Before we start, I just wanted to let you know that this is an interactive blog today. I am grateful to have family, friends, and acquaintances who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. We may have a few differences, but I can venture to say that we have far more commonalities than we think.
Come with me on a short journey. Sink into the comfort of your home, take a few deep breaths, and relax into this moment. If you have the time, watch the video at least two times and notice any thoughts or feelings that come up. Get a pen/pencil and try to capture aspects of the video that spark your curiosity. When you finish, please take a moment to see what I thought about while watching.
Music has a way of making connections for me beyond any other forms of inspiration. There were so many things that came to mind while watching.
This concert was the Gospel Philharmonic Experience in Vienna, Austria, the city of music. It was the birthplace of Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart, Hayden, Strauss I & II, Mahler, Brahms, and more. Kim Burrell sang in a city that was the center of classical music in the 18th and 19th centuries, alongside the Orchestra of the National Opera of Lyon, and was GORGEOUS. Simply put. Just google or find Kim Burrell on YouTube; there are so many videos of her singing her shoes off with her unique voice. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but her musicality alone is out of this world.
The pianist uses an iPad instead of paper sheet music. Sheet music falling or blowing off a stand during a performance is character-building. These smart devices are making people soft. LOL
The individual who arranged the orchestral arrangement was so intentional with the passion of the song, and the conductor was able to interpret and guide the orchestra to communicate that passion was such an experience to witness. This song's original writer and composer, Kurt Carr, is instrumental in the popularity of Gospel, and we owe him so much for this masterpiece. It is a song widely known, especially for its iconic opening phrase.
I notice the people in the choir who can't help but move. I remember my Nana coaching a group of my good friends Stephen, Tricia, Laurie, and me by telling us that we needed to move at my parents' wedding. You can't stand still with gospel music.
We give more power to our differences than we should, and music is a great way to come together. From the multicultural choir and orchestra to the wide range of beliefs in the room. The energy of the musicians and the enthusiasm of the audience was palpable.
There is a sound to Gospel music. It is fascinating to me that most people with microphones were black. To make a long thought short, black people KNOW that sound. It doesn't matter where we are in the world. Gospel music has roots in African spirituals and traditional African hymns. We can hear a little of our ancestors in the Gospel, and that tone and resonance stir within us to the depths of our souls.
I think about how Kim Burrell has gone viral a few times for demonizing the "homosexual spirit" during a sermon in 2016, apologizing for the tone of what she said, and doubling down. Another recent clip went viral last week, where she doubled down again after several years of her sabbatical from social media during an acceptance speech at the Stellar Awards. I remember back to a time when I used to come home and play the piano, trying to replicate my favorite Gospel songs by ear and how many nights I tried to "pray the gay away." If I heard some of the words of Kim Burrell at that time in my life, it would have been devastating. I've listened to many stories of LGBTQIA+ kids when I volunteered for a homeless shelter that helped young adults get on their feet after losing their support system and desperately wanting help to find a refuge for the night. Words, tone, and intent matter, and now that the world is growing in the digital space, people are calling for a new sound in order to make significant impacts.
At this point, it's not about theology. When we think about differences, it's not about politics or any other system or structure where division has shaped animosity. We need the voices of those who can find unity when unseen to most. We need to hear your voice. Like Nana said: You can’t just stand still with Gospel music nor can you be silent. It’s supposed to move you and and others and people should be able to see the change. Kim’s apology didn’t move anything into action.
I'm so grateful; however, to know so many people who live very different lives than I do, and my relationships have shaped my mind to be more conscientious about changes in the world affecting people. That takes me to my last thought-Gratitude is language...a posture we can all understand. There will be some people who have never gone to a black church, but I want you to listen to the lyrics-even if you are not a Christian. This song is the epitome of gratitude. Practice recognizing the powerful phrases of the music and leave those that don't make sense or align with your beliefs. If you don't get anything else from it, you are here; you are valuable, and I recognize the visionary that you are.
I would never leave you hanging...I recall that this was supposed to be interactive! What thoughts, memories, or feelings rose to the surface? Leave me a comment and tell me your thoughts. Please help me to understand you more :)
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