The Choir Room Podcast
This podcast exists to promote and encourage two long-time traditions in our society that seem to be dwindling…The Choir and Corporate Singing. We hope to revive the excitement and joy experienced with singing in a choir, as well as inform and educate the listener on all things singing, and all things choir related.
A weekly podcast featuring discussion and interviews with choir directors, choir members, and other guests representing church choirs, college and university choirs, community choirs, show and theatre choirs, composer of choir music, and other.
Segments include tips and instruction from skilled and professional disciplines within the choir community covering topics such as choir culture and community, choir directing, vocal training, ear training, sight reading, and more. A monthly virtual live audience episode allows the listener to engage with hosts and guests during instructional and Q&A segments via the live recording, chat, email, on various social media platforms.
A production of Metromusic & Arts, Inc.
- www.metromusic-arts.com
- thechoirroom@metromusic-arts.com
- mail@mmertomusic-arts.cm
The Choir Room Podcast
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing", Christmas choir recordings and live performances that are sure to get you singing and clapping right where you are: The joy and excitement with singing in a choir during the holiday, and a Tribute to Duranice Pace.
Greg takes us on a musical journey with full length versions of some great choir Christmas recordings and live performances that are sure to get you singing and clapping right where you are. We take a moment to recognize and experience those spontaneous occurrences in church worship services, particularly during Christmas services, that have left indelible marks on our hearts. We share a heartrending performance by the late Duanice Pace, whose music continues to reverberate even after her passing.
Looking ahead, we are eager to delve into the unique singing style found in gospel music. So, come, join us in preserving the beautiful tradition of choir and corporate singing, one hymn at a time, one choir song selection at a time. We're excited for this journey and always welcome your thoughts and ideas for future episodes. Let the singing begin!
Glory to the New Born King, Samuel Tolbert and Gregory L. Thomas - Christmas In Times Square, TSC Music
https://open.spotify.com/album/0mOtAPENy9wZOFuIuUzddv
https://music.apple.com/us/album/christmas-in-times-square/358722014
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Times-Square-TSC-Music/dp/B003HHTFC2
For CD copy email: thechoirroom@metrousic-arts.com
Samuel Tolbert, Sound of Joy Music Services
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJU18FQNHvHf5DZuSyv0w/videos
The Session Singers - TSC Music
O Holy Night, Broadway Inspirational Voices, Joseph Joubert & Michael McElroy
https://www.shazam.com/track/54170991/o-holy-night#:~:text=O%20Holy%20Night%20%2D%20The%20Broadway,Joseph%20Joubert%20%26%20Michael%20McElroy%20%7C%20Shazam
That Day, Clay Bogan - Christmas In Times Square, TSC Music
https://open.spotify.com/track/7LD3BfBWmaYvvXqW78TBDM
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tsc-music/358722017
For CD copy email: thechoirroom@metrousic-arts.com
Live Worship with Gregory Thomas - Times Square Church
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lord-i-thank-you/394073884?i=394073951
https://music.apple.com/us/album/jesus-what-a-wonderful-child/394073884?i=394074049
Duranice Pace - A King Is Born, Christmas Celebration 2019
The First Noel - Clay Bogan - Christmas In Times Square, TSC Music
Send all inquiries to thechoirroom@metromusic-arts.com
Perpetuating and Promoting the Christian and Positive Idea Through the Medium of Music and Other Arts.
Welcome to the choir room, season 1, episode 30 of the Choir Room podcast. Welcome to the choir room. I'm Greg Thomas, your host, and I'll soon be joined by my co-host, dorian Johnson. Welcome to the choir room, be it a stance of farar and who we like to call the fourth wheel, coleman Smacht. This podcast is a production of Metro Music and Arts, whose purpose is to perpetuate and promote the Christian and positive idea through the medium of music and other arts, and this podcast exists to promote and encourage two longtime traditions in our society that seem to be dwindling away, and that is choir and corporate singing. We hope to revive the excitement and joy experienced with singing in a choir, as well as inform and educate the listener on all things singing and all things choir.
Speaker 1:Now you can subscribe to the choir room anywhere you listen to your favorite podcast, and if you'd like to stay informed on what's happening with Metro Music and Arts, you can do so by sending the word subscribe in the subject field in an email to mail at metro music dash arts dot com.
