Gospel on a Hot Night

 

The temperature was a sweltering 36°C /96.8°F with high humidity as people filed into the 14th century church in a small French village. Almost every seat was filled making it even hotter.

A few years ago a priest forbid the same gospel choir to sing at a wedding. He thought the music sinful. More than one bride, who wanted the choir to sing at her wedding, went to nearby Collioure or Port Vendres for their religious vows. 

Note: Church weddings have no civil standing in France. Only weddings performed at city halls by local officials are considered real in a court of law.

Two local gospel choirs, under Director Alain Martin, were combined last night for almost two hours of gospel from the old negro spirituals to the more modern Kirk Franklin (born Fort Worth TX 1970) pieces. Martin is one of those artistic people who turned his love for his art into his livelihood. His voice is also a joy to listen to. His ability to whip amateur singers into a powerful musical force, is one reason we love attending any concert he creates.

99.9% of the singers are French with one exception. Mary Westley is from Scotland and her rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah brought every one to their feet for a long-lasting standing ovation. We know Mary from her Bobbie Burns nights in January.

We saw our Catalan and French neighbors, our Swiss, Irish and Egyptian friends.

I've attended many of the choir's concerts. Barbara Hagaman, a friend and neighbor of 40 years in Boston and Argelés, had been a member. Although she's been gone many years, I can imagine her in the back row singing her heart out. The first concert I went to after her death was dedicated to her. I will miss her telling me of the goings on behind the scenes. 

Somehow the heat didn't matter as the voices soared. People stood, swayed, clapped to the music.

Although the concert was free, donations were encouraged, which was more than fine with us. To forget the heat, to forget the different world catastrophes for a short time was indeed a pleasure. 

 Music is a great way to mix very different cultures.

Note: If you want to hear Alain's tribute to my friend Barbara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbinVnDFBd0&list=RDbbinVnDFBd0&start_radio=1 

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