Gospel Choir 21st Anniversary Concert

The Gospel Choir of which I am a long-time member (more than 30 years actually) will hold its 21st Anniversary Concert tomorrow afternoon.  We have rehearsed long for this day.  We have learned three new gospel songs, only one of which we might be able to use again by adapting it.  Most of the music we learn for these concerts cannot be used at Mass.

We have invited several other Gospel choirs to celebrate with us:  The Gospel Voices of Glen Allen - The Maggie L. Walker Alumni Gospel Choir - The Men of Goodwill - Holy Rosary Catholic Church Choir - Redeemed Ministry - Special Guest Musicians - and a Flag Ministry.

Here is the music we have learned:

Our God is an Awesome God

My God is Awesome

Let the Church say "Amen"


I am aware that few of my readers may be interested in this music, but who knows...   At any rate, WE love the music... and are looking forward to a festive afternoon, singing in praise of our awesome God!

"Souled Out" for Jesus! ~ Choir Anniversary Concert

The church was packed! There was standing room only in the rear of the sanctuary and the choir loft was filled with folks who had found no room downstairs! The date was September 26, 2010 and the Gospel Choir was celebrating its 19th Anniversary!

The choir is actually 33 years old, having been organized in 1977 under the pastorship of Fr. S. We did not celebrate our anniversaries with concerts in the early years; but once the tradition began, we have gotten better and better both as a gospel choir and as people who really know how to celebrate with music and a delicious meal afterwards!

We have always invited other choirs to celebrate with us and they have added their unique styles of Gospel music to ours, so that our celebrations are a spirit-filled and glorious tribute to our God.

This year our guest choirs were the Youth & Children's Choir of Union Baptist Church, The Gospel Voices of Glen Allen, The Maggie Walker Alumni Gospel Choir and The Tribe of Judah of ROK Church Int'l of Ashburn Va.

In addition to the choirs, we were graced with beautiful presentations by the Praise Dance & Flag Ministry of Ministers Iris Pollard and Geri Gatling. The huge white flags, which gave the appearance of wings, accented the music and dance in a stunningly beautiful way. The congregation showed their appreciation with standing ovations!

Our theme this year was "Souled out for Jesus!" and our choir led off with our theme song, "Souled Out!" featuring Jordan W-R as lead singer. This rousing gospel song was followed by the beautiful "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" featuring our own Kim F. We closed out our portion of the concert with "I Will Bless The Lord." All of our hard work in learning these three new songs was rewarded by the appreciation shown by our parishioners and guests!

After the concert, a wonderful repast awaited our guests. The decorating committee had done a great job in making our parish hall festive and beautiful. An abundance of good food had been provided for our guests and all enjoyed themselves.

It was a wonderful evening celebration and we look forward to next year when we celebrate our 20th Anniversary!

Psalm 42 ~ As the Deer panteth for the Water

I was thinking about one of my favorite gospel songs the other day. It is called "As the Deer" and is based on Psalm 42. My gospel choir's version has a few Alleluias at the end which I have never found on any of the commercial renditions of the song that I have listened to. Maybe our choir director at the time we learned this song put the Alleluias there herself. It wouldn't have surprised me...

Rita was a fine musician and played by ear... I'm not sure she could read much music but it didn't hamper her at all. She was a natural. She was a Baptist preacher who was our choir director for 13 years! Strange, isn't it? A Catholic choir director who was a Baptist preacher. Worked for us!

Anyway, the words we sing go like this:

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after thee.

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship thee.

You alone are my strength, my shield
(To) you alone does my spirit yield...
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship thee.

Allelu- Alleluia...

O Lord, we praise your name.
All the glory
All the praise...
O Lord, we praise your name.


Here is a uTube version (without the alleluias)

As the Deer

Gospel Anniversary Concert #18

Well, it's all over! Today we are recuperating from weeks of hard work, music-wise, and so we can finally get rid of the stress that had built up for the past several months in our music ministry. If you recall in August, the gospel choir I am a member of, had to learn the music for and to sing at an ethnic Nuptial Mass at our Cathedral. That Mass turned out to be a beautiful event and we did our part well too.

