SENIOR CHOIR

At 10:30 on April 27, the choir will present John Rutter's arrangement of Lord of the Dance. This well-known text was written in 1963 by the English Quaker poet Sydney Carter. Carter said he wrote the lyrics partly inspired by Jesus, partly by a statue of Shiva as Nataraja (whose dancing, according to Hindu tradition, is part of his activities of creation). Carter also borrowed from the English carol Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, which similarly tells the gospel story in the first person voice of Jesus.

The tune, Simple Gifts, was written in 1848 by Maine Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett. It's well-nigh impossible to find a musical combination for which this melody has not been scored - choirs, bands, orchestras, small groups, in movies, on television, on Broadway, in a recording by Yo Yo Ma. Suffice to say, you can hardly throw a rock without hitting a version of Simple Gifts.

On May 4 the choir will offer up Swingin' with the Saints, a gospel medley of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and When the Saints Go Marching In. A little blues, some up-tempo walking bass and even a touch of scat singing get in the act before it's all over. It's a bit outside our regular fare, but it's a joyous moment of music making that is fitting on the day we send Pastor Wayne off on his sabbatical.

- Jeff