Tavener at Coburg

Every summer, the students hold a recital called Coburg Recital, which allows us to share what we have been working on for the past few weeks, and affords an opportunity to work out the nervous nellies and see what still need a bit of work, places where something messes up.

Usually the performers are mostly organ people with a few vocal solos mixed in and sometimes a flurry of handbells. This year is no different. Mostly organ pieces with a few vocal solos and one handbell duet. My advisor reminds me that once before I gathered a small choir and conducted a piece on the Coburg. He urges me to do it again, that the choral folks should be represented.

OK. I am game. I select the Tavener piece. Once you conquer the first 2 measures, the rest is basically the same with a few changeups here and there - very minimalist. I ask around. Are you willing to sing in my choir? Some are, most aren't. I am worried that we will not have all the parts covered. I begin a recruiting campaign. More people agree to help out. Many will either not be at the Recital or are feeling a bit buried with work and can't spare the time (papers I suppose).

We practice in conducting class and make some progress. I schedule a rehearsal for Tuesday at 5:15, right after classes end. A few not in conducting class come to that one. We have never been all together to sing this challenging but beautiful song. We do a 'dress rehearsal' right before the concert starts, but again, not everyone is there. Yikes!

At this juncture, you leave it in the good Lord's hands and trust that no matter what happens, good will still come of it. We are second to last on the program. When our turn comes, we walk down the long aisles to the front of the chapel, move around the Steinway to the steps and position ourselves. I play the opening 4 notes - g,a,b-flat,c. Not a great way to start a song, not even a chord. Here we go.

Yes, the speed is slightly faster than the composer calls for, but we breathe together in all the right places. We do not lose pitch, causing bass stress since their lowest note is a D 2 octaves below middle C! The words are familiar, so not to worry about text declamation. While we do not reach shimmer, it works the better than all the rehearsals. I am satisfied that we did the piece justice.

On the way back to my seat, I get a thumbs up and applause from my professors. Yeah! Good thing this wasn't a service though. Tavener would be rolling and he isn't even in his grave.