Portland Parkinson’s choir gives joy

By David Stabler

 

PORTLAND, OR — ight voices rise softly to sing. “As we travel down this weary road, we need strength to carry on our load.” 

The sound is gentle. The walls don’t shake. The windows don’t rattle. You would not mistake these elderly singers for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but they don’t whisper, either. Each one has Parkinson’s disease, and they call themselves the Tremble Clefs, a play on the tremor that often occurs with the disease. 

Some voices are stronger than others. One woman barely moves her lips to the African-style song “Amani Utupe.” No matter, they sing because they can, and because it might help.