Christmas Spirit

Back in September, my friend Sarah asked me if I would be interested in singing in a choir that would be performing an oratorio called Before Tonight at the DC Temple Visitor's Center during their Festival of Lights.  She warned me that the music was pretty challenging, but also gorgeous.  She talked about how she had really enjoyed getting to participate when they'd performed it two years earlier.

I worried about ditching my family for all the rehearsal time, but I'm a sucker for good music and a chance to sing, so I said yes (with Craig's blessing, even though it meant he'd be stuck putting kids to bed and taking out the garbage every Sunday night!).  And so it began: Sunday night rehearsals throughout October and most of November, all located in Annandale (meaning I was gone for three or four hours each time depending on-- you guessed it!-- the traffic.  Yup, traffic even on a Sunday evening).  And I learned that Sarah was NOT kidding about the music being challenging.  I spent one rehearsal so lost I wondered if maybe I should quit.

But we all plugged along, and before I knew it, it was the day of our big performance!  And I was still scrambling trying to make sure I had all my notes correct, but after spending some time alone with the piano ahead of time, I thought (and hoped and prayed) that I had it all down!

Now, I mean no disrespect to my own church, which I love, but I will admit that the music in LDS worship services is boring.  We've pretty much stuck to the same songs that were being sung in the 1830s, and while much of it is lovely, it gets kind of old after a lifetime of singing it.  Especially in my area, where our local leaders have decided that all music during our worship services must come from the hymn book (despite the fact that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir finds new music to sing at General Conference every year!).  So, yeah, it was kind of exciting to learn something NEW for a change.  And this wasn't just new-- this was full of difficult rhythms and chords, and shooting up to notes just barely in my range and then holding them for three bars...  It was really hard.  But beautiful.  And terrifying.  And fun.  And wonderful.  I honestly can't remember the last time I got to sing something so challenging, and it turns out challenging is good, as long as you can get it to come together in time.

The day before we performed, Rob Moffat, the composer, flew out from Arizona to rehearse with us, and he livened the whole thing up even more.  For one section where the women sing a cappella for a bit, he stopped us and said, "You're all trying to blend like you do in church choirs, but I don't want you to blend.  I want this to sound like a rock concert.  Pretend you're singing a solo here and just rock out!"  So we did.  And it was a hundred times better than what we had been doing.

The night of our big performance, I managed to get Tracy to come down early from New York and meet me at the temple (she was coming to babysit for our Virginia Beach vacation).  I had to get there early for one last rehearsal (and I left super early even for that because I was so worried about the traffic), and then Craig came with his parents and all the kids just a little later.  And they all managed to get seats where I could see them easily from where I was seated!  So I got to smile at them the whole time (and maybe chuckle to myself every now and then when I saw Ryder or Colton getting a little too wiggly).

And our two performances went beautifully.  That high A, nearly two octaves above middle C?  I nailed it.  Both times.  The whole thing was wonderful and really got me thinking seriously (again) about Christmas and what it really means.

Here's a video of my favorite song, "Glory to God"-- it's only 5 minutes long, so please watch it!  I wish the sound quality was a little better (Craig pointed out that it's too bad they weren't just recording with the sound system they had in place, instead of the camcorder that was used, but oh, well), you still get the idea.  The guy speaking at the beginning is Rob, the composer.  Also, you can see my friend Sarah directing us and she is AWESOME to watch-- she's dancing as much as she is directing (and she's 6 months pregnant!) and I love it!  And next to me, on my right, is my friend Anna who we were able to convince to join us in this whole endeavor, too.  Enjoy!


(I also have to point out my awesome red shirt-- it turns out it was a little tricky finding a solid red maternity shirt this season, but I was lucky enough to have Sarah find this at the consignment sale and think of me!  It was a triple win-- I love the shirt, it was super cheap, and I didn't even have to go shopping for it!  I'm so spoiled!)


As if all of this wasn't enough, the next day another friend of mine arranged for families with small children to sing Christmas carols at a retirement home.  I hadn't given it a lot of thought beforehand-- it was just something nice to do-- until we stood up and began with "Joy to the World."  And suddenly I was so choked up I could barely get through the words.  It didn't get any better as we continued with "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Away in a Manger."  I'm sure the pregnancy hormones aren't helping here, but how can you think about this tiny baby, born to save mankind, and not cry?

I love everything about Christmas.  I love the decorations and the presents.  I love the lights.  I love the symbolism of evergreen trees.  But most of all, I love the story of the King of Kings, born in the most humble circumstances ever.  I love reading of Mary pondering these things in her heart.  I love angels appearing to shepherds to proclaim the good news and the shepherds rushing to go and see the babe for themselves.

I came home and discovered this painting that a friend had linked on facebook, and cried some more.
 
Go to the artist's website to understand why she painted Jesus the way she did: http://www.jenedypaige.com/gallery/little-lamb/.  It's even more beautiful when you understand the history and symbolism behind it.

On Friday when we performed, I was thankful for the opportunity to praise my Savior through song.  But as the weekend progressed, I became even more thankful for Christ himself.  For His atoning sacrifice for me and for each person on this earth. 

Merry Christmas, my friends.  God bless us, every one.