The Spirit is Moving

Ten days after this year's summer gospel weekend I am left with two overwhelming impressions : one of musical excellence and the certainty that God was at work.

As usual the three days were exhausting (more like four days as I started the previous evening with a rehearsal for a concert Rejoice were giving on the Friday evening of the course, and on the Monday I had another late night as Rejoice organised a surprise party for Taïa Kronberg who is moving back to Denmark.) It took me the best part of a week to recover physically but also to get my ideas in order as so much had happened.

The programme of songs seemed simpler than previous years - or maybe everyone is getting better ?! And there was a return of the individual workshops seen in previous years : Urban Gospel (Fabrice Cler), Caribbean Gospel (Erwan Jan), Male Voice Choir (Wayne Ellington) and Traditional a-cappella Gospel (Colin Vassell). Each prepared two songs for the final concert and the result was excellent in each case.

I was particularly moved by the male voice choir which sang in close (and quite difficult) harmony. I would have wanted to do this workshop but obviously couldn't! Wayne did an excellent job teaching the men and building their confidence. Colin remarked to me in the concert how amazing it was that men together sounded so confident and yet when you stuck a couple of women in the choir they weren't quite as at ease. Must be a 'guy thing'! This, I think, was Wayne's point in proposing this work as a time for empowerment of men. Indeed he made an interesting speech at the beginning of his workshop's performance when he explained that God had called Man (not Woman) and that some men felt undermined by women these days. However, they shouldn't feel so as God had called Men because they were strong. It was a bit odd translating that as the only girl on the stage, even if I completely adhere to the idea. The musical result : especially the a-cappella song, was remarkable.

The Caribbean workshop was lively and included a great dance : that was a happy couple of songs. I appreciated Wayne's solo during that which spoke to me of churches across London with a Caribbean feel.

The Urban gospel was too loud (I know Les Halles has rotten acoustics but still). Even so, there was a 'rock' feel to it that got the audience moving. I was touched to see a little boy (about 8 or 9) rock 'n' rolling with his mum. It was such a touching sign of complicity to witness. This urban gospel had brought them together. Even if the words were inaudible the spirit of the music showed the audience that Christians can have a good time : something a lot of French forget, I think.

The traditional workshop sang two a-cappella songs led by Colin. He was the revelation of this workshop as Karen Gibson was unable to come this year. We did miss her but Colin was rather a success! He has an amazing, open personality which communicated so much to everyone. He was a very precise director also and so it was almost impossible to make a mistake! He taught the choir some breathing tricks (snatch breathing and stagger breathing) which allowed them to hold a note for 42 seconds during the concert : to much applause! I've been trying to explain stagger breathing to my choir for ages : maybe they'll get it better now?? Must try again. He also gave me a little solo to do which was a-cappella and VERY high! I'm not pleased with how it sounded but I did hit all the notes which was a boost to my flailing soprano confidence. Also, I was pleased to hear Kevon's compliment on finally finding my 'chest voice'. Coming from him (check out his myspace of you don't know what he sounds like) that was a compliment that'll keep me trying next year! Also my friend, Natalia Lubrano (check out her myspace too!) said she'd enjoyed my 'timbre' and wondered if we could sing something together. Fine.

Colin's workshop was marked by a very personal input as he told the choir how gospel music had helped him through the time of his mother's death and again as he went through a bout of depression. I had to kind of divorce myself from his words as I translated them as too much of it rang home for me and I'd have blubbed! He sang his favourite Kirk Franklin song "In His Hands" both just for us and again at the concert. In fact, I think he decided to sing this during the interval and phoned someone at home to find out the key so the pianist could accompany him. Olivier, the pianist rose admirably to the challenge. Even better, Wayne was about to sing a solo during the concert when another song came to him and Olivier managed to accompany that as if by telepathy! I was definitely impressed by Olivier, as a musician, but also as a young Christian. We had very interesting conversations and I was much heartened to know that young people (he's only 22) are actively Christian today.

The rest of the concert was so moving : everyone cried at some stage : the audience, the choir, the singers... Wayne was in tears at one point as he really tried to get a message across. He explained to me afterwards that he was praying for at least one person to come to Jesus and hey presto : after the concert, several did.

I have started the summary of the weekend at the end it seems but it sums up the whole period quite well. You just need to add a concert in the park by Rejoice on the Friday evening (good fun and a relaxed outdoor crowd) with an impromptu duo from Wayne and Colin going over some classic gospel songs together. Actually it was more like a dual than a duo! Also Wayne's rendition of "Total Praise" which had the café owner in tears even though she isn't a Christian. This led to a very stimulating conversation about whether certain songs are anointed. I think here it's a definite yes, but the singer is most certainly too!

