sacred preaching

Because Indy is so close to Bloomington, and the large IU music school, we abound with musical opportunities, probably more than if we were located somewhere else.

Yesterday afternoon, we went to a concert at another parish, Church of the Nativity, to hear perform New Art Voices, a choir of IU music students. They performed two Psalm settings by Ives, and Martin's mass for two choirs.

The Creed or Credo alone was an excellent example of a choral sermon, with its vivid interpretation of the text. The choir also sang Evening Primrose, one of Britten's five flower songs, as an encore.

The singing was powerful, clear and energetic, with great shape of sound, sung acapella (with the exception of Ives Psalm 90? that included organ, gong, chimes and handbells), and it still echoes in my head.

When we walked into the church, I saw the gong and didn't immediately associate it with the choral performance. Hmm, I thought, a suburban Episcopal church that uses a gong in its worship. I was a little disappointed when I realized that this was not a gong playing parish.