Speaker 1:You've been listening to us and we've been listening to you. We've received your emails, your comments, your engagement with our questions online, the CRQs, and we want to say thank you for your participation and know that we are in the process of making some changes to the podcast in the coming year. Now, this first season was an opportunity for us to test the waters, engage our conversation, get your feedback and find out a little more about what it is that you're looking for in terms of choir room content, and we're glad to say that your input and our ideas have been pretty parallel, and we're looking forward to the changes in the coming year. So stay tuned as we share some of these new ideas for the coming year over the next few weeks. Now, before we do any of that right now, dorian is going to come with our hymn of the week.
Speaker 2:Thanks, greg. This week's hymn of the week is Hark the Herald Angels Sing by Charles Wesley in George Whitfield Charles Wesley's oh, four Thousand Tongues to Sing was a past hymn of the week and that hymn was a hymn written in 1739, upon the first anniversary of his conversion. And this Christmas hymn was also written by Wesley in the year after his conversion and was written and inspired by the bells he heard on his way to church in London on a Christmas morning. The original opening of the hymn began Hark how all the welkin ring, glory to the king of kings. You might say. What is a welkin? Well, that is an old word which means sky or heavens. George Whitfield, the famous evangelist who was a friend of Wesley's, actually changed the lyrics of the opening verse to what we sing today Hark the herald angel sang and added the newborn king lyrics as well.
Speaker 2:In writing this hymn that takes largely from the Luke narrative of Jesus' birth, wesley declares many theological truths of who Christ is and the purpose of his incarnation or his coming in the flesh. In Luke 2, in verse 8, we read and in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with great fear. The angel said to them Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord, and this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling claws and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was, with an angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. And so these verses in Luke 2, along with 2 Corinthians 5, 19, which says that in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, are the basis for verse 1 of the hymn which we talk. The herald angel sing glory to the newborn king, peace on earth and mercy. Mild God in sinners reconciled, joyful. All ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies with the angelic host, proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Speaker 2:In verse 2 we read Christ by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time. Behold him come offspring of the virgin's womb. And that phrase late in time does not mean that somehow Jesus was late in his coming. No, it means that after some time when, after the promise had been given of his coming for we read in Galatians 4 4 but when the fullness of time had come, got sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And the second half of the verse refers to John 114, which tells us that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. When it says veiled and fleshed the Godhead, sea hailed incarnate deity, pleased as man with men to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel, meaning God with us. And then the last verse themes from many verses are included.
Speaker 2:We sing hail the heaven born, prince of peace, pointing to the prophecy in Isaiah 9 6. Hail the son of righteousness, light and life to all he brings. Risen with healing in his wings, pointing to the prophecy in Amalekai 4, 2. But for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. Mild he lays his glory by pointing to Christ emptying of himself, taking the form of a servant that we read of in Philippians 2, 7, and born that man no more may die.
Speaker 2:Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth, all pointing to 1st Peter, 1, 3, which says blessed be the God and father of our Lord, jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope, with a resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Indeed, during this season when we remember our Savior's birth, we can truly say hark, the herald angels sing, and we indeed should give glory to the newborn king. Father and mercy, mild God and sinners, make us smile joyful. All the patience rise, join the triumph of the skies when angelic pose, proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark, the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king. Joy, the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king. Father and mercy, mild God and sinners, make us smile joyful. All the patience rise. Join the triumph of the skies when angelic pose, proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark, the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king.
Speaker 3:Glory to the newborn king, glory, glory, glory to the newborn king, christ, the ever lasting Lord, may in time behold him. Come all spring of the virgin's womb. Meld in flesh, the Godhead, see Meld in kindness, he and he. He has met with men to dwell. Jesus has been manuel Hark. The herald angels sing glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king, jesus Christ. King of the glory to the newborn king greet him and Christmas Carol Hark.
Speaker 1:The Herald Angels Sing. The official title of this arrangement is Glory to the Newborn King, recorded by yours truly and the TSC Music team on the project Christmas in Times Square, and you can find that pretty much on all digital music platforms. Now, if you're interested in a physical copy, a CD version of that recording they are in limited supply but you can get one before Christmas if you email us at thequireroom at metro music dash arts dot com again, thequireroom at metro music dash arts dot com. Now, sam Talbert and I worked together in the late 80s, early 90s in Harlem and I believe we were preparing for a Christmas production at the time and asked him if he had any music that he wanted to consider.
