. Certainly, there are many who are struggling and suffering a great deal more than I. I am indeed very thankful for the good (albeit somewhat compromised) health that I enjoy. I also want to add that I think that through this experience I have become a more empathetic individual and am not as quick to dismiss someone who has a condition that I cannot relate to or don’t fully understand.

Well, I feel it only appropriate to end this post on a musical note -- so go to youtube and type in "music from vertigo" (listen to the top link) and enjoy!! Blessings…..

I Was Blogging and Found......

2010-06-08T12:18:00.011-04:00

Second post in the series.

I was first made aware of this video when it was posted on Facebook by Philip Copland. Philip originally posted this video on the choralnet blog. Take a look at the video "The Hokey Pokey Heals." What are they thinking? Where is the reverence for our Creator? Go to http://www.choralnet.org/ and scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the link "The Hokey Pokey Heals." What do you think? If you have something you would like to share, please leave a comment in my guestbook. By the way, you don't have to provide your name or email address -- you may leave an anonymous comment if you like.

A Great Cloud of Witnesses: Recommendation of two notable works

2010-06-02T14:41:00.012-04:00

Presumably, many of you know that (by the grace of God through Christ Jesus) I am a child of God. So, if you have followed my blog for any length of time you no doubt have noticed that some few of my posts include scripture references, my thoughts on a passage or how our Creator is revealed in a particular piece of music, etc ... In today’s post I want to introduce you to two works. One is a book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love” and the other is a piece of music for SATB choir called “Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness” by Jonathan Crutchfield and arranged by Joseph M. Martin.

[As a side note, the words for the choral work are by John H. Dickson. Dr. Dickson is now Dean and Professor of Conducting at the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University. I briefly studied with him at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He is an outstanding choral musician and as my memory serves me, has always had a love for the beauty of words and as he often put it, “the marriage of text and music.”]

In Francis Chan’s book “Crazy Love” Chan asks the question, “What does running toward Christ and pursuing Love look like in daily life?” He answers this question in looking at all of Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter speaks of men and women of great faith – and yet, they were greatly flawed. Chan writes, “It is tempting to assume that the people listed there were superhuman, or supersaints, and that you and I could never do the kinds of things they did. But did you know that Abraham was afraid for his safety, so he lied about his wife … Consider Jacob, who stole his brother Esau’s birthright … Or did you know that Moses was a murderer and so scared of speaking up that God had to send his brother, Aaron, to be Moses’ mouthpiece? … Then there’s Samson, who had so many issues I don’t even know where to begin. And of course, David, a ‘man after God’s own heart’ who was an adulterer and a murderer …” (Chan 114).

Chan’s point here is that in spite of our wandering hearts we too can daily pursue, not only love as found in Christ, but the loveliness of Christ, which is the crux of “Crazy Love.” Later Chan goes on to say, “As chronicled in Hebrews 11, the God that the people of faith served is the very One we serve. … When you pray, your prayers are heard by the same God who answered Moses’ prayer for water in the desert, the God who gave Abraham and his barren wife a son, and the God who made the slave Joseph second in power only to Pharaoh.” (Chan 116).

The title for the anthem “Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness” is taken from the opening lines of Hebrews 12, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (NIV, vs. 1). This “cloud of witnesses” is the people of faith spoken of in chapter 11 of Hebrews. What a humbling thought, to know that we are "surrounded" by these great saints. "Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness" is a majestic anthem thusly described on the jwpepper site -- “This noble call to worship and service is a stirring tribute to God's faithfulness as displayed through the work of his church. The arena of heaven cheers on the people of God as they seek to run the race and fight the good fight answering the call to ministry."

The SATB anthem is accompanied by piano and organ and includes parts for handbells and the congregation. If you would like to listen to a brief sample of the work go to http://www.jwpepper.com/. In the keywords box type Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness. When the page pulls up click on “closer look” to hear an audio sample. I highly recommend both “Crazy Love” and “Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness.” Happy reading, listening, or singing!

Chan, Francis. “Crazy Love.” Colorado Spring, CO: David C. Cook, 2008. Crutchfield, Jonathan; Martin, Joseph M. arr. “Look, You Saints, A Cloud of Witness.” Celebrating Grace Inc. (via Shawnee Press), 2010.

The Beauty and Power of Hymns: Opus 4

2010-05-17T14:59:00.019-04:00

This is the fourth post in a quasi regular series about hymn tunes, lyrics, sources, etc...

Craig Courtney, a prolific and notable editor/composer of sacred choral music, crafted a beautiful arrangement (using the hymntune RESIGNATION) for SATB chorus with piano accompaniment. The text is by Isaac Watts and is based on Psalm 23. The name of the arrangement is "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" and is published by Beckenhort Press. The choral arrangement and setting is quite compelling in its simplicity and elegance. The setting begins with the soprano and altos in unison, but shades each stanza with different voicings, e.g. two-part women, unison men, satb, etc... This arrangement is accessible to most accompanists and satb choirs.

