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Letters
Send submissions to wittmagazine@wittenberg.edu
Reunion was unforgettable Being with John and fellow choir mates again was a joyful and deeply moving experience. During our Wittenberg days we came to choir as separate individuals, each of us with different joys, sorrows, fears and frustrations, but we came sharing the same needs: to love, to be loved, to be part of something bigger than ourselves and to somehow hear God's voice through the music we raised. Those who sang under J.W. were challenged by his standards of excellence, inspired by his art, touched by his sensitivity, and transfigured spiritually when we lifted our voices together. The choir's mission was to make a joyful noise, one that was pure and precise, one that resonated beauty and insight. These were the gifts J.W. gave to the Wittenberg Choir and to each of us individually. J.W. had an incredible ear for nuance and a deep understanding of the music. He was artist, sculptor, interpreter, motivator, preacher, and yes, sometimes dictator, for the sake of the music and for our own sakes too. He drew sound out of his choir like a painter blending rich colors on a canvas to create a work of art. Following the Saturday evening meal, we shared anecdotes about our many performances and tours. We exchanged funny stories, embarrassing moments, and also deeply felt emotions of what a privilege it was to sing in the Wittenberg Choir under John Williams and how happy we were to be together again. It was an extraordinary moment — being in that room with so many talented, wonderful people — recreating the music we loved and directing our heartfelt prayers to John and (his wife) Susan. The choir reunion was very special, beyond words really. I believe we had a glimpse of what heaven must be like — being reunited with friends we haven't seen for a long time, feeling the joy of reconnecting with those we cared so much about, rekindling deep friendships, and coming together as one voice to create beautiful music, the universal language of God. It was a weekend we will never forget. John Williams has given us the gift of his music. He has kept the light of an incredibly rich choral tradition burning bright and he has passed it on to us. For this we will be eternally grateful. And when we face the darkest moments of our mortal lives, we will be able to draw upon the meaning and message of the music we raised and we will sing on. David L. Kandel '77
Wittenberg Magazine P.O. Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501-0720 Phone: (937) 327-6141 Fax: (937) 327-6112 |
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