Hello Everyone,
After input from WVC members and much reflection, I am making a change in our repertoire – removing Unsung Saint and adding How Can I Keep From Singing arr. Gwyneth Walker.
In choosing Unsung Saint, I focused on the phases that resonated with me regarding some of the challenges brought on by the pandemic ‘pressing forward with unswerving courage,’ ‘met each untried situation with resourcefulness,’ ‘she illumined the dullness of routine and the loneliness of isolation with beauty and with life abundant.’
I did not, however, adequately consider other phrases and the overall effect that in celebrating the pioneer woman the text ignores the destruction brought upon the indigenous peoples of America by colonization and westward expansion.
How Can I Keep From Singing has become somewhat of a theme song of choral musicians during the pandemic and will complement our other repertoire very nicely. This arrangement is already in our library but has not been performed since 2007 (the Neil Ginsberg arrangement was more recently performed). It is joyful and interesting and I am confident we will enjoy working on it together (and it has a great piano part for Deb!).
We will not keep Unsung Saint in our library so feel free to discard it. Nancy will distribute How Can I Keep From Singing at an upcoming rehearsal (thank you, Nancy).
Thank you for making your concerns known. I am very proud and grateful to be in the company of thoughtful musicians with whom I can make wonderful music.
Very sincerely yours,
Laura