When my wife-to-be and I started at Pillsbury Baptist College i=
n southern Minnesota back in the 60’s, we auditioned for one of four =
choirs. She was a gifted soprano soloist and made the Madrigal (highe=
st group); I was more a general workman, able to sing any of the four male =
parts, and had fun in the second tier Chorale. In both groups, we stood sti=
ll as we sang, eyes focused only on the director, concentrating on deliveri=
ng music. God’s work is serious business, you know.
20 miles north of us was St. Olaf College, five times la=
rger, well-endowed, and focused on music (with 8 choirs). We got to hear th=
em and were in awe of the high quality of their music. (Minnesota has a ric=
h history of college music, with Concordia, Gustavus-Adolfus, Augsburg, et =
al premier choral groups).
Came across a sidenote in an article saying the St. O=
laf Choir performs while holding hands. I wondered why the two rows of guys=
and two rows of gals would do that. Seems like a quick way to spread germs=
thru the group. What I found was enlightening.
When a singer needs to breathe in=
the middle of a phrase, they squeeze the hands of their neighbors. It̵=
7;s a signal that says, “make sure to sustain this phrase while I cat=
ch my breath so two of us won’t breathe simultaneously”. And the hand=
squeeze also signals comfort and creates a sense of unity onstage. Through=
this practice, the choir creates the seamless illusion of beautiful, susta=
ining, and full sound.
Each of us have times in our lives when we need our frien=
ds and loved ones to take over while we catch our breath. We can’t al=
ways do everything we want to do. Nor can we be everything we want to be. W=
e also have times when we can be there for someone else. We can be the ones=
whose hands are squeezed.
We can all learn from the St. Olaf Choir.=
We can learn to show up and be present for others and to let go and let ot=
hers be present for us.
[insert “hand squeeze” to all o=
f my friends who are there for me today]
~~
Dr. Bo=
b Griffin
“Abhoring all my sin, adoring only Him”=
bob@grif=
=2Enet www.grif.net