Tabernacle Choir x Spelhouse Glee Concert
Introduction
On Wednesday September 11th, the Spelman and Morehouse Glee Clubs joined the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra for their world tour performance stop in Atlanta, Georgia. The performance was held at State Farm Arena, most famously known for being home to the Atlanta Hawks basketball team, but also holding different events and conferences over the years. The Spelman College Glee Club is directed by Dr. Kevin Johnson, and the Morehouse College Glee Club is directed by David Morrow. Historically, this concert was a big deal. The Tabernacle Choir, even sometimes referred to as “America’s Choir” has been around since 1847 under a different name, although their mission of orchestrating performances to “draw closer to the divine and feel God’s love for His children” has remained the same. Additionally, the Spelman College Glee Club, celebrating its centennial year, is the oldest collegiate choir of African American women in the United States.
Description
The performance began with the Tabernacle Choir singing “Alleluia/Praise to the Lord Almighty”. This song had a very whimsical feel, with lots of overlapping melodies. Next was “With Joyful Voices Singing” which similarly to the first had a very serene essence.
After these two songs, hosts Townsen, Darger, Meliculo, and Demos stepped in to introduce the choir and their mission. These four hosts highlighted their personal experiences with the choir, and informed the audience of what the choir had to offer.
The choir resumed their performance with “How Excellent Thy Name” and then with two Alleluia’s. After these two songs, the choir changed the genre of song, from long-noted melodic songs to more cultural songs, like “Ah, El Novio No Quere Dinero”, “gamelan”, and “Cindy” which included more lively melodies and more complex instrumentals accompanying the singers. Next were “Music Everywhere”, “In the Garden”, and “To God Be the Glory.” These songs reminded us of the mission of the choir, which is to create unity under God, and to continue to use the unity to share messages of God’s love.
The next section of the concert, the most highly anticipated moment in my personal opinion, the Spelman and Morehouse Glee Clubs were introduced to the audience. The host included important accolades, such as the Spelman Glee club being in their centennial year, and being the first college Glee Club made up of Black women. First Morehouse Glee sand “Great Glorius” and then my personal favorite “I Ain’t Got Weary Yet.” This song featured a strong soloist, and an a capella performance that evoked emotion in myself, and I’m sure other members of the audience. The cultural significance, along with the rarity of seeing all Black male comprised Glee Clubs was inspiring.
After their performance, the Spelman Glee Club was up. Firstly, they sang “Wade in the Water” in an arrangement I had never heard before. It was upbeat in tempo, yet still held the same emotional sentiment that the traditional slowed arrangement holds. Next, they performed “Children Go Where I Send Thee” arranged by Kevin Johnson. Lastly, a Spelman signature, the club performed “A Choice to Change the World” also arranged by director Kevin Johnson. This song sparked a sense of emotion within me, as a Spelmanite, because of how clearly the song represents what each and every one of us chose Spelman College for.
Special guest Kristen Chenoweth, a world renowned singer, performed two songs: “Angels Among Us” a song meant to acknowledge the lives lost during the September 11th terrorist attack, and “How Great Art Thou.”
To wrap up the concert, all of the choirs joined together to sing “Songs for the People” which showcased the harmonic abilities of all choirs. They also sang “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”. The tabernacle choir then sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Georgia On My Mind”, which was a perfect way to connect with their audience. Lastly, they performed “Til We Meet Again” which was a great way to conclude a powerful, emotional, and unifying concert experience.
Personal Perspective and Evaluation
Overall, I enjoyed the concert. Similar to most people, choral arrangements aren’t in my weekly or even monthly music rotation, so it is always nice to be exposed to new sounds, melodies, and voices. One thing I noted that was interesting was the gender separation of the Tabernacle Choir, because I had never seen choir members arranged in that way before. I also enjoyed their attire; Usually for choral concerts I see members dressed in traditional black suits or dresses, but I liked that their outfits had elements of purple and gray while still upholding tradition. In terms of the pieces themselves, at first I was a bit skeptical of how much I’d enjoy the concert, however as the performance went on I found myself emotionally resonating with the songs, especially when they Spelhouse Glee Clubs performed.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the concert showcased the talents of each choir beautifully. Because the concert included so many orchestral and vocal styles, I left feeling senses of pride and new knowledge, and I think most, if not all, of the audience could say the same.
