After bidding farewell to our generous Ontario hosts, we departed for our American homeland. Today’s journey included some beautiful lakeside views and plenty of opportunities for typical bus time activities such as naps, reading, and lively conversations. Conscientious musicians reviewed their music; and Spot-It, knitting, and watercolors even made an appearance.
As we neared our destination, many choir members experienced warm feelings of nostalgia. Fourteen out of thirty-nine of the current choir members are Faith Builders alumni, and a number of others have been there for short terms or other events. For many of us, this place is dear to our hearts. So as we entered Guys Mills and arrived at Faith Builders, it was a bit like coming home.
We had the privilege of meeting with Wendell Glick, the composer of one of the songs on our repertoire. “Te Deum” was commissioned for us, and we are premiering it on this tour. We were able to chat with Wendell about the composition process and to ask questions about the piece. I am not a music theory major, so I will admit that many of the technicalities that Wendell discussed went over my head. But I am grateful for people who have studied music in depth and are able to gift the rest of us with beautiful music to sing.
I don’t think that gym concerts are a favorite with anyone, but sometimes a gym is the only space available that is large enough to accommodate the crowd. This was the case with tonight’s concert. The space was not very singer-friendly, so it was a difficult concert in that sense. Yet our connection to the community, and the fact that many of us had friends and family in the audience made this a special concert.
We are grateful to Brandon and Marie Mullet, who helped to host this concert. Marie graced us with her fine culinary talents for our evening meal. Brandon is a longtime friend of the choir and the former music instructor of all of us Faith Builders graduates. Many of us owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the significant part he has played in the development of our musical abilities.
I’ll leave you with a quote from N.T. Wright’s essay entitled “Apocalypse and the Beauty of God,” since I think it fits well with the philosophy and goals of Oasis:
“The artist is thus to be like the Israelite spies in the desert, bringing back fruit from the promised land to be tasted in advance . . .”
Here is the challenge, I believe, for the Christian artist, in whatever sphere: to tell the story of the new world so that people can taste it and want it, even while acknowledging the reality of the desert in which we presently live.”
Rosalie Beiler
Alto 2