Published 29 January 2016
by Richard J. Clark
HE HUMAN
voice is unique in that it is the only musical instrument housed within
our God given body. The connection between physical, emotional, mental
health, and musical performance is direct. Get sick and the instrument
is diminished. Lose mental focus, and like any instrument, performance
will suffer. The human voice is vulnerable. But this also what makes it
incredibly powerful.
The essence of singing—professional or amateur, in front of a large
audience or alone in the shower—is the expression of emotion. Because
the voice is one with the body, it is an instrument capable of instant
results with regard to emotional and spiritual expression. And it leaves
all those who sing before others utterly exposed. Singing is a risk.
HERE IS A HEALING
element to singing in a choir. Having directed for many years in parish
settings and elsewhere, I am always pleasantly shocked when I’m told,
“choir rehearsal is the highlight of my week.” Singers work hard at
inconvenient hours and they have to put up with me. Furthermore,
members of church choirs likely volunteer on average far more time year
round than other volunteers within a community.
Why do singers come back time and again? The reasons are
innumerable; the willingness to be vulnerable is a risk well worth
taking. This is what makes choral singing so powerful emotionally and
spiritually.
But there is another element of surprise: everyone has a story.
Choirs spend a lot of time with each other. Making music with anyone on a
regular basis is a very intimate relationship—as is praying with those
very people. We know the musical and sometimes personal strengths and
weaknesses of others. Yet, just when we think we have sized up someone
we spend time with each week, sometimes a new surprise hits when we
learn something new about that person’s story.
Everyone comes to the Eucharist, to prayer, and to music with his or
her own burdens, weaknesses, failures, and suffering. Some of the
suffering and challenges we may not know about are extremely
significant. Everyone is vulnerable. That is humanity. But overcoming
that vulnerability makes for incredible strength. As such, I am often in
awe of those under my direction given the challenges they face and have
overcome.
VERONE IS IMPORTANT.
I have the privilege of working with singers with amazing careers and
singers who are just trying to learn the basics. But we come together in
unity to pray through music. Those who are not professional singers
always bring something else to the table that is very valuable to the
choir. Sometimes is the least talented who have the most to offer the
group. Everyone is important.
Though a generation of experience, I can attest to many singers who
fortify the choir and all our prayer through the very imperfect person
that they are. Musically, a director’s challenge is to make it all work.
But everyone who comes to sing is healing others perhaps as they are
healing themselves. They often don’t know it. Sometimes directors need
to remind everyone of that.
INALLY, THERE IS A VULNERABILITY
in keeping institutions and programs alive—even highly successful ones.
Those who work for the Church as musicians are deeply
vulnerable—although we don’t like to show it. But, I have learned that
even the best musicians and even those who appear to have high profile
positions experience grave professional difficulties at one time or
another in their career. We share this struggle for art, prayer, and
beauty in common. A byproduct of this reality is that I am that much
more grateful for my singers—who are beautiful people—without whom I
would be nothing.
Therefore, as choir directors, we too have struggles and must be
mindful of the struggles of those under our leadership. We all share in
the common frailty of humankind. But with God, al things are possible.
With God, a collection of individuals who sing in a choir have the power
to heal others and create music that is greater than the individual
parts, talented and less talented. We are unified in the love of Christ.
Thank God for church choirs. I don’t know where I would be today
without them, because those who sing for me have saved my life and have
helped heal me every single week.
More importantly, choirs elevate prayer directing our hearts and
minds toward God. This is truly the healing and saving power of music.
Soli Deo Gloria
From www.ccwatershed.org
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