Written by Watts, this adaptation of Psalm 23 is moving. "He brings my wand'ring spirit back when I forsake his ways" is just one example of how Watts uses his poetical sensibilities to express that God's sovereign grace will be applied. The text as written by Isaac Watts is as follows -- "My shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is his name; In pastures fresh he makes me feed, Beside the living stream. He brings my wand'ring spirit back When I forsake his ways; And leads me, for his mercy's sake, In paths of truth and grace. When I walk through the shades of death, Thy presence is my stay; A word of thy supporting breath Drives all my fears away. Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, Doth still my table spread, My cup with blessings overflows, Thine oil anoints my head. The sure provisions of my God Attend me all my days: O may thy house be mine abode, And all my work be praise! There would I find a settled rest, While others go and come; No more a stranger or a guest, But like a child at home."

In Jamieson, Fausser, and Brown's "Commentary on the Whole Bible" (Zondervan Publishing House, first revised printing, 1961) the introductory remark for Psalm 23 says, "Vss. 1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from the scenes of pastoral life, with which Daivd was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor."

I highly recommend this choral arrangement. It is a theologically sound (and beautiful) text that has been thoughtfully set for satb chorus. If you would like to hear this arrangement, go to http://www.jwpepper.com/ and in the "keywords" box type My Shepherd Will Supply My Need Courtney. When the page comes up simply click on MP3Audio and enjoy.

I Was Blogging and Found........

2010-05-10T16:50:00.010-04:00

I was blogging and found a very interesting and funny article about the writing of songs for worship. I don't think it comes as any great surprise to those who know me that I believe that some of what has come to be known as "praise and worship music" is ill begotten. Don't misunderstand me, I don't dislike all music that falls under this banner, only the majority. (Smile)

I came across a post called "How to Write An Awful Worship Song." (By the way, I was made aware of this post while reading yet another blog, and one of my favorites http://www.challies.com/). At any rate, the author of "How to Write An Awful Worship Song" is a song writer himself and wrote an insightful and amusing post. One example from his post says "Make the Song All About You.The main point of your song should be your experiences and how God makes you feel. Don’t bother with objective truth about God. I would suggest that you use the words “I” or “me” at least 12-15 times...."

Take time to read not only the post, but the replies he received -- some agree with the author, while others took offense. www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/05/how-to-write-an-awful-worship-song. By the way, "I Was Blogging and Found......" will be a regular feature on my blog. Happy Reading....

The 2009-2010 Concert Season Comes to a Close

2010-04-29T15:10:00.017-04:00

It is funny (not in the ha-ha sort of way but in the “curious” sort of way) how one feels after an important musical event. To be sure, it feels great to have a successful performance behind you. But, there is also a little bit of a let down. So much work and focus has gone into preparing for the concert and then suddenly, it’s over. And to be at the end of the academic year with so many concerts becoming a distant memory, well, the feeling is augmented. After a major choral performance, it sometimes takes a few days for me to get back into the swing of things – to get my mind in the here and now if you will.

The Union College Music Program presented four major choral performances this academic year: the Christmas Festival, Valentine Concert, UC Singers & Union Harmony Spring Concert, and finally the Regional Chorus Spring Concert. It is has been a great year! The choirs have sung a wide variety of works from different historical periods, genres, and styles. They have sung everything from “Sing We Now of Christmas” to “Moon River” to Mozart’s “Ave Verum” to Faure’s Requiem.” Whew, talk about variety! I could not be more proud of all my singers.

So this is what I want to say to each of you: UC Singers – You are by far the most eclectic group of singers and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You have tremendous energy and spunkiness. I love your enthusiasm for singing and having fun. I enjoy hearing about what is going on in your lives (most of the time, lol) and could not be more pleased with what you have done as a choral ensemble.

Union Harmony – I appreciate your expressiveness and focus as we work on our literature. You had the added responsibility of singing at Fall Convocation, the Homecoming Service, Spring Convocation, Honors Convocation, FBC Barbourville, Baccalaureate, Commencement, and a few others that I am probably forgetting. You always do a tremendous job and are a pleasure to work with.

UC Regional Chorus – I am so grateful for the time that you give to this choir. Most of you are from Barbourville or nearby communities and it takes a big commitment to devote yourselves to this chorus week in and week out. The RC also has several faculty members and students singing in the choir. I am so thankful that you have “eeked” out time in your very busy schedules to be a part of this group. We could not do it without you! RC, we get a lot done in our rehearsals and yet we still have time for laughter and lighthearted musings.

I would be remiss if I didn’t offer a big thank you to Danny Phelps and Kathy Smith for their hard work and dedication to the Union College Music Program. You have endeared yourselves to the singers and have become an integral part of the Union College family.

