On Joining the Heavenly Choir: If you missed it live, there is YouTube
By george wesley dannells on Jun 10, 2009 in All categories
3rd Annual Baha’i Choral Music Festival
One day I want to watch this live!
Marco says it all. One day I, too, want to be able to watch this annual event live. -gw
Embellishing the House of Worship’s 12:30 p.m. devotions, Mr. Gilmer’s grand a cappella choir filled the auditorium with pure, sweet notes and elegant harmonies. As the standing-room-only crowd spilled out of the building into the gloriously sunny day, someone had the great idea of continuing the concert outside on the steps.
That allowed the singers to quickly line up and reprise three songs, one a rousing gospel number composed by Mr. Gilmer. The choir clapped and swayed (not permitted inside the House of Worship), and spectators soon did the same. It was a magical moment.
http://www.bahai.us/choral-festival
Bahai Choral Festival 2009 from Ageless NorthShore on Vimeo.
the chorus sang 14 pieces a capella (without instruments) and without sheet music– hymns, prayers, gospel songs, the classical liturgy of the Baha’i faith, and a rousing rendition of “I’m Going Back to the Father,” a Negro Spiritual.
Before each number, Maestro Gilmer displayed a piece of paper to the singers indicating which piece they would be performing. He then walked up in turn to the sopranos, tenors, basses, baritones and altos and blew into a pitch pipe. He returned to his stand and the music began.
What is remarkable is that this group made up of Baha’i choir members and other singers from across the country and around the world had 4 days to prepare.
http://ageless-northshore.com/bahai-choral-music/
Melli Buford It was a fantastic event …. I was so moved at one point I found myself weeping. http://www.meetup.com/evanston-bahai/calendar/10360325/
I joined the heavenly choir
Mitko on Jun 9th 2009
The video from the 3rd Baha’i Chorale Festival has been posted on YouTube and you can enjoy the full concert or if you are in a hurry but still curious about my participation, you can see my expressions at minute 26 and my mini solo, among many truly capable singers, at minute 46.
http://www.befriendedstranger.com/bahai-music/2009/06/09/i-joined-the-heavenly-choir/
On Jun 11, 2009, Sholeh said:
Speaking as someone who was there, it was really beautiful.
Thanks for writing about it, George.
On Jun 11, 2009, george wesley dannells said:
It was Sholeh’s blog post that brought my attention to the YouTube video being out.
Of course, I have been following her on Twitter, too, and knew of her devoted service in helping to organize the festival.
Thanks, Sholeh, for all you do.
On Jun 11, 2009, Sholeh said:
aw thanks George, it was such a blessing to help out. Funny side note: if you look at the Vimeo video you posted, you can see me behind Van, the choir director.