Unity Doesn't Require Agreement
More life lessons from choir, upcoming gigs, and an art song I'm loving
Welcome to Weekly Wonderings, Ponderings, and Insights! This is a free newsletter where I share what’s been circling ‘round my head lately, as well as news about upcoming performances and events. I hope you find some good food for thought here!
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Weekly Musings
Lately, I’ve been pondering the reasons I love choral singing so much.
Yes, the music is beautiful, and I’ve had the opportunity to sing some amazing pieces over the years. Yes, my musical and vocal skills are well-suited to choral singing. Yes, I love the dynamism that comes with meaningful musical collaboration.
But I think there’s something deeper than that for me, which is that a choir seems to be one of the few places left in the world where there can be unity amongst many different people, oriented toward a common goal.
There is not a lot of unity in our world today. We are so, so divided. There is a lot of willful misunderstanding of each other. We struggle to connect with people who think differently from us about important issues.
But in a choir, you have to put all of that stuff aside. During a rehearsal or performance, there is one goal: making music together – regardless of each individual singer’s beliefs and values. Differences can be put aside as singers come together and literally get on the same page for a while.
This is not to say that differences are not important. They can be incredibly consequential, and we should not gloss over disagreements about important things.
But there are times when we can recognize that the common goal we’re working toward is more important than those differences.
The higher thing, the more transcendent thing, is more important than the things about which we disagree.
This is what unity is. Unity does not necessarily require agreement in thought.
Sometimes, it merely requires that we assume the best of intentions in other people, so that we can work toward a meaningful common goal together, regardless of our differences.
What Else Is New?
Vibrato Bar is coming up next Monday, May 18! It’s Boston’s only classical music karaoke event, and it is always FIRE. If you’re local, come say hi, and maybe even sing or play something yourself! (If you want a sense of the vibe, you can check out the Vibrato Bar TikTok.)
One of my (four) church gigs this week will be singing at the archdiocesan Presbyteral Ordination at Boston’s gorgeous Cathedral of the Holy Cross. I’m always amazed at the reverb in this place – it’s so huge, and yet the acoustics carry the sound so beautifully. It’s always a pleasure to sing there!
Music I’m Loving These Days
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite sub-genre of classical music, but modern English-language art song has always been something I gravitate towards. Lately, I’ve been singing Theron Kirk’s “The Prayer of the Dove” from his mid-twentieth-century song cycle Prayers from the Ark. Stay tuned for a video performance and a longer article about this beautiful piece!
Enjoy the spring! Until next time,
Ellen