Glowing hearts singing (day 165)

I spent the evening at the St-Andrew's Wesley United Church.  It's a gorgeous church right downtown, with vaulted ceiling, stone arches, stained glass.  Being in there feels like being hugged.  It feels safe, special, and it smells good.  I was there to hear four of Canada's best choirs sing - the Chor Leoni Men's choir, the Elektra Women's Choir, Musica Intima, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir.

I love the sound of a choir but it seems this love is not shared by my contemporaries.  We were surrounded by baby boomers.  It was very hard to spot anyone younger than fifty.   I dwelt on this just long enough to feel anachronistic and then gave up and just enjoyed the singing.  The choirs started and ended the evening singing all together.  Just to hear that many voices singing was impressive enough, never mind the combined talent.  They actually ended the evening (after the encore) with 'Oh Canada' which almost had me running out of the church but I stayed just so I could sing along with them.  At least we all knew the words, however ridiculous they are (especially in French).  I used to love singing the anthem when I was younger.  I'd get chills of pride and secretly loved the show of unity.  Now I see it as a symptom of artificial borders and it seems ridiculous that all countries sing 'we are the greatest'.  This isn't football.  Anyway.  I digress.  The singing was awesome.

Some highlights:

• Elektra Women's Choir singing 'Snowforms' in Inuktitut.  It was like being in a snowstorm followed by walking in snowdrifts while feeling flurries on your face.  Lots of really interesting vocal effects.  
• Everything Music Intima sang was a highlight.  Their singing alone was worth the price of admission.  I especially loved their rendition of 'Mon Pays'.
• Chor Leoni singing 'Spaseniye' a hymn by Chesnokov.  Made be cry and relax all at the same time.  Their rendition of 'La Cucaracha' was also really good.
• The four choirs together singing 'Vive L'amour'.  I got all sentimental and for a moment felt good about welcoming the world to Vancouver.  

Now I'm thinking I'll join a choir.  I used to sing in one when I was younger and totally loved it.  Apparently going back to your play roots is a good thing to do.

A song for this post.