On Saturday evening the open stage concert took place in the Temple Protestant (United reformed Church of France) and it was great to discover some new voices. Natalia did a great performance.

Unfortunately not enough members of Akwa-Gospel were present for us to prepare anything this year. But there was quite enough for us to hear anyway!!

There is so much I could say about these few days and yet no words can summarise the feelings that assailed me during and after it. Simply I feel priveleged to have been part of something so powerful, to have met Wayne Ellington again, Colin Vassell and Olivier, as well as members of Rejoice who I am only now, at the end of the year, coming to know. I have been priveleged to translate some important testimonies that I believe will help people redirect their lives. Mine has certainly been redirected. Thanks to all the participants and especially to Erwan Jan whose choice of theme in the songs was definitely 'inspired'.

Here are some of the comments from Akwa-Gospel (bilngual version!!)...

Deirdre writes :

Je te remercie encore de m'avoir encouragée à participer au stage il y a deux ans.

C'est un pur bonheur. C'est simple, un mois avant je trépigne d'impatience et pendant la semaine qui suit, je reste sur un petit nuage jovial et swing 24 h sur 24.

Les chants me reviennent (même les paroles, mais oui !) tout au long de la journée, pas les mêmes, cela dépend des heures. La gaîté se communique aux collègues, le "gospel attitude" est entré dans leur univers.

Que te dire, que c'est dur de redescendre, car j'ai atteint des sphères où il est bon de vivre. J'ai rencontré des chanteurs professionnels qui savent se mettre à ma portée (bon à part que je n'arrive pas glisser même pas trois mots d'anglais tellement je suis émue en face d'eux). Je n'oublierai jamais leur regard, leur écoute et ce qu'ils m'ont transmis sur scène et pendant le stage. Je me suis laissée portée presque jusqu'aux cieux.

Ces chanteurs, avec leur virtuosité et leur talent très grand ont su garder une grande simplicité. Ce sont des "humanistes" qui m'ont transportée là où je ne pensais pas arriver. J'ai beaucoup apprécié leur humour, et pour tous, j'ai senti qu'on existait individuellement, hors du groupe, et notre participation était la base d'une construction et ça c'est extraordinaire. ..

Quant à l'émotion en fin de concert, elle a été réelle et partagée de manière très pudique. Les larmes furent épongées dans la joie. C'est un moment intense qui m'a fait, une fois de plus, promettre de rester toujours optimiste et joyeuse...

L'idée d'ateliers est très bonne, cela permet de travailler en petit groupe...Et en plus le résultat de chaque atelier est génial ! On voit l'évolution du gospel et en bref tout était bien quoi ! je n'ai que des compliments et si j'étais moins timide, j'aurais été voir Wayne et je lui aurais dit qu'il est exceptionnel même si il le sait par d'autres, j'aurais été voir Colin (quelle performance de soliste et de formateur pédagogue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) et lui aurais dit qu'il a ensoleillé nos journées, et Keaven , était vraiment à l'écoute des gens (jeunes et moins jeunes), et c'est rare aujourd'hui. Et je confirme que Fabrice ... nous a beaucoup aidées, nous les alti, il sentait (bon il a de l'oreille) quand on peinait et arrivait à notre secours, (comme Colin)...

Vraiment, j'ai vécu trois jours d'exception, d'émotions fortes, et de bonheur.

Thank you for encouraging me to take part in this course 3 years ago. It's pure joy. I'm restless with impatience for a month beforehand and the week afterwards I'm on a little cloud of 'swing' 24 hours a day...this joy gets through to my collagues and the 'gospel attitude has become part of their universe.

I met professional singers who knew how to talk to me on a level I understand...I’ll never forget how they watched and listened to us, nor what they communicated to me on stage and throughout the weekend. I was transported almost to heaven. These singers, with their virtuosity and great talent know how to hold on to their simplicity. They are “humanists” who took me to a place I didn’t expect to go. I really appreciated their humour, and for each of them I felt we existed on an individual level outside the group and that our participation was the basis of building something extraordinary...As for the emotion at the end of the concert, it was very real and shared with a great sense of modesty. Tears were wiped away in joy. It was an intense moment which made me promise once again to stay optimistic and joyful...If I wasn’t so shy I would have spoken to Wayne, and even if others have already told him this, said that he is exceptional, and to Colin (what a solo performance and what a good teacher) and said he brought sunshine to our days and Kevon really listened to people both young and not so young, which is a rare thing these days. And Fabrice helped we altos a lot and , like Colin, if he saw us struggling he came to our help.

The workshop idea was great and allowed us to work in small groups. To cap it all the result was brilliant...
I really experienced three days of strong emotion and joy.

