RSCM Report, Part Two: Brothers in Song

To the young choirmen of the St. Louis Course (especially those from our parish): an open letter

Most often, I sing tenor, or sometimes bass. This year, it was evident that I am no longer needed on either part. And it is unlikely that I will be needed for a long time to come, for you have grown into strong, confident singers, fully capable of carrying your parts, and I expect that you will be coming to the St. Louis Course for as long as you are able, as will I. My work with you is almost done, for this is the musical end that I desired as your choirmaster -- that you be granted a "voice for life," the ability to sing as an adult with skill, musicianship, and pleasure.

You have learned what it is to be one of two or three people on your side and voice part, undergirding the work of a large and enthusiastic group of trebles. This is the norm for choirmen, even in the great cathedral and collegiate choirs of our tradition. In Mr. Lole's last church position at Salisbury, there were six lay clerks. Six. This is one each of A, T, and B on each side of the choir, supporting sixteen trebles in daily Evensong plus Sunday Matins, Eucharist, and Evensong. In such a situation, it is up to you to get it right. Even in parish choirs such as ours, there are never enough tenors and basses. So long as you continue singing, much will depend on you. And you got a taste of that at the Course.

As well, you got a taste of what it would be like to live such a life, for Mr. Lole rehearsed us in a manner typical of the tradition. One rehearses for several hours a day as we did at the Course, culminating in the day's Evensong, with Sunday always in the background. Much of the rehearsing is what Mr. Lole calls "tweaking," as we did later in the week at the Course -- taking music that we have already learned, and improving details to make it better. It is easy to understand how after a year or two of this, the choir would become very good indeed, as the Salisbury choir was and is.

In our own way, our Youth Choir has become pretty good. We rehearse only once a week, hardly over an hour; we sing services only about once a month. This limits our musical results, but allows you to have a life outside of music, as all of you do, and as you should. One thing is the same; much depends on you.

What we do in choir is of great importance. Our singing is an intensive offering of prayer before the Lord, in a time when much else is wrong. Through our voices, the Church sings its love for its Bridegroom:

"Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (BCP p. 324)

I want you to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The only way that I can influence you in that direction is by inviting you to follow the path which I have walked, and that is the path of music. When one sings something like the "Hymn to St. Cecilia," or the Kyrie from the Vierne Mass, how can one not love God? As one sings such music over the years, along with steady attention to the disciplines of Scripture and prayer, one's love for God grows like a tree by a stream of water. May it be so for you.

And I want you to "love thy neighbor as thyself." One gets a taste of this at the St. Louis Course, too. Perhaps it is because we work so hard together in the rehearsals. Perhaps it is the example of people like Weezer and H.J. and Michael, and many among the girls. Perhaps it is the water fights, or the Gentleman's Game. Whatever it is, there is a special bond between people who have been in the Course for more than a couple of years. You have experienced this, and I think especially this year.

I expect that you will see evil days in your lifetime, darker than any I have experienced. I may live long enough to see them with you. When such days come, remember these days of light and song at Todd Hall, these people. Remember the sounds we made together. Remember the games, the talent shows, the Evensongs in the little chapel, the Basilica, the church in Kirkwood, the laughter, and the tears. Above all, remember the Lord before whom we sing. He alone is the Rock, the sure refuge when all others fail.

Your servant in Christ,
Castanea_d