Noli Me Tangere

Conductive

So I've been working part time for my church as director of worship/music. It's a good job right now because I think this is the direction my life is heading and it's a good way to get valuable experience in the role. Doesn't pay much right now, but it's fun and I have some sense of being well-suited to the task, and of my gifts being used. That's a real key, feeling useful.

We're getting ready for the big christmas program, which is a Festival of Lessons and Carols--which I believe is an old anglican tradition where you sing, listen to choral music, and read extended passages of scripture. It's sort of a walk through the Bible from Genesis to the Incarnation. It's a beautiful service, encompassing the full spectrum of solemnity to joy, and is a good evangelical tool, because there's sort of an entertainment aspect to it in that the choral singing is usually varied and entertaining.

There's a classically trained woman in the church who is a good conductor, so she directs the choir. (my strengths are with more contemporary musical forms) But this year, she's letting me conduct a woman's choral piece, This Little Babe. Having never conducted before, I was a little scared, but it's coming together and I've already gotten at least an intuitive feel for what conducting is like, and what it takes to do well. Technically, I know very little, but now I've experienced it, which makes a big difference. Conducting is sort of a cross between playing an instrument (the choir) and interpretive dance.

It's a lot of fun, probably in part because of the rush and inevitable sense of power you get from being able to control the sounds of a large group of people, just by moving your hand a little. And it reminds me of the old Bugs Bunny cartoon where he plays a conductor and leads his orchestra and opera singer through all manner of acrobatics. At one point, while holding his singer on a climactic high note, he leaves his glove suspended in air and goes and takes care of some errands. When he comes back a few minutes later, the singer is blue in the face, still holding the note and following the cue of the white glove in the air. It's a hilarious cartoon, as is still lodged in my memory because it was so visually impressive. Those of you who've seen it know what I'm talking about.