Speak of standard choral music, and most people visibly yawn. After all, few would willingly subject themselves to two hours of sitting still listening to songs in Latin or Italian or what have you, and even fewer would leave their rooms on a rainy Saturday to do so. But what comes to mind when one thinks of gospel music?
One usually doesn't think of dancing, spontaneous applause and impromptu sermons -- all of which were employed at Saturday's Gospel Choir concert in Spaulding Auditorium.
The choir performed the first portion of their repertoire with characteristic energy, accompanied by a band comprised of musicians Eric Lorde, Tim Owens, Keith Harper and Kris Brown.
Audience participation, however, was slow to catch up with the choir. It took choir director Bishop J.C White's statement, "If you're enjoying yourself, you gotta show some sign!" to wake up the crowd; but once awake it was irrepressible.
The Christian acapella group X.ado began the second part of the concert with a couple of songs, and stayed on stage long enough to sing one more along with the choir.
Though smaller in size, they were by no means inferior in quality, as they demonstrated with their rendition of a beautiful ballad, 'Send out a prayer.'
Following their performance, White launched into an impromptu monologue reminiscent of a Pentecostal sermon, laced with bible verses, a blues like monologue and a prayer, which somehow merged into 'I am persuaded' with the choir and band joining in.
Judging from the spontaneous clapping and cheers throughout the second half, their repertoire certainly touched a chord; but none so much as the classic, "On Christ the Solid Rock."
The choir sang this number in staccato fashion, in perfect sync with Kris Brown's drumbeats, and this innovative delivery earned them a standing ovation. Not all the songs were fast-paced; "Come Home," a particularly well-performed piece, was slow and reflective, echoing themes voiced in the earlier "Just Because You Are God," in the first half.
Throughout the performance, the directors attempted to recreate the religious atmosphere in which these songs are traditionally sung. From White's improvisational sermon to a student's reference to her favorite verse ("Though, O Lord, are a shield about me") the performers conveyed a sense of the depth of feeling expressed in the songs.
This process came to fruition during the last song when White invited the crowd to stand, sing and clap along with the choir and exhorted all within range to 'stir up the gift!' It was an appropriate end to such an excellent performance.