It is my hope and prayer that all of my singers will have a wonderful summer. I already miss you and look forward to seeing you all in the fall.

Blessings to you all and Godspeed in your travels this summer, V. Gay Gandy

Dedication to "The Art of Choral Music"

2010-04-14T07:45:00.008-04:00

The Union College Singers and Union Harmony presented their annual Spring Concert last night and sang beautifully. Thank you to all of my singers for their hard work and dedication to the choral program. I told the singers last night just prior to the concert that it is important to keep music "alive" at Union and that they were in fact doing just that!

The program drew upon music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern Eras. They sang (or played) music from the following genres -- madrigal, (latin) motet, oratorio, concerto, anthem, German partsong, and spiritual. They stretched their musical palate, if you will, and did it admirably.

I also want to thank Kathy Smith, UC Staff Accompanist and Barbourville resident, for her dedication to these two choirs and for her hard work in preparing for the program. We are fortunate to have such a talented musician as part of the Union College Music Program. Oh, and I hope she knows that the students love her!

There are three seniors who are completing their studies and will be graduating. Raina Birchfield, Chelsea O'Connell, and Bradley Hobbs have greatly contributed to the music program. Godspeed to all of you as you move on to the next chapter in your lives.

Again, a big thank you to the UC Singers and Union Harmony for their dedication to "The Art of Choral Music."

The Beauty and Power of Hymns: Opus 3

2010-04-01T15:14:00.021-04:00

This is the third post in a quasi regular series about hymn tunes, lyrics, sources, etc...

A hymn that I was introduced to more than fifteen years ago, remains one of my favorites. Although it appears in some few denominational hymnbooks, I don't believe the hymn is widely known today. It is entitled "I Sought the Lord." The compelling text is as follows -- "I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me. It was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold; I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea. 'Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold, as Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee! For Thou wert long before-hand with my soul; always Thou lovedst me."

It is true that I see, and have seen for many years now, that it was He that "moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me." When I was quickened (made alive unto Christ) I believed it was of my own volition that I sought Him as my Redeemer. It was not so, it was He who opened my eyes. It was by grace alone that "Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold."

In an article entitled "Irresistible Grace" (http://www.reformedpraise.org/) David Ward makes the following assertion in reflecting on this hymn text, "We hear the gospel invitation that 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (Romans 10:13) and respond in faith, only to look back with a biblically informed perspective and realize that it was really God who gave us our faith and Him who was really seeking us."

Sola Gratia!

I first learned "I Sought the Lord" to the hymn tune PEACE. You can listen to this hymn by following this link, http://www.hymnsite.com/, clicking on search and following the directions from there.

In Paradisum from Faure's Requiem

2010-03-18T20:11:00.021-04:00

The Regional Chorus is diligently working on one of the most beloved works of choral literature, Gabriel Faure's Requiem. In our rehearsal this past Tuesday, I spent a great deal of time on the last movement of this seven movement work, In Paradisum. It is not part of the liturgical (Roman Catholic) Requiem Mass, but is instead from the burial service. Faure chose to end this modified/protestantized requiem (as numerous musicians/scholars have called it) with the In Paradisum text.

Please consider the translation of this beautiful text -- "May the angels lead you into paradise; May the martyrs welcome you upon your arrival, and lead you in to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels welcome you, and, with Lazarus, once poor, may you have eternal rest." source: www.canticum.asn.au/record/inpara_cdtext.php

The sopranos begin this movement harkening the angels to lead one into paradise. The movement ends (and in turn the entire work) with a return to the opening phrase of the entire work, Requiem aeternam, "rest eternal."

Taking Care of the Vocal Mechanism

2010-03-07T22:44:00.011-05:00

Do drink plenty of water, it will keep you hydrated, even your vocal chords!

Don't drink milk immediately prior to a performance.

Do rest your voice from time to time throughout the day.

Don't yell at ballgames!

Do go to the doctor if hoarsness persists.

Don't smoke, it can cause your voice to become "raspy."

Do follow your teacher's advice to go on vocal rest, if asked to do so.

Do warm up your voice.

Don't warm up your voice in the car on your way to choir or a voice lesson!

Do listen to your fellow choir singers as you sing.

Don't try to sing louder than the singer next to you.

Do enjoy the art of music making!!

The Beauty and Power of Hymns: Opus 2

2010-02-28T17:39:00.016-05:00

This is the second post in a quasi regular series about hymn tunes, lyrics, sources, etc...

After a little searching, I found that the following passage (one of my favorites) from scripture has been the basis/inspiration for numerous hymns. Before considering the hymns however, I want to offer my thoughts on the scripture itself.