Speaker 1:Now, I wasn't necessarily looking for anything original or an arrangement, but I remember hearing the introduction and hearing him go through the song and thinking, sam, we have got to do this song. And in typical Sam Talbert fashion he humbly just said, hey, do what you want to do with it. Now, we did it that year and I have subsequently done it every year with probably every group I've ever worked with since then, every Christmas, and I've arranged it a little further. That's the arrangement you just heard with TSC Music, so I wanted to give a shout out to Sam Talbert Sam Talbert with Sound of Joy Music Services, and you can find him on Facebook and on YouTube. Now, remaining in the Christmas spirit, I'd like to give a shout out to a few more people, but before I call their names, I'm going to let you hear them sing. Now. They are unofficially known as the Sessions Singers.
Speaker 3:So this dB когоzzi began early, but Did it go that way? Long lay the world. It's in an era of pining Till he appeared and the soul felt his word A clear of hope. A weary world rejoices. You are on the brakes. A new and glorious mind Walk on on your knees. Only the angels present O night, o night, o night when Christ was born, o night, o night, divine, oh oh, O night, divine. Walk on on your knees. Only the angels present O night, o night, o night when Christ was born, o night, o night, divine, divine, divine, oh, oh, oh. Holy night, o night, divine, divine. It was a holy night, o night, o night.
Speaker 1:O night, o night O night divine, ginny Pena, j Marie Lopez and Cheryl Rochester. Now I'm sure you're asking yourself why did I mention all of those names? Well, ratings, of course they're all famous. Okay, none of them are famous, but they are special people.
Speaker 1:And, as we are in this Christmas holiday, I was going through some files and cleaning up some hard drives and making space for some new projects and I begin to reminisce on the time and the energy and the effort and the commitment this group of people had shown that year.
Speaker 1:As I watched this live recording of them Not professional singers, but certainly professional in their attitude and their approach to what they were doing, and as I watched this video, I was reminded of how much trust that each of those singers put in me to allow me to pull out of them what some of them thought they couldn't do. So I don't take it for granted whenever myself or Dorian or Mietta or Coleman say on this podcast hey, you should be singing. It requires great trust for you to do that which you ordinarily wouldn't do on a daily basis. So allowing your choir director to pull out of you what's in you or allowing your worship leader to lead you in song that takes great trust and we don't take it for granted. And so to that group formerly known as the Session Singers, merry Christmas to you and thanks for the trust.
Speaker 4:The Messiah, the Prince of Peace from glory, the pride of heaven, born to us that day from the right hand of God, to the arms of the Virgin and to the hearts of the people, the rejected and the lost. God gave His only Son that day. He was a gift of us so we can be saved, heaven on earth that day. And now we are changed. We are saved. The Messiah, the Prince of Peace from glory, the pride of heaven, born to us that day from the right hand of God, to the arms of the Virgin and to the hearts of the people, the rejected and the lost. He gave His only Son that day. He was a gift for us so we can be saved, heaven on earth that day. And now we are changed. We are saved For what time he has for us. New mercies have unfolded from the day that he was born and rejected for something special this Christmas.
Speaker 3:I'll remember my first gift was on that day it was a gift for us, so we can be saved heaven on earth that day. Now we are changed, we are saved. He gave His only Son that day. He was a gift for us, so we can be saved, heaven on earth that day. Now we are changed, we are saved. You're in the choir room.
Speaker 1:That day on the same project, christmas in Times Square, written by my dear friend Clay Bogan. You know, sometimes in choir, especially in church services, things can be very spontaneous In fact I like it when they're spontaneous and there are moments when the musicians don't know what's coming, the choir doesn't know what's coming, the congregation is just in the moment, but they don't know what's coming either. But they can all testify to the fact that there is something happening in the spirit or in the atmosphere at that moment. Now here is one of those such moments, unplanned, unscripted, and there's a witness in the room that's evidenced by the joy that breaks out amongst 2,000-plus people at the moment still in the Christmas spirit.
Speaker 3:Oh, so holy. You're beautiful, my love. Oh, who told you that I was good? Welcome to the angel's dance. Shining glory, glory, glory, glory to the moon. Oh, sing it, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus. Oh sing it, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus.
