Zion's Walls

Greetings!

I've just arrived home after a weekend of lots of fun with my beloved DGMC in Estes Park (for a record two consecutive weekends at two different YMCA of the Rockies locations...one of many rather odd distinctions that February 2011 holds) for their spring retreat. Despite a hefty blanket of snow, we did good work, and as usual, the guys were impressive in both their focus and their positive attitudes.

Fortunately, the skies (and roads) were beautifully clear this morning as I drove down the mountain -- one of the universe's birthday gifts to me, it seems. And, while I am prone to reflection at many times of the year, birthdays are extra effective at bringing that out in me. So, in these last few minutes of a birthday, these are my thoughts:

Both University Singers and DGMC are singing Copland's "Zion's Walls" for their spring program, and I was struck this weekend by my dear friend Ben's commentary on that piece and the mixed feelings all thoughtful people probably have toward their homeland(s) at times. It's the place we can't wait to get back to, it's the place we can't wait to leave -- it has all the people we love best, all the people who bother us most, and all the things that remind us of who we are....for better and for worse. Home, whether it is the place we come from or a place we later choose, contains all of these things. It's complicated. Copland's own relationship with his homeland obviously was -- not only was he a gay man living through one of the more repressive parts of American history, he also held socialist political views, and for that reason was scrutinized and later blacklisted by the FBI. All this, from the composer who is possibly most often credited with being the main cultivator of a distinctly American sound.

So, now, when I hear the words of Zion's Walls, I begin to hear all of these things:

Come, fathers and mothers! Come, sisters and brothers!

Come, join us in singing the praises of Zion!

Oh fathers, don't you feel determined to meet within the walls of Zion?

We'll shout and go 'round the walls of Zion!

....because sometimes you have to be determined. Sometimes you have to shout to get in. And many times, you have to be willing to make the effort of drawing in the ones you love, to give the invitation.

So, this week, I invite you to listen...

All Levels:

The Promise of Living (essentially a contrafact of Zion's Walls)

The Tender Land (you can watch the whole opera in 12 YouTube segments with Copland conducting -- it's dated, no question, but I think it's pretty magical that we have this available to us at the touch of a button!)

Transcribe the melody of the main tune in "The Promise of Living" and see if you think it's necessary to change meters to preserve the correct text accents.

If you're feeling adventurous, track down a recording of "Zion's Walls" and do the same.

Enjoy!