A Christmas Choral Collaboration
New Life Methodist, St. James Join Voices
A special event is in the works for our community soon. Nancy Hajek will conduct a joint Christmas-season performance by her New Life Methodist Church choir and that of the St. James’ Episcopal Church. The theme of the cantata is, “Suddenly, Light” and will comprise readings telling the story of Mary, shepherds and wise men in the voice of Joseph’s mother, and anthems in multi-part harmonies chosen by Ms. Hajek and Don Kirby of St. James’.
To put this collaboration in context, consider: Church membership has fallen dramatically in the US in the modern era. It fell from 70% in the 1980s to 47% in 2020. Attendance took a deep dive during the recent pandemic, as one might expect.
Like several other institutions and practices, choral music has been struggling since the COVID pandemic struck as well. Less than onethird of surveyed American choirs have maintained their pre-pandemic numbers.
This collaboration between the choirs of these two vibrant La Grange churches tells us we may be bucking the trend in Fayette County.
As a country we are not exactly priming the pump for serious music appreciation. Since around 1997 schools have been eliminating music from the curricula. One study finds over 3,600,000 American school kids have no classroom exposure to music.
Traditionally, churches have been the most fecund repository of choral singing in America. But that is trend-ing downward. In 1998, 50% of our churches had choirs; in 2019 it was down to 40%.And many churches have replaced their choirs with band-driven entertainment.
On the other hand, 54 million Americans presently sing in choirs––including 11 million kids. So, choirs are not exactly disappearing.
I wouldn’t count choral music out just yet. I believe an elegiac hymn in four-part harmony moves one in a way that––dare I say it?––a Taylor Swift tune just can’t.
Take renowned choral composer and conductor John Rutter’s word for it:” “Choral music is not one of life’s frills … it goes to the heart of our humanity … our souls.”
I write often about the specialness of our Fayette County community. I think this combined-choir event, with the professional keyboardists, Ruby McGuill and Mary Ann Hatfield, and Luke Huser ‘cellist, trumpet player Loren Parker, and violinist Sherry Hebert, is an exquisite example of this specialness.
Inspiring anthems including, “A Call to Joyful Praise,” “Like a Rose inWinter,” “How Far is it to Bethlehem?,” and “Songs of the Angels” will add musical color and drama to the narrative, narrated by Kari Willrich.
(BTW, the last similar event, the Steinway concert at St. James’ was a full house. So, you might want to arrive early at either or both events for seat selection.)
The free event of a cantata, “Suddenly, Light,” offers same-day opportunities at the New Life Methodist Church, 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 and at 3 p.m. the same day at St. James’ across from the La Grange H-E-B. For more information, call (979) 9688323.