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We began rehearsing on Wednesdays
between 8-9 PM, after prayer meeting. Because the hour was so late, we decided to be sure to stop by 9:00, so there wasn't
a lot of rehearsal time—especially if prayer meeting ran overtime, which was far too often. As short as our rehearsal
time was, we didn't get very much done. At least we weren't expected to sing for church every week.
The time overlapped Pathfinders
by half an hour. My 13-year-old son came in at 8:30 after Pathfinders. He was there because I said so, and because he had
to wait for me to take him home anyway. His brand-new baritone voice still squeaked occasionally. Just months ago, he had
been a soprano and he had [sometimes reluctantly] taken lessons on the violin, a melody instrument, for eight years. Singing
a part was not in his repertoire—yet. At the first rehearsal, there were three baritones, including my son, one
alto, one soprano. Since we didn't have an accompanist, I was going to have to sing and play and direct all at once. Yikes!
A few more people came to the next rehearsals, but attendance was sporadic. There didn't seem to be the same four people at
any two rehearsals in a row and I felt like a broken record, I repeated myself so often. Somehow, we got through the first
Sabbath, but trying to do three things at once made me lose concentration to the point that I didn't sing, play or
direct very well. The singers had been more reliable than me.
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Where were
all our church's good singers and musicians? I knew we had them; apparently they were too over-scheduled to be in the choir.
I knew there was illness in the families of at least three singers who hadn't joined. Or maybe they didn't want a choir, or
maybe it was I; I knew I wasn't the world's most charismatic person or best musician. Perhaps I'd offended them; maybe I had
over-recruited. I started noticing singers avoiding me on Sabbaths and at potlucks. Or maybe I was just paranoid. During this
time, there was one person, Norbert, who came to every rehearsal. His baritone was pleasant and always in tune, he
learned very quickly, and his range was good. If he hadn't been the pillar of the choir, I might have given up.
I still needed
choir music. If we had had tenors, I would have used hymns from the hymnal, but the only true tenor in the church was the
organist who was playing for a Lutheran choir—for pay—during our rehearsals. At least I could do my own arranging,
so I did. This was becoming a major time commitment—direct, accompany, sing, arrange the music. I hadn't intended this
to become a "me" showcase; my preferred contribution was working behind the scenes.
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