Today I went to a workshop led by singer and choir director Kate Munger of Threshold Choirs. These are small groups of singers that sing at the bedside of people who are dying. Kate Munger has amassed a repertoire of over 300 songs appropriate for Threshold Choirs, and she has developed a style of soft-voiced yet clear singing that is quite powerful.
The Thershold Choir Web site describes their mission this way: “The all-women Threshold Choirs honor the ancient tradition of singing at the bedsides of people who are struggling: some with living, some with dying. The voice, as the original human instrument, is a true and gracious vehicle for compassion and comfort. The choirs provide opportunities for women to share the sacred gifts of their voices at life’s thresholds.”
Yes, the original Threshold Choirs were for women only. You could argue this point, but I think Kate Munger is on to something when she limited her original choir to women, though: our culture does tend to prefer to have women in our sickrooms; and there may be something to the idea of having voices singing in one octave only. Indeed, Kate Munger said of the perhaps three thousand people singing in Threshold Choirs across the country today, she know of only four or five men. But some newer Threshold Choirs (including the one that formed a year ago in Littleton, Massachusetts) do include men, so this may change over time.
My interest in this workshop was two-fold: first, I wanted to know more about Threshold Choirs so I could see about helping one organize down here in southeastern Massachusetts; second, I had sung some of the songs Kate Munger has written and I wanted to learn more of her songs.
Only time will tell if we can get a Threshold Choir off the ground in this area; but I can tell you right now that Kate Munger taught us a dozen or so songs in today’s workshop, and I already know that I will be using most of them in worship services in the year to come. These are songs that anyone can sing, that are deeply spiritual and religious, and that move us towards positive change and transformation. Some of the songs were a little like Mimi Bornstein’s “Comfort Me,” one of the favorites in the new Unitarian Unviersalist hymnal supplement — like “I Will Be Lifted”…
I will be lifted.
I will be held.
I will be rocked.
I will be comforted.I will be carried.
I will be cleansed.
I will be drenched.
I will be purified.
…a song with a simple, driving melody that’s easy to sing,with fabulous harmony parts that will please more advanced singers, and with a message of healing and transformation. And some of the songs are simply fun, like “The Elephant Song,” which seems silly if you just see the lyrics, but which is powerful to sing, and powerful to listen to.
In any case, I’m giving advance warning to whomever assembles the next Unitarian Universalist hymnal: some of these Threshold Choir songs had better be in there.
Just for reference, Threshold Choirs are not the only musicians reaching out to people who are dying: there’s The Music for Healing and Transition Program, a certification program for musicians “to provide live, therapeutic music at the beside”; in northern New England there’s Hallowell Singers, who are affiliated with Brattleboro Area Hospice.
It’s my prediction that there will be no “next Unitarian Universalist hymnal”. On paper, anyway. It will be a collection of digital images that can be printed or projected.
So, why don’t we start now? We don’t have to negotiate the copyrights at present (Steve Finner will be more than happy to assist with that, I’m sure!). But we can start collecting titles.
Where can I buy recordings of these songs?
Vance — You write that the next UU hymnal will be virtual, “So, why don’t we start now?”
Actually, I have started doing just that here. There are more, but the rest are copyrighted songs so I haven’t put them up on the Web. I also have a worship fake book that keeps getting bigger and bigger — if you ever meet me in person, I’d be happy to show it to you (and sing through some of the songs with you).
Another good resource is the popular songbook Rise Up Singing, and I have listed some worshipful songs from that book here. Two nice things about Rise Up Singing: the books are cheap (half the price of the hymnal); and you can teaching CDs that include melodies for every single one of the 1,200 songs in the book.
As for the Threshold Choir, they have recorded 60 of their own compositions. Their first CD is called “Listening at the Threshold,” and the second is “Tenderly Rain.” Both CDs are available through their Web site.
I am a UU who recently initiated a Threshold Choir in Southwest Michigan. I have had the same thought…that many of the songs in the repertoire led themselves beautifully to the support of UU’s and vice versa…many songs traditionally sung by UU’s could find their way into the Threshold repertoire. In fact, the song we use in our congregation to send the children off to class was sung at the Threshold Choir workshop in Yellow Springs in October.
Go now in peace, go now in peace, may the spirit of love surround you, everywhere, everywhere, you may go.
I think the words were just a tiny bit different, but the message was the same.
How can I buy their CDs? I emailed the address on their website; no reply.
Hi Lisa — The only way I know to contact Kate Munger and the Thershold Choir is via that email address. Kate Munger may be traveling, though — sometimes she takes a few weeks to respond to email because she’s on the road.
Hello all,
The hospice choir movement has begun to blossom in New England, primarily thanks to Hallowell and its founder, Kathy Leo, who has given workshops all over N.E. (www.hallowell-singers.org/). We started our choir in western Massachusetts in October 2007 (www.eventidesingers.com). There are others, some directly associated with hospice organizatons such as The Noyana Singers (www.vna-vermont.org/services/end-of-life-care/Noyana_Singers), some directly connected with a church such as the Harbour Singers (www.uuchurchsacobiddeford.com/harborsingers.html), and others, including Eventide, that are separate organizations.
If you are interested in this subject you might wish to visit the Chalice of Repose at (www.chaliceofrepose.org/) which, for thirty years has been studying and teaching “prescriptive music” to be performed by “contemplative musicians.”
Long story short, I am researching for all existing hospice choirs to assemble into a network for the purpose of sharing information, repertoire and experience.
Any information you may have on such choirs will be greatly apprecated.
Thanks in advance,
John Bos
Founder
Eventide Singers
eventidesingers@verizon.net
We are a 1 year old Hospice Choir serving Newton and surrounding towns. We are 30+ voices serving several hospices and nursing homes. We are looking forward to more bedside sings with rapid response time as the need arises.
Cindy Mapes is our wonderful Director.
Also looking to present a program at the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Mass annual conference in November 2011.
Please contact me if interested in joining for a panel discussion about our groups. We can spread the word, and the music.
It would be really cool if we covered the map with hospice choirs.