Anna writes :

du beau, du bon, du vrai,...pour mon corps, ma tête,mon mental,mon âme...que du bonheur! du grand bonheur.

Il faut se laisser entrainer, chanter "à plein", chanter pour soi, se faire plaisir, laisser l'émotion m'envahir, puis faire passer ce trop plein à ceux et celles qui écoutent et le courant passe c'est magique!

Dans ma tête restent les gospel appris cette année mais me reviennent ceux des années précédentes, alors toutes la journée les airs s'installent et sans m'en rendre compte je chante du matin au soir (c'est quelquefois usant surtout lorsque l'on ne se souvient pas des paroles)

Tous les ans je souhaite faire découvrir à mes proches (famile, amis...) ces 3 jours de grand "décapage" je vous assure que ceux et celles qui ont participé à ces stages ne souhaitent qu'une chose c'est de recommencer. ..

je souhaite à tous de vivre ces moments de pur bonheur!

Great, true, real, beautiful joy for my body, my head my mind and my soul!

If you let yourself go and let the music speak through you to the people who have come to listen there's a magical current!

In my head I hear all the new songs I've learned this year but also the ones from previous years and I keep singing all day long : which is a bit tiresome when i can't remember the words.

Every year I want ot bring the people I love to these tree days of renewal and those who have come have onyl one thing in mind afterwards : to do it again!

I wish for everyone to experience these moments of sheer joy.

Carol writes :

J'ai eu du mal à m'endormir cette nuit! (...)

Pour ce qui est du stage , j'ai beaucoup apprécié les ateliers, je trouve que ça donne une couleur au concert. C'est vrai qu'on a eu du mal à se quitter hier soir, quel arc-en-ciel d'émotions !!! Sur la palette du rire aux larmes, on a tout fait !! On avait tous pensé à nos bouteilles et nos anti sèche, mais personne n'avait de mouchoirs !! Alors il y en avait beaucoup autour de moi qui reniflaient discrètement ( en fin aussi discrètement que possible ;)).

Colin et wayne sont extraordinaires, Fab et Kevon ont un bel avenir devant eux, ils ont des qualités pédagogiques exeptionnelles! ...Pour les techniques vocales je crois avoir progressé encore, j'arrive plus facilement à protéger ma voix avec le "twang", même si aujourd'hui je "grésillais" un peu !!!

J'ai vécu un moment très fort, je voudrais pouvoir prier plus souvent comme ça, (mais les catho sont trop coincés du c.....!!!!!) je signe tout de suite pour l'an prochain!!

Gros bisous Karen et merci à toi

I couldn't get to sleep tonight!
As for this weekend I appreciated the workshops : they gave a colour to the final concert. It was hard to say goodbye at the end. What a rainbow of emotions!!! From laughter to tears. Everyone had crib notes tucked away somewhere but no-one had thought of the handkerchiefs (I had !: Gospella) so everyone around me was sniffing as discreetly as possible!

Colin and wayne are extraordinary, Fab and Kevon have a bright future and they all have amazing pedagogical talents. I thinkI'vemade progress in voacl technique and I manage to protect my voice a bit more with the "twang" now, even if there are still a few parasites.

I experienced a powerful moment and I would like to pray like that more often but catholics are just too ‘square’! I’m signing up for next year straightaway!”

Sylvia says :

Tu peux le dire , une montagne russe d'émotions.
Comment expliquer ce frisson qui te prends des orteils jusqu'aux cheveux , cette émotion qui t'envahit lorsque tu chantes, jusquà te faire pleurer,tellement c'est fort.
Que dire de la voix des solistes qui te transporte dans un autre monde, particulièrement celle de Wayne pour moi.
Enfin voilà ,vraiment que du bonheur, que ceux qui n'y étaient pas ne peuvent pas comprendre.Le seul problème c'est qu'après on en veut encore et encore et qu'on ne voudrait pas que çà s'arrête.
Et là, quand çà s'arrête c'est le vide ,mais on chante toujours et toujours les mêmes chansons.

You can say that again : A roller coaster of emotions.
How can you explain this shiver from your toes right up to your hair, this emotion that invades you when you sing, so strongly that it makes you cry.
What can you say about soloists whose voices transport you to another dimension, particulary Wayne's as far as I'm concerned.
Indeed true joy that those who weren't there can't really understand. The only problem is that afterwards we want to go on and on and never stop.
Then everything is empty but we keep singing those same songs.

Gospella says :

I don't think there's anything to add. Did you notice how often the word "joy" was mentioned? You may draw your own conclusions but as the title of this blog implies (and I have not told you of all the many spiritual events of this weekend for myself and others as they remain private) the Spirit Is Moving!!

God bless,
Gospella