Please enjoy a musical gift from the Bloomington Chamber Singers and these thoughts from Artistic Director, Gerry Sousa.
In Gratitude
Over the last eight months or so, current and past members of the BCS community have been generously sharing their thoughts and memories in these Connections and Reflections. I for one have been moved time after time by how much the gift of music has meant to all these contributors, and how that gift has enriched their lives in so many personal and varied ways.
Viewed as a whole, these reflections are a rich tapestry of the diverse and vibrant individuals that are and have been the Bloomington Chamber Singers.
Of the many themes and perspectives that have been shared, a strong common thread has been a sense of gratitude: for the wonder of the music itself—for the composers who created those amazing works we are privileged to perform. But also, gratitude for the unique experience of making music as an ensemble, of joining minds, hearts, and voices in expressing the inexpressible. That is what binds us together, and what has sustained BCS over the past fifty years.
This has been a year of challenges unparalleled in our lifetime. The pandemic has affected us on so many levels. Our chorus, small, but vitally important to us, has been forced to temporarily stop our in-person music making and wait until we can resume where we left off. In the meantime, we have been meeting virtually on Tuesdays and preparing for a vital season when we emerge sometime in the not-too-distant future. Our Board has been active in sustaining the group financially, and we are grateful to all our donors and corporate sponsors for their faith in us, and for their ongoing support.
We sing. That is what we do. It is our passion. And so we decided that, despite the pandemic, we would find a way to sing. Safely. And we did. One of our projects this fall was the production of our first virtual choir piece, O Love, by the American composer, Elaine Hagenberg. It is a beautiful, gentle piece that captures the spirit of care for each other during these difficult times.
This is our Thanksgiving gift to you, and to each other. May we be happy, safe, and grateful for all that life has bestowed. And may 2021 bring us together in new and joyful ways.
Gerry Sousa
Artistic Director
Bloomington Chamber Singers
Musical Offering
O Love, that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thy ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Joy, that seeks me through the pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
George Matheson (1842-1906)