At the same time, we were preparing songs for our gospel concert that was held yesterday in our parish church. Because we had to learn so much new music for the Nuptial Mass, we limited ourselves to only 2 new gospel songs and a couple of songs we seldom sing at Mass because of various reasons. (Please note, that many of the gospel songs have to be modified a little to make them appropriate for Mass selections.) Gospel music in concert is often very repetitive and it takes time to sing it properly.

In addition to the songs we sang, were songs provided by the five gospel choirs from various Christian churches/groups in the surrounding area. Each sang their three allotted songs. It was a wonderful mixture of different gospel styles and the audience was very appreciative.

My gospel choir began 32 years ago and there are still several of us around who have been members from the early years. We are a mixed group of around seventeen members. And after so many years together, we can sing!

Our concert was the 18th we had celebrated over the years. Because our choir had had a major transition about 2 years ago in losing our director/pianist who had been with us for 13 years, we had no concert last year. We now have a new pianist and our assistant director has assumed leadership of the choir. She is excellent; as is our new pianist, whose wife is a parishioner!

After all the musical festivities, we had food for our guests. All the good stuff that our choir members prepared: deviled eggs, meatballs, fried chicken, glazed chicken, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, salad platters, cheese platters, cake, and punch... Choir members had decorated the parish hall for the reception and members of the parish helped us serve our guests and ourselves.

It really was a wonderful afternoon. We received many compliments, both for our music, as well as for our repast. You can guess we were exhausted at the end of the day; but we are looking forward to next year when we will do it again!

One of the gospel songs we sang was Hezikiah Walker's Grateful. You can find it here:

Grateful

Other than the fact that Hezikiah Walker's choir is larger, we sound just like this!

The Longest Nuptial Mass Ever!

... well, that is what it looks like it is turning out to be; at least for our small choir! We have been asked to sing the Mass in a Catholic Church not our own... with no practice using their equipment. The couple is from Africa and will be doing some traditional things along with the normal Nuptial Mass music.

Some music that we already know is being used; but most of it is new to us. We have learned a new Kyrie, a new Gloria, a responsorial song that we have never sung before though some of us were familiar with the tune. Fortunately, we know the Grayson Brown "Alleluia" and also his "Holy, Holy"... We also are using our Great Amen. A new memorial acclamation; a new Lord's Prayer and a new Lamb of God, a new Communion song. I have no clue who wrote the music for all of these pieces because we had to learn almost everything without written music... not unusual for a Gospel choir... We made up the harmony as we went along. Our musician was writing the notes down as our director was teaching us the tunes!

We also learned a new song for Communion, as well as a special song to be sung after the exchange of rings. Fortunately, the Offertory song is one of our favorites and a second Communion song will be our choice. Thankfully, the processional and the recessional will be done by the professionals at the church. Organ music, surely. A contrast to our piano.

Last night we had a major learning rehearsel for the wedding which will be this Saturday. The music is not as difficult as some music we have learned in the past; but after 3 hours of practice, one is ready to collapse! Tomorrow we will practice for Sunday Mass and then go over the Wedding music again. That will be it!

It will be a beautiful wedding. The music will turn out just fine. Though we are a small group of about 16 (when everyone is available to sing), we have sung together for many many years so we know what to do to make the music memorable.

All of my help... Psalm 121

One of the most beautiful of the Gospel songs that my choir sings is called, "All of my help" made famous by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Here is the link to it:

All of My Help

If you take time to listen to the song, please recognize that my choir does not have an orchestra behind us and all the fancy stuff that goes into an album or video. We also have to shorten the song in order to make it an appropriate length for Mass.

However, when we sing this song, we sing it just as beautifully. It is actually Psalm 121 and it is truly a prayer. Our words go like this:

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills
From whence cometh my help...
My help cometh from the Lord;
The Lord which made heaven and earth.

He said, He would not suffer thy foot,
Thy foot to be moved...

The Lord that keepeth me,
He shall not slumber nor sleep.

Oh, the Lord is thy keeper...
The Lord is thy shade,
Upon thy right hand...
Upon thy right hand...

No, the sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night,
He shall preserve thy soul
Even forever more.

My help, my help, my help...
All of my help
Cometh from the Lord.


There is a little more to it but this is the basic song. I just love it and believe me, when we sing it, it is a prayer...