Choral Ethics: Make New Friends

“Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.” Saint Francis de Sales

I had the privilege of participating in a “Lessons and Carols” service this past holiday season. My son, Dean of a local AGO chapter, got me the gig and both of us played and directed and performed during it. He had two of his original works—a hymn and an anthem—sung and played both organ and piano as well. I conducted a massed choir in one of my favorite William Billings Christmas pieces. Both of us stated on the way home how refreshing it was to be working with new people.

We love the people we work with on a regular basis, but it was fun to meet new folks and try new things. My own choir knows my “tricks” and can anticipate what I’m going to do or say—mostly. I try to shake things up occasionally, and we all have a laugh when I do. Either it works out or it doesn’t and when it doesn’t, that’s when we laugh the most and the loudest!

With a new group of singers, I can try old things and new things as well since it doesn’t matter because it’s all new to them. I believe only one person had heard about William Billings before I worked with them, so it was also a chance to introduce a composer I really enjoy singing and conducting. And I made some new friends.

At the luncheon between the rehearsal and the service, I shared some good church food with some truly lovely people. I heard about the history of the church, one of the oldest in northern Indiana. I learned about a chamber music society I had never heard about in the area. We chatted about—at that point—how mild the winter was but, being hardened Midwesterners, we were expecting it to change soon. It was soon time to get ready for the service and I watched clergy—whom I hadn’t known were clergy—robe and prepare.

The service was lovely. The readers of the lessons (local clergy from surrounding churches and community leaders) were moving and the music inspiring. The choir was pretty good but wished I had had ten more minutes of rehearsal time to make it even better. After, as we gathered our music and belongings, we heard compliments for my son’s compositions and my conducting. It felt like the perfect ending to a wonderful day of music and fellowship.

I wish I could bottle up this feeling of peace and fellowship I experienced, but I know I can’t. I can recall it from my memory when I need to, when things are stressful and hectic.

This service we participated in was AFTER Christmas, so I believe that was why everyone was more relaxed. Often, we all feel so rushed and pushed and under deadlines, we don’t have a chance to really enjoy what we just did. The big deadline had just passed, so this service had no pressure to be anything but what it was, the sharing of Scripture and Music, with folks who wanted to be there. And I made some new friends.