Speaker 1:Would you welcome Dorena's pace. Oh, go tell it off the mountain, over the hill. That is the river. Go tell it off the mountain and be the right one. Go tell it off the mountain, over the hill. That is the river. Go tell it off the mountain and Jesus Christ is born. Go tell it off the mountain, over the hill. That is the river. Go tell it off the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Go tell it off the mountain, over the hill. That is the river.
Speaker 4:Go tell it off the river, over the hill that is the river. Oh, I want to call you baby. To the angels' praise, glory, glory, glory to the new born king. He was here, all by an angel, born in a lonely man. The Virgin Mary was his mother, the Virgin Joseph was his father, and three wise men came from afar. They were guided by a sunny star, just to see King Jesus where he'd reign in a major field with a hand. Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus. Oh, wonderful child, wonderful child, yeah, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, oh, holy angel, oh, like the whole church. Glory, glory, glory to the new born king. Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, Jesus. The doctor and the sick room, face the and the fall, o, jesus, jesus, jesus.
Speaker 1:Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, Jesus, to the way we RS, jesus, Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, Jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus, you the very best, jesus, jesus, jesus. You get you out of your midst. Oh, Jesus, jesus, heal you, jesus, you live you, jesus. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory, glory, glory, glory. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king. Glory to the newborn king In typical gospel singing fashion.
Speaker 1:That's the voice of Duranus Pace, who was with us in 2019 for Christmas production, and we would lose her to health complications in January of 2021, about a year later. Now let me tell you she could sing this way all night and not lose her voice. There's an art to this kind of singing. We have uncovered this method of singing in the podcast and it's clearly the contrast of what you've been hearing from our vocal coaches so far. But we intend to cover this style and the methodologies behind it in the coming year, but right now, I want you to look past the technique and past the methodology and experience the electrifying and contagious joy as she and the choir sing together with the people Music.
Speaker 1:As we've stated in the past, we welcome your comments, your suggestions, your thoughts regarding the content you want to hear on this podcast, and we've received quite a few of them over the past several months via Facebook, email and other methods, and we want you to know that it hasn't fallen on deaf ears. We've used this first season to kind of feel our way through and try to get a good handle on what the demand and the need is from our listening audience, and we think we have that. In the coming weeks you're going to hear more about some of the changes coming to the Choir Room podcast. You will get to hear more choirs singing church choirs, school choirs, colleges and universities, community choirs and more. The podcast will also become more interactive, where you'll be able to participate in discussion with our hosts, guest contributors and with one another. So stay tuned to the Choir Room as things begin to change in the coming 2024 season.
Speaker 1:You're probably wondering where Mieta is with our CRQ and where Coleman is with our Thought of the Week.
Speaker 1:Well, it's a busy season for all of us. During the holiday we're involved in music productions and events and special services, and so we hope that sharing some of this music tonight has helped to get you in the Christmas spirit. So maybe now you're singing in the car, or you're singing around the office, or you're singing while you're putting up the tree, or just singing around the house, but singing nonetheless, and that you are experiencing the joy and the excitement that comes with singing and a choir and comes with singing period. Make it a point to sing through this holiday. If you can't sing out loud or you're not comfortable singing out loud, sing in your heart and it'll change your day. I guarantee it. I know that I'm better when I'm singing. Enjoy this last song and be sure to join us again next week here in the choir room, as all of our hosts will be back and we'll have some special guests with us on next week sharing the joy of singing during the holiday.
Speaker 4:Step one 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Speaker 5:Hey, ohh, ohh, hey. You looked up and saw a star shining in these, beyond them, afar. And to the earth it gave great life, and so it continued both day and night. Noel, noel, noel, noel Born is the King of Israel. Noel, noel, noel, noel Born is the King of Israel. Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, oh, oh, the Messiah has come. Lift your voices and sing. Let us all, in one accord, give praise to the King. Oh, oh, oh.
Speaker 3:Yes, he has. Lift your voices and sing. Let us all, in one accord, give praise to the King, the Messiah. Lift your voices and sing. Let us all, in one accord, give praise to the King, oh oh, oh, the Messiah has come. Lift your voices and sing. Let us all, in one accord.
Speaker 5:Give praise to the King. Born is the King.
Speaker 3:Born is the King.
Speaker 5:Born is the King of Israel.
Speaker 1:And remember, if ever we put the messenger before the message, we have failed to present an unblemished gospel. I'm Greg Thomas. Join us again next week right here in the choir room.
Speaker 3:Thank you for watching.
