Spring Chorale

I'm singing in the University (Spring) Chorale for the spring term. Our one and only concert is tomorrow night in the Provo Tabernacle at 7:30. It's gonna be a short concert of under an hour, but it'll be really good. So come, and oh, it's free!

We're singing two really good hymns, Arise, O God, and Shine and Nearer, My God, To Thee. Also in the program is an amazing setting to the tune of Holst's Jupiter. This features the wonderful organ of the Tabernacle. We're also singing some love songs among other things. Come and enjoy!

The Pilgrim's Journey Home

Many people have asked me recently about the upcoming concert being put on by the BYU Choirs and Philharmonic Orchestra. So I'll tell you a little bit about it and why I'm excited.

Sometimes BYU films our concerts and runs them over and over on BYUTV. This is not one of those concerts. Over eight years ago they did one called A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns (the one with the girl crying at the end of an amazing arrangement of Come, Thou Fount) and before that was Celebration of Christmas in the early 90's. It is hoped and expected that PBS will pick this up and show it nationally as they did with the two I just mentioned.

The songs are all about journeying home. Here are five reasons to go:

1) The arrangement of Come, Come, Ye Saints is one of the most powerful and inspiring pieces I have sung in all my four years in the choir. And I haven't even heard it together with the orchestra yet.

2) This is a once every eight or nine years opportunity. And most of you won't be here in another eight years.

3) This may sound weird, but we're singing an arrangement of When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again/Keep the Home Fires Burning (you've probably never heard of the latter) that makes me tear up almost every time we practice it--it's amazing. I've always heard When Johnny Comes Marching Home again growing up, but never thought about what it meant. It was written during the Civil War and speaks of the longing for those that have gone off to war to return back safely and the joy that will be had when they do. Keep the Home Fires Burning is a British tune written during WWI. It contrasts to the march with a sweet and beautiful chorus about not losing hope. It's incredible how relevant this song is in our day. I feel more grateful for the men and women that serve our country each time that I sing/hear this song. And the arrangement is INCREDIBLE. I can't wait till we put it together with the orchestra.

4) You'll have a chance to see something live that will be televised nationwide (not on BYUTV). If you're thinking you'll just wait till it comes on TV then, believe me, it will be much better in person.

5) You'll enjoy an evening of high-caliber music and be uplifted.

For tickets go to the ticket office in the HFAC on BYU or online at www.byuarts.com

Sister Hall's Christmas Present

Every year the members of the Men's Chorus contribute $5-10 each in order to get a Christmas present for our conductor, Sister Hall. The last several years instead of getting something for her, we have tried to do something for others. Two years ago I had an amazing experience when we did a Sub-for-Santa for nine kids in a foster home. We raised the money, bought gifts and a tree, drove out to Sandy to deliver it all and sing for them at their doorstep. We did this all without her knowing and then presented her with the DVD of it at the end of the semester. One of the top ten experiences of my life.

This year was another incredibly uplifting experience. Sister Hall's father still lives in Wales and hasn't been to the U.S. in over ten years. His health is getting worse and it's pretty hard for him to get out here. I don't know whose idea it was, but the Men's Chorus bought a plane ticket for him to fly over here for Christmas. (We had the help of Sister Hall's husband and family to make this happen logistically.) We've been sending e-mails to each other and planning it for months without her knowing.

Then on Thursday, December 4 we were down in the Marriott Center practicing for Christmas Around the World. At the end we handed her a sweet little card with all of our signatures and the signature of her father. This whole time her dad was sneaking up behind her as she read the card aloud, already starting to get emotional without even knowing the biggest surprise. We asked her to turn around and she gasped. She quickly embraced him as we all applauded. It was a beautiful thing to witness. He was able to attend the Christmas Around the World concert one night and Celebration of Christmas the other. She has told us repeatedly that it's always been one of her biggest dreams to have her father there to see her do what she loves so much.

To finish it off, after our MTC devotional on Sunday, December 14, we all met in a room as we usually do to say goodbye and have a little snack. With her dad there we sang a song we had been learning without her knowing called, My Little Welsh Home. What a great way to bring in the Christmas spirit.