Today, thanks to David Lose's wonderful daily reflection . . ."In the Meantime", I discovered Eric Whitacre's Virtual choir. If you want to be amazed - check out Lose's site at
http://www.davidlose.net/2013/03/eric-whitacres-virtual-choirs/
or you can try Virtual Choir on YouTube
Whitacre, a composer and conductor, has written several scores which he had 185 people - and then 2,000 people!- sing and record and send to him. These were then compiled to form a choir. At Lose's site you can see a TED talk where he explains how this all came about.
As I watched, I sat stunned by the sheer beauty of the music and the incredible achievement. And I realized that if I were to encounter this individual in the mall or at the library, I would never pick him out as being extraordinary. He just looks so - well - ordinary.
As I reflected on this, I could not help but wonder if St. Paul had been writing now, would he have used this as a metaphor for the church? The ordinary looking writer/conductor has written the score and planned for the melody and harmony.
Each participant has one part to sing, and sings it in virtual isolation. No one know all the other folks who are part of this effort, nor can any one person know or understand how her voice will blend with the others. Each only knows the part he has been given to sing.
Some folks take many many tries before they get it just right and send it in.Some folks are "professionals" and others just love to sing. Some folks have almost professional recording studios, but one dear young woman, who sings the soprano solo, does so from her simple room with a stuffed animal in the background. Her voice, unaccompanied, is so pure it sent shivers down my spine.
No-one sees the others with whom they are working. Each sees only an image of the conductor composer. And yet, when the master weaves it all together, the many voices blend into one seamless and astounding sound that echoes an angelic choir.
One participant had been told by her husband that surely, she would not be good enough to participate. She was 400 miles from the closest choir and so had never sung in one. Yet her voice, via satellite, joined with all the others. And from this disparate group has grown a community of folks, woven together by a single purpose.
Watch the videos. Can you read this life parable?
In Awe
Rev. Marie