For my next trick...

For those of you who own, or know somebody who owns the Nickel Creek CD "This Side," listen to "Smoothie Song". My next goal is to turn this into a choral arrangement a la Swingle Singers, it will be incredible.
String Bass-Bass/Baritone
Guitar-Tenor/Baritone
Violin-Alto
Mandolin-Soprano

Two totally unrelated topics

First, I want to say congratulations for Delia getting into pharmacy school! YES! That is so amazing, great job babe! I couldn't be prouder, especially after the fun (haha) experience of this past year, right?
Secondly, I just wanted to take a moment to pontificate my current stress inducer, it's called a Music History paper. However, I'm actually enjoying the research and score study. I feel like I'm becoming a MUSICIAN, not just a member of a choir or future choir director, (Next May, YES!) I'm beginning to understand the excellent craftsmanship a composer uses in writing every note of a superb piece of music. My paper is on Mendelssohn's oratorio, "Elijah", the story of the great Old Testament prophet, and the song I am analyzing is "Lord God of Abraham." There are so many subtle tools Mendelssohn has used...anyways, I'll shut up. I mainly wanted to use this post as another way to say that I can't wait to be a conductor. I'm finally beginning to understand what Elizabeth Green, (The Modern Conductor) was talking about when she said "a joy in study." I love it. I am a dork, and that's okay.
Till next time, read 1 Kings 18. Then you'll understand my paper when I post it in the next month or so.
charles

Understanding

Yesterday, I had the honor and privilege of singing at the M-Power Awareness Concert at the Alys Stephens Center with the Vestavia Hills UMC Chancel Choir. The other choirs there were Shades Crest Baptist, Vestavia Baptist, Cathedral Church of the Advent, Independent Pres., Sixth Ave. Baptist and New Hope Baptist Church. What an experience it was to watch the two black churches, Sixth ave. and New Hope sing in worship. The look on their faces and in their movements was one of full surrender and exultation. I really felt that the Holy Spirit was in that place when they were singing. That's not to say that every other choir didn't perform wonderfully, but there was just something special about these two choirs. As I watched and listened to them, I began to VAGUELY understand what a source of comfort and hope faith must have been during the terrible stain of slavery in this country. You hear so much about slaves singing and having such a strong faith in God through song, etc., that you couldn't help but think about that and be touched by that music. I understand that that is what no man can take away from you. No matter how much power they have over you here, no matter how much those slaves were beaten, tortured, or humiliated, no amount of that can touch their unshakeable faith in Christ. I want to say thank you to those choirs. I didn't get to speak to them after the concert was over, because there were SO MANY PEOPLE, but thank you. You touched me in a way that doesn't happen very often. Thank you, and God bless.
Charles

Hooray!

Delia gets here tomorrow!! Everyone wish her luck on her pharmacy interview tomorrow!