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Be ye imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. And live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." This beautiful passage from God's word speaks of God's amazing love for His children. I would like you to consider the following assertions about this passage: In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul begins this passage by saying, "Be ye imitators of God..." Of course, we can in no way do this perfectly, but I believe what Paul is encouraging us to do is to look to our Creator as our guide for all things good, holy, and upright.

The next statement is "as dearly loved children." We are our Father's children, dearly loved by Him. This amazing proclamation should encourage us to go to our loving Father with confidence. Paul then goes on to say that we are to "live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." To live a life of love is a tall order for fallen beings. But I think Paul, in part, is exhorting us to love the unlovely, love those who hurt us, and moreover to go about our day to day life in love. And when we fail, we are to ask forgiveness and then move on to once again live a life of love.

The phraseology of the next passage is so wonderfully said: "...Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Nothing can be more glorious than Christ offering Himself as an atonement for our sins. What a wondrous gift, by grace, He has given us. And Paul says that in giving Himself up for us, Christ's gift was "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." So beautifully said, Christ's gift was a lovely fragrance to our Sovereign and Holy God.

I am humbled, encouraged, and comforted by this passage. May we all strive, in Christ, to live a life of love.

As I stated in the opening lines of this post, I have found that numerous hymns have been based/inspired by this passage in Ephesians. Ehymnbook (http://www.ehymnbook.org/) lists twelve hymns that are based on either Eph. 5:1, 5:2 or both. The known dates range from the early nineteenth century to the 1990's. I want to quote portions of the lyrics of one hymn in particular as found on the aforementioned site. "Heav'nly Father send Thy blessing on Thy children gathered here, may they all Thy name confessing, be to Thee forever dear; may they be like Joseph loving, dutiful, and chaste, and pure; and their faith, like David, proving, steadfast unto death endure." (Charles Wordsworth, 1863, verse one).

THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF HYMNS

2010-02-22T16:19:00.023-05:00

I am unabashedly a lover of hymns. A wealth of great theological teaching can be found in their lyrics. I'm afraid that hymns have all but disappeared in many of our churches today. They have been replaced by what is commonly called "praise and worship" music. Hymns are deemed by some to be old fashioned, the melodies aren't pretty enough, they don't seem to rouse one's emotions, and the language is often written in a more sophisticated poetic style. But for me, it is the musical language that I often prefer in worship and is conducive to congregational singing. The texture of most hymns is homophonic, which allows all voices to sound together at once. The harmonic and melodic structures do not overshadow the text, which should be paramount.

I find that some of the music found in our churches today contain melodies that are exceedingly sentimental. Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful melody as much as anyone. However, when the song is so melodious that it overshadows the text and is used to manipulate ones emotions, then I question how edifying it is for worship.

This past Sunday, one hymn in particular "spoke" to me. It is "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" with the text penned by the beloved hymn writer Fanny J. Crosby and the music composed by equally renowned Robert Lowry. The hymn was written and composed in 1875, but to my ears, this beautiful hymn rings true and remains fresh even to today. Please consider the text of this great hymn:

"All the way my Saviour leads me; what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. All the way my Savior leads me; cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread. Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul a-thirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see. All the way my Savior lead me; oh, the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father's house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day, this my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way."

What a glorious hymn. I am particularly drawn to "Though my weary steps may falter, and my soul a-thirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see." Such a powerful statement -- So be it.

In closing, I want to encourage church musicians (and non musicians) not to "throw out the baby with the bath water." Certainly, there is much great music being written for the church today; however, there is an existing cannon of music for the church that is uplifting, edifying, and still relevant even to today. Sola gratia

AH, LOVE.........

2010-02-09T15:08:00.012-05:00

The Union College Music Program is presenting its third annual Valentine Concert this Saturday, February 13, 2010. The selections, of course, are all about love; lost love, love and desire, longing for love, and the misery of love. Yes, I said the misery of love. As with most other artists, composers often pour their heartache and despair into their music. Therefore, (along with uplifting songs about love) there is an abundance of music about romantic heartache from which to choose.

The selections I chose for this year’s program encompass a wide range of emotions. In way of example, let us look at the texts for “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George and Ira Gershwin and “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schoenberg. First, let’s look at “Someone to Watch Over Me.” “There’s a saying old says that love is blind. Still we’re often told, seek and ye shall find. So, I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind…. “ (moving on to the chorus) “There’s a somebody I’m longing to see. I hope that he turns out to be someone who’ll watch over me. I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood. I know I could always be good to one who’ll watch over me…. “ (and so forth) This is a song of hope, longing, and dreams. It is sentimental in every way. Now contrast this with “I Dreamed a Dream.” (Yes, this is the song also made popular by Susan Boyle). “ …And still I dreamed he’d come to me, that we would live the years together but there are dreams that cannot be and there are storms we cannot weather. I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I’m living, so different now from what it seemed; Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.” Wow, now that is a statement – “Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.” I must admit that the lyrics are so dramatic that I (on occasion) find them a little amusing.

