One statement encapsulates the philosophy of our concert series. This handy summary should, if there were any justice, end any wordy discussion, but alas, it won't. Here it is: every concert we ever presented was a choral concert.  Amen. 

 

The above all-encompassing statement is perhaps more profound than it sounds. A few more teeth may be felt in the bite of this statement if I further specify: 

• The Messiah presentations were choral concerts.  This is rather obvious, however.

• The Thanksgiving Choral festivals were choral concerts; the word "choral" is a tipoff.

• The patriotic concerts ("Fifth of July" (RCC)  and "Sing in America" (Immanuel): they were choral concerts. Still no real surprises.

• The Ancient concerts, with all of its historic instruments, madrigals, and consort pieces: choral concerts. 

• The Rock of Ages Concert, featuring contemporary Christian music, "gospel rock," and praise and worship music...was a choral concert. Now were getting somewhere.

• The Country/Bluegrass concerts, with its string band, and the following genres of gospel music: rural & country church, revivalist, bluegrass, mountain, folk, and Southern Gospel, and all of the diverse medleys of sacred, secular, classic rock, folk music, sea chanteys, and western songs: All of these concerts over nearly 2 decades: choral concerts, all.

 

These big production concerts, each one requiring 3 to 5 months of rehearsal, numbered 32 down at the Redlands church (in 11 years). 2 more were added by the Redland Singers (people without a steeple) in the gap between the two churches. Beginning in 2003, Immanuel Presbyterian then added 8 more, including an extraordinary concert performed by the Immanuel Singers two months after I left the church and the choir had ceased to exist. A neat trick, I say.  We should have more concerts by reanimated dead choirs. Better Dr. Frankenstein's choir than none at all. Read my essay on "Where Have All the Choirs Gone?" - under The Poet (poetry & essays).

 

The total in 18 years, from deep in the Redland farmlands to the upscale suburbs of Pinecrest/South Miami: 42 concerts:  13 Country/Bluegrasses; 11 Ancients, 10 Christmas Eves, 3 Thanksgiving choral festivals; 2 patriotic themed concerts; 1 Rock of Ages, 1 concert hosted by St. Andrew's Lutheran; I in-house concert at Immanuel: every one a choral concert, and every one featured the chorale as the primary and fundamental performing ensemble of the concert. Choirs rule.