Light & Glory Coming December 7th

Junior High & High Schoolers Take on Some of Bach's Best

First, I would like to thank the faithful readers of this little writing experiment I whimsically named Musically Speaking, several years ago when I started. I never imagined it would amass the following that it has. I figured this would be a place to polish some of my thoughts on music and hymnody. What it has turned into is a community of encouragement to me. Thank you for your kind words, questions, feedback, and helpful comments.

Second, I’d like to tell you about a beautiful music evening coming here in northeast Louisiana next month. Here’s a quick video promo clip.

My Temporary Insanity

For new readers, you may not know that I am a full-time music educator at a classical Christian school and a Director of Music at a conservative Presbyterian church here in northeast Louisiana. For the past ten years, I have conducted the Delta Youth Chorale, a youth community chorus that meets twice a week in the afternoons. The insanity comes in when I keep pushing the limits of what music I choose for these singers.

This concert, my older 7th-12th grade singers have been tackling Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata 191 (Gloria in Excelsis Deo), which has music also featured in his famous Mass in B Minor. It is glorious music that was first performed on December 25, 1742 in Leipzig.

Holy Chaos, Batman!

This music is challenging because the choir is divided into five parts, and each part is independently singing with numerous passages of multiple measures of music where the singers have to sing twenty, thirty, and sometimes 40 different notes on one syllable like “Ah.” This so-called melismatic singing feels like chaos but with an organization that only Bach could masterfully weave together with subjects and countersubjects.

The cantata is only three movements. The first would have been performed before the sermon, and the final two immediately after the sermon.

1. Chorus: Gloria in excelsis Deo

2. Soprano/Tenor Duet: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spirit sancto

3. Chorus: Sicut erat in principio

When I picked this work, I knew and loved the opening movement material from the B Minor Mass. I just didn’t as closely consider that the third “Sicut erat…” movement would be even trickier. But I’m here to tell you that these un-auditioned voices are working hard. Here’s a little video of them rehearsing the beginning of the third movement with a bit of piano continuo accompaniment. Take a look/listen below:

These 7th-12th graders are working very hard twice a week. I’ve put together an orchestra and two professional soloists to help us close out our fall concert. They’ve even got some other numbers prepared to round out the concert.

Emboldened to Sing the Best

I sometimes say to myself (and sometimes out loud to my wife), “Boy, you’ve gone and done it this time!” But these singers demonstrate their thirst for only the best of music each time. Both choirs. The younger choir of 2nd-6th graders is also putting together some beautiful harmonic singing in three-part harmony. Our guest tenor soloist, Dr. Ben Caston, from Fort Worth, TX, will be singing on the Bach and with the children and then also singing a few numbers for us from Handel’s Messiah.

My encouragement to my fellow music educators is to push as much as possible to challenge your students. You have to use wisdom to know and understand what is doable. But I often tell myself that part of my job is to give my singers a taste of an extensive catalog of music. For all I know, they may not have an occasion to sing in another choir after they finish their time with me.

Closing Comments & Appeal

If you find yourself free on the evening of December 7 at 7pm CENTRAL time and can be in person at the Church of the Redeemer in West Monroe, LA, or online via our YouTube or Facebook streaming of the concert, please plan to do so. We can’t wait to share the fruit of our labors with you.

We only charge $85 per student per semester, and I do not turn folks away that can’t pay. The Lord always seems to provide for our needs as we grow. We would gladly welcome any amount if you want to make a small or big donation. Below is a link to quickly and securely donate via SQUARE. Please feel free to give, but do not feel pressured to do so.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
-Jarrod Richey

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