There are many facets to love and how one expresses themselves in song is often a reflection of ones own circumstance. Some of the other songs that will be performed at the concert are "As Time Goes By," " Hey There Delilah," "This Nearly Was Mine" (from South Pacific), "Moon River," "And So it Goes" (Billy Joel), and many more...

I am very much looking forward to the program and hope to see you there. The concert is Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. It will be held in Conway Boatman Chapel on the campus of Union College and is free and open to the public. PS For all you UK fans, the concert will last approximately an hour so you can still catch the game.

Music Programming

2010-01-29T22:25:00.008-05:00

Before I begin, a word of explanation is in order. Music programming is terminology that is used by musicians when referring to the process of constructing or putting together a concert.

In the seven and a half years I have been at Union, I have presented 22 major choral programs. Needless to say, one must come up with different programming ideas in order for concerts to maintain their appeal. The appeal I am talking about is three fold: the audience, the singers, and the conductor.

There are many ways to go about programming a concert. The conductor needs to think about his/her audience, the time of the year the concert is presented, the programming of previous concerts and the skill level of the singers. With those things in mind, the following list offers some ideas for choral programming..

1. Themed program. All the music for this kind of program is based on a theme. For instance, the theme of the music may be patriotic, romantic, love for our Creator, or perhaps is based on a season of the year (spring, winter, etc…). Taking this idea one step further and thinking outside of the proverbial box, one might design a choral program around the theme of flowers, birds, or the sea. Believe it or not, there is ample choral literature to build a program around these narrowly defined themes.

2. Music through the ages. A program of this nature would endeavor to include music from all periods of musical history. The concert might begin with music from the middle ages and then move on to the renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th- 21st century. Needless to say, there is a tremendous amount of literature from which to select.

3. Music from a specific composer. An entire program based on the music of one composer is a great idea, although not one that should be done too often. I’m not speaking here of selecting one major work by a composer (that idea will be discussed later). I am suggesting a program that features smaller works, all by the same composer. One can get a lot of variety in the music by selecting music of different styles and from different genres. Several years ago the Regional Chorus presented a program that I entitled “An Afternoon of Mozart.”

4. Music of a country, region, or city. One might decide to present a program of music from Italy, or an all American music program, or music of a specific region, or city. I have presented both a program of all American music and a program of music from the “Viennese Masters” which of course included the music of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.

5. Programming of a major choral work. There are so many incredible large-scale works from which to choose. All the major (and not so major) composers composed masses, requiems, passions, te deums, magnificats, cantatas, and missa brevi, among others. There is a wealth of repertoire by various composers and from different countries, eras, and genres.

I want to encourage all choral directors to be creative with their programming. The point is not to construct programs that are so peculiar that you lose your audience, but to look at your concert season as a whole and to “sprinkle” in an unexpected concert from time to time.

The Singing of Psalms

2010-01-20T18:52:00.008-05:00

From time to time I visit a blog called Reformation 21. An archived article that caught my attention was on the singing of psalms. For a little over three years I directed the music at a reformed Presbyterian church that emphasized the singing of the Psalms. On Sunday and Wednesday evenings we would sing from the “old green book” of psalms. I found it edifying and eye opening. Having said that, this particular collection of psalms was not always set well metrically. In other words, the text underlay lacked something to be desired -- placing stress on unstressed syllables, etc… Nevertheless, psalm singing is a terrific way to learn and soak up scripture.

Tomorrow, Union College will hold its Spring Convocation in Conway Boatman Chapel. I have chosen one of my singers, Chelsi Deweese, to sing “Lead Me, Lord” by Samuel Wesley. The text is from Psalm 5:8 and 4:8, respectively. It reads:

"Lead Me, Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness; Make Thy way plain before my face. For it is Thou, Lord, Thou, Lord only, That makes me dwell in safety."

If you would like to read the archived article about the lost art of psalm singing, go to
www.reformation21.org. In the search box type in “Rediscovering the Psalms” and the article by Joe Holland will be pulled up. Enjoy!

2009-12-31T16:26:00.007-05:00

After a Short Respite……. Now that the Christmas Festival Concert is over, my attention is directed toward the Valentine Concert. Through the years here at Union, I have endeavored to be creative and present “bonus” concerts – that is, concerts that were not part of my typical fall and spring duties. One year I presented a program/concert in honor of the Wesley brothers, another year I invited some area churches to come and be a part of a program, and a couple of years ago I decided to present a Valentine concert. It was well received and enjoyed by all, so it has become an annual event.

