20 April 2013

It’s the end of the semester this week.  Thursday night was one to be remembered forever and forever.  We had our “Programa de Musica” to show off the choir and piano students.  After 3 months of choir class, we took these wonderful students on a musical journey from singing hymns in ear-splitting monotone…to singing in unison (almost everyone got there)…to singing in actual SATB parts (one verse of one hymn)…to the grand finale, the fabulous EFY Medley “As Sisters in Zion/We’ll Bring the World His Truth” which meant singing 2 different melodies together!  Considering where they began, it was nothing short of a miracle.  Oh me, Oh my!  They sang their little hearts out.  Yes, there were many notes way off key, but there were more notes right than wrong and the angels came as they always do to make up the difference, at least in the ears of those who listened with the spirit! 

We sang in Spanish, which was also a miracle for me.   

Elder P. and I sang the first part of Oracion de un Niño (A Child’s Prayer) in English and the choir ended the piece with 2 lines in English which was a miracle for them.  

Here's Elder Stratford, our missionary  who played the piano so well.  He loved it, thought it was a highlight of his mission.  It was so much better with his playing.

We did 4 choir numbers with the piano students performing their one-hand renditions in between. 

One of these students played her part of the duet totally on the wrong keys but no one noticed! :)

This was our "otro" or encore.

All things shall perish from under the sky,

Music alone shall live, music alone shall live,

Music alone shall live…never to die.

Elder Partridge stuck in the kitchen...again.

This "high class" concert ended in a typical Dominican way…hot dogs and soda pop and dancing.  They raised the roof with their meringue and bochata. 

All I can say is what this sign says so beautifully.  Music is food for the soul.  I’m so grateful for the privilege of helping the students love and appreciate good music and have a little taste of singing in harmony.  Oh, the things we can try!  We have many students excited now to join the choir next semester.  Good!  Maybe we can have more than one strong, stay-on-key voice on each part!  Here’s hoping!  

This shows that I was one of her basses.  It was a joy to sing for Sister Partridge, watching her tear up, feel the joy of these Dominican saints, sing their hearts out for her, striving to sing as she taught them, and enjoying every minute of it. She is in her "element" when she is directing people singing the songs of Zion.  Those in the audience saw the fun we had and will sign up the next semester for her class of coro.  All of these kids have never had someone as wonderful, loving, and visionary as Sister Partridge.  They thoroughly enjoyed singing for her.