singing in parts

It is such a challenge to learn to sing the individual parts (tenor, bass, soprano, alto) to choral music.  The composer has often taken a familiar melody and teased each of these parts with it, at times allowing you to sing the familiar and then pulling it away and replacing it with harmony.  And harmony can be agonizingly similar to melody.  Every familiar thought in your head wants to return to the melody and you must train your ear, mind and voice to go a different direction.  Sometimes the harmony is so close that it just sounds "wrong".  Not surprisingly they call this "Accidentals".  Fortunately there are others who sing the same part and, as you learn, and as you practice, your voices train each other to follow the same lines.   When you are in the midst of singing a choral work my experience has been that I can't appreciate the "whole" sound because I'm focused on my part.  But if each part comes together properly the audience benefits from the total, synchronized blend.  It takes concentration, practice and the reinforcement of others to sing true and to properly represent the work of the composer, under the guidance of patient and skilled conductor.  There are many parallels to our walk with Christ.  He and His Father and His Spirit are the composer and the conductor and the inspiration.  We are learning the parts He has written and helping each other to sing back to Him the composition of life.  (He is also the audience!)

Colossians 3:¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

blessings,

Rob Smith