The 2010 Valentine concert will be our third. A Valentine program affords me the opportunity to present music I would not typically perform. I highly recommend experimenting with new programming ideas. You might be surprised by the reception the concert receives. I certainly was! So, now this concert is an annual event, which is great. Nonetheless, we typically only have four and a half or five weeks to get the program together, so we really have to stay focused. But, this kind of discipline can be very good for your choir’s musical growth and for its morale. It is exciting (and a little harrowing) to have a short term goal such as this.

Having said that, not every rehearsal schedule should be so tight. Just like anything else in life there needs to be a balance. Sometimes one takes their time to study, rehearse, and present music that is challenging and has real depth. And at other times it is enlivening to embrace music of a lighter nature and to be motivated by a short rehearsal schedule. Although 2009 is coming to a close and my respite is winding down, I will enjoy a few more days in celebration of a new year. Valentine’s Day will be here soon enough!

2009 Christmas Festival at Union College

2009-12-11T18:42:00.016-05:00

I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with the choirs of Union College. It truly is a blessing to work in a field I love. The Christmas Festival Concert went very well -- the choirs sang beautifully and the concert was very well received and attended. This concert heralds the Christmas Season in Barbourville and surrounding communities and is a time when we collectively come together to sing, celebrate, and fellowship with one another.

When preparing for a Christmas concert one must carefully consider the audience and what one hopes to achieve in presenting a concert of this nature. My goals were to bring the community together in a Christmas celebration, to warm their hearts, to stir memories and create new ones. Although I intentionally chose some familiar carols, it was also my goal to expose the audience to some music that perhaps they had not heard before -- to expand their musical palate if you will. This careful balance between familiar carols and less familiar literature insures that the program is entertaining, edifying, and yes, educational.

Once again, a big thank you to the UC Singers, Union Harmony, the Regional Chorus, and last but certainly not least, Barbourville and the surrounding communities who continue to support the art of choral music at Union College.

Merry Christmas and Godspeed in your Holiday Travels.

Concert Week!

2009-11-29T21:52:00.011-05:00

The choirs have spent months preparing, the risers are up, the chapel is decorated -- it is finally concert week. I will conduct six rehearsals in five days, plus the Christmas Festival itself. And as surprising as it may sound, I look forward to this week all semester long.

If one prepares properly, the final days leading up to a much anticipated performance will focus on fine tuning the music and "choreographing" the movement of each choir as they move into place to perform. It is crucial that everyone knows who is standing next to who and are comfortable with their movement from one singing arrangement to another. There should be a definite plan and pacing of the final rehearsals, especially the dress rehearsal. Of course, the quality of the music is of utmost importance, but if the choirs present themselves as disorderly and unprofessional to the audience, the performance itself is greatly diminished.

I recommend that all choral directors enter this last week with a definite game plan. Have seating arrangements prepared, think througth the movement of the choirs as they move from piece to piece, instruct your singers on how you would like them to file on and off the stage, when to lift their folders, and how you plan on acknowledging the singers and accompanists. The choirs, director, and accompanists must present themselves to the audience in a professional and confident manner. The audience should feel at ease and should never wonder if the choir can "pull off" one of the pieces, nor should they feel uncomfortable with any visual aspect of the performance. It should all appear effortless. However, make no mistake, it takes a lot of effort to make a performance appear effortless.

So, to my singers, enjoy the music. To my accompanists, thank you for the tremendous contribution you make to the choral program. And to our audience, thank you for your support and please accept this performance as our Christmas offering to you.

I look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday evening, December 5th, at 8:00 p.m.!

Concert Etiquette 101

2009-11-09T00:01:00.014-05:00

The persistent whispering of voices, full voiced conversations, crying babies, and children and adults alike walking up and down the aisle. And this is all occurring DURING the concert --instrumentalists are playing, choirs and soloists are singing --it makes no difference. Concert etiquette is truly a lost art. Concert goers act more like they are at a football game than a choral or orchestral concert. I wonder, does the audience realize that the singers/players have been working on their music for many months? Do they understand how disheartening it is for the performers to hear babies crying throughout the concert and to see people walking and talking during their performance? After all, this is their one shot to show their parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends the fruits of all those months of work.

As a concert "goer" myself, I have increasingly become aware of how distracted and frustrated I feel when attending a program in which the audience is noisy, restless, and inattentive. What has led individuals to believe that this type of behavior is appropriate at concerts? I want to suggest a few possible reasons. First, listening to music has long ago become a passive activity . As a society we are bombarded by music. It is playing as we shop, eat, drive our cars, go to the doctor, ride in an elevator -- well, you get the idea. We have been trained not to pay attention to music. Music, it seems, serves us only as background noise. We passively listen to music as opposed to focusing on the music itself and the performers who have spent countless hours in rehearsal.

When I take a step back to look at this phenomenon, I consider, what can choral and orchestral musicians do to teach their audience about appropriate behavior during a concert. I believe, at the very least, an effort should be made to educate the audience in concert etiquette. Here are a few relatively simple suggestions. The conductor can offer a carefully worded announcement before the concert begins emphasizing how talking, cell phones, and extraneous movement during the concert is a distraction to the singers. Also, ushers could tactfully direct concert goers with very young children to a special seating area that will allow for a quick exit should the child become disruptive. And finally a notice should be placed in the program with remarks about the use of cell phones, talking during the concert, etc…

At this point I want to put a "bug" in the ear of church musicians. These same issues occur in many of our churches. It is all to common for congregations to talk during the prelude and the anthem. Members also think nothing of traipsing about (liberally) during the worship service. I want to encourage church musicians to use some of the same methods suggested above to educate their congregations.

In conclusion, I want to clarify that most individuals who attend my choral concerts are fairly well educated in concert etiquette. My audience has been educated over the years by myself and in large measure by my predecessors. However, it is an on going process that needs to be fine tuned if one wants their audiences to move beyond Concert Etiquette 101.

Hold on choirs......this is the good stuff!!

2009-11-01T23:27:00.014-05:00

The Christmas Festival is on the horizon, we can almost see it. The rehearsals that lead up to the long anticipated performance are the most interesting and exciting rehearsals for me to lead. For the most part, we have learned the "nuts and bolts" and are now in the process of turning our attention to phrasing, balance, diction, beauty of tone, ect... In other words, we are polishing and putting the final touches on the music. These last few weeks are when the music really starts to come to life. What some people may not fully know, is that all three choirs begin rehearsing for the Christmas Festival in August! Yes, we are singing about angels, caroling, snow, etc... in August. It is what we must do in order to have all the music prepared for the Christmas Festival.

I am thankful for the hard work and steadfast dedication of the UC Singers, Union Harmony, and the Regional Chorus. There is no doubt that without all of their hard work, there would be no Christmas Festival to share with the Union College campus and surrounding communities. And I am grateful to my Creator for the opportunity to work with these extraordinary ensembles. So, my parting thought is this -- hold on choirs, we have a lot of work yet to do, but this is the good stuff!!

I Have a Question...............

2009-10-25T23:13:00.012-04:00

[Preface: Before moving on to the question at hand, I want to acknowledge that the vast majority of my singers are not participating in the activity in question. But, they are being adversely affected by the participating few.]

Now to the question……..How does a singer participate in choir rehearsal while checking for text messages on his/her phone? Also, how does (or did) this go relatively unnoticed by the conductor? I’m not sure I can fully answer these questions, but I will give it the old college try, so to speak.

In answer to the first question -- it is NOT possible for a singer to contribute to an ensemble while engaging in this activity. Case closed. Even as I am typing these words, I realize how ridiculous the answering of that question sounds. Of course the singer is not engaged in rehearsal, nor are they doing their fellow choristers any favors. How can a group of individual singers come together to produce an ensemble sound if they are not All working together in tandem.

Now for the second question -- How does this go relatively unnoticed by the conductor? I could say that the phones are very small and a singer will cup his/her hand around it and glance down at the phone without drawing the attention of the conductor, especially if sitting on the second or third row. I could also say that the conductor is very busy going about the business of directing a rehearsal and all that this entails. But, I believe that the answer more fully lies in the fact that the conductor has assumed too much. It is assumed that a singer would not carry on this kind of activity during rehearsal, it is assumed that they would show a quorum of respect for the conductor and their fellow singers, and lastly, it is assumed that they would respect the art of choral music.

It should not go without saying that the issue at hand is a problem in classrooms across the country. Staying “connected” has become an obsession that has usurped real communication which is (imagine this) face to face, live and in person. At any rate, I recommend that conductors and teachers alike set up a very clear policy about the use and viewing of cell phones. For example, my policy from this point forward is that cell phones may not be held, viewed, and certainly not answered during a rehearsal or class. (Exceptions are made in the case of an anticipated emergency call.) If a student is observed viewing their phone, they will be given a warning. If there is a second occurrence during the course of the semester the student will be required to meet with the director/teacher to determine if the student will continue to be a part of the ensemble/class. By the way, if any of my students are checking this blog via their Iphone, I sure hope it’s not during rehearsal. :)

Don't take the bloom off of the rose................

2009-10-11T15:47:00.023-04:00

Where does the time go? It seems the semester just begins and in the blink of an eye it is time to start counting, yes, literally counting the number of rehearsals until the Christmas Festival. Each semester, as time grows nearer, I will put on the blackboard of the rehearsal hall a countdown of the number of rehearsals until our next performance. This countdown may seem inconsequential, but it is a very useful and easy tool to help you and your singers remain focused.

The pacing of rehearsals is crucial in insuring that all the repertoire is polished and ready to be performed at the assigned time. As a choral director, one must be careful not to let a piece languish in rehearsal to the point where the director is playing catch up during the last few rehearsals. On the other hand, when a piece is learned and polished too early it will lose its "bloom" so to speak and will sound ordinary instead of extraordinary. In many ways it is the same process an athlete goes through when preparing for a very important athletic event. An athlete strives not to peak too soon. The same must be true for a choir.

Fellow choir directors, be mindful of the attention you give to each piece you are preparing for your upcoming program to insure that the music you present is alive and vibrant. Like I have said to my choirs many times -- "any choir can sing the right notes and rhythms." We want the music to be alive with beautiful phrasing, subtle colorings, and an expressivity that will make the program vibrant and memorable.

Sola Gratia: If you embrace "The Doctrines of Grace," as I do, this post may be for you.

2009-10-01T22:25:00.006-04:00

One of the ensembles I have the privilege of conducting is Union Harmony. They are a select ensemble of eight singers and sing a variety of music. One of the pieces we are working on this semester is "All of Grace" a work for SATB chorus with keyboard accompaniment.

The piece is an original work by Larry Shackley, composer/arranger for numerous music publishers. Larry is also the author of the text. Now, I don't know if Larry is someone who embraces The Doctrines of Grace (also known as The Five Points of Calvinism, although I much prefer the aforementioned designation), but the text of this work speaks to me as someone who does embrace this doctrine. In examining the text, I find that much of it seems to "speak" from a reformed point of view, although, there are some few passages that are ambiguous.

One of the passages that I am drawn to is found in the opening line, "Nothing I could say, nothing I could do / could have earned the saving love that freely flows from you" (Shackley). Another passage reads, "It was all Your grace, more than I deserve, / that took away my heart of stone and gave a heart to serve" (Shackley). It is "took away my heart of stone" with which I so identify. Indeed, unmerited favor, grace alone changed my heart of stone. If you are looking for a piece of music for your choir about grace, this may be the piece for you. It is published by Glory Sound, A Division of Shawnee Press.

Cited: Shackley, Larry. All of Grace. Delaware Water Gap, PA: Glory Sound, 2003.

Recommendation for Christmas: "Break Forth with Joy" arr. Larry Shackley

2009-09-29T14:53:00.013-04:00

I have rehearsal this evening with the Union College Regional Chorus, which is made up of singers from Barbourville and surrounding communities, as well as UC faculty and students. I also conduct the UC Singers and Union Harmony. One of the pieces I have chosen for the Christmas Festival this year (and will be sung by all the choirs in mass) is "Break Forth with Joy" which incorporates three traditional Christmas carols, is arranged by Larry Shackley, and published by Alfred Pub.

[Side note: I did my doctoral studies at the same time Larry did -- he in composition, of course. He does a lot of arranging for Alfred Publishing and composes original works also. Some few of his works are a little too contemporary for my taste, but many of his works/arrangements I enjoy very much. BTW, if any of my choir students are reading this, they are no doubt chuckling since I often program something by Larry. In fact, they refer to him as "Larry" just as if they new him.]

Back to the piece -- I highly recommend this piece, which is not too difficult to learn. It also comes in an arrangement for SAB, should that better suit your choir. It can be done with keyboard alone, with brass, or (as I am doing) with organ, solo trumpet, and timpani. Any way, thought I would recommend that you take a look at the piece. You can listen to the piece by going to www.jwpepper.com -- enter -- Break Forth with Joy Shackley -- in the "keywords" box. When the page comes up, simply click on Mp3Audio.

One final thought -- there is very little syncopation, but when it occurs it must be precise. Ask your choir to do these passages on a neutral syllable (like tah) before singing it with the words.

PS I am not connected with or necessarily promoting pepper music. I just so happened to buy this piece from them and find the site easy to navigate.

Performance Space

2009-09-29T11:37:00.005-04:00

Conway Boatman Chapel at Union College is a wonderful performing space. Aesthetically it is quite appealing, but more importantly the acoustics are exceptional for ensemble singing. It also boasts a very fine organ. One of the reasons I was attracted to Union was because of this very fine performing space.

The performance space is so important for a choral ensemble. If you do not have an ideal space in which to perform, perhaps you could look at area churches to see if the acoustics, platform, organ, etc... are suitable and if the church could be made available to you. If you are a church musician and are in a church that has a lot of carpet, cushioned pews, etc... that absorb all reverberation, your location is obviously set. However, there are some things that can be done in terms of vocal placement within the choir. I will perhaps address that in a future post.

My First Post

2009-09-28T17:49:00.001-04:00

I'm starting a new journey into the world of blogging. It is my intention to post my thoughts about my work as a choral musician. Whether I talk about rehearsal techniques, commenting on a great piece of choral music, or delving into a text that is so beautifully set, it is my hope that choral musicians, singers, and other interested parties will find something of interest. So, there you go.....my first post!