This Poem was Submitted By: Paul R Lindenmeyer On Date: 2005-02-14 02:55:14 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Why We Sing......

One hundred voices,   behind and above. Five hundred pipes,   resolute resonance resounding. One glance,   one subtle nod, quietly slicing  the venial veil of silence. The Choirmaster,  40 years of hearing, listening, leading, imparting  lectored legacies. Whispering wisdoms,  while the Cassavant's timbre  and thunder collide  and coelesce with "largamente". Motivating with memorized Credo;  "God hears us when we pray,    but always loves us     when we sing."     

Copyright © February 2005 Paul R Lindenmeyer

Additional Notes:
In gratitude to Harry Stephens, for more than 40 years, choirmaster of Visitation Church, the largest parish in the largest archdiocese in the States. His choir achieved renown, and was stamped by his persoanal persona and consistent musical pursuit of excellence for the greater glory of God. Cassavant refers to the dual manual pnuematic organ still in the loft today.


This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne Duval Morgan On Date: 2005-03-04 19:09:14
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Paul I can feel the sound of the massive pipes, I can see committment from a man that spoke to God through his love of music, I see in my minds eye this quiet man leading his Choir of 500 (huge choir), and I sense how he felt and saw, and lived through his music. You draw a persona the will affect many who love music, and see Heaven through music, talking to god, and seeing Heavens delights. You commerate a fine tribute to a man who lived his music, was committed to all presentations, and the project is right on, with a nice flow. I tried critiquing this a while ago but for some reason my computer shut down on me, and I lost the critique. I have no suggesions, you know why, each of us writes throught feelins sustained by memory, and they are your words. You draw a visual image of the Choir Master, and how he lived through his music, I wish him peace in Gods hands, and he is still leading a Choir of Angels, and Giod is swaying to the beat. Sorry this is late and probably inadaquate, but losing the first draft is always difficult, to repeat each and every thought, but one doesn't have to for they understand the meaning of this tribute, it's a wonderful projection with a certain cresendo and the pipes speaking the love of God. Wonderful, as always, Jo Mo


This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2005-03-01 19:33:24
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.59259
Hi Paul, I like this. I think we pray when we need. We are in crisis or we want calm. When we sing we sing in joy. The joy of being and loving and appreciative. It's hard to sing when sad but if you sing the sad turns to glad. i can only imagine the joy of Mr. Harry Stephens. It would have been an honor to meet him. your wonderful poem is a great tribute to him. I enjoyed ; Whispering wisdoms, while the Cassavant's timbre and thunder collide and coelesce with "largamente". You use alliterations; whispering wisdom/collide coelesce/resolute resonance resounding hearing, listening, leading, imparting Good job, title's great Dellena
This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2005-02-19 11:08:07
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Dear Paul, This is a well written, harmonic tribute, which from your add. notes is well-deserved. Your title (and knowing who wrote it)gave me a hint immediately that this could be about lifting our voices in praise, which to me is just as important as lowering our head in prayer! And then you delivered better then I even expected. I love the singing/praise part of our church service. To me this is a big part of why we were created in the first place, as this is one of the ways we shine God's Glory. I am not in the choir (something I've been thinking of changing)because I don't have a great voice, but when it comes time to honor our Maker, I feel a certain invigoration in singing. But to get to your poem, your start us out with a triple alliteration of: "resolute resonance resounding" And that is not only wonderful read aloud, but also brings to mind a subject that is spoken of in the bible: Unity, which reminds me of Romans 15: 5, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Jesus Christ so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." "One glance, one subtle nod, quietly slicing--love the "I" assonance the venial veil of silence."--silence to go with quietly slicing, then those"V"s You describe his qualities, which are the mark of a great music director and do so with euphonic whispering words and more alliteration. "The Choirmaster, 40 years of hearing, listening, leading, imparting lectored legacies."---Love the "L"s And more of his talents. "This ending is my favorite part: Motivating with memorized Credo; "God hears us when we pray, but always loves us when we sing." This is so true. You have to admire a man that thinks like this, for he will always be thought of as a godly man. Thanks for sharing this tribute. It speaks volumes of where your own heart is as well. Blessings, Jennifer
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2005-02-14 21:35:18
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.78261
Paul this is so beautiful and I have to agree totally the Lord loves it when we sing to Him......He smiles such a big, bright smile, He stands beside us and joins in at times too.......good structure, word flow, images, emotions, love the respect you have showed for this man who has lived to let music reach up and touch the heavens and our God..........Can't say enough my friend......when I was younger and walking more then I do, six miles a day back then, I would begin singing from the moment I left the front door till I returned, whether anyone was near me to hear me or not it mattered not.....and some of the songs were so made up, yet I remember each as if they were implanted in my heart. Again, thanks for posting, the memories and the love felt within the lines...God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Sandee L McMullan On Date: 2005-02-14 16:13:31
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.88889
Title inviting me. First stanza brings alive the title sets the vast scene of the choir and music glorious abounding in 500 pipes, whew. I get a feeling of being apart of this scene. Common language works here to bring a sharper understanding and initiates the purpose to employ poetic device of alliteration throughout. Brings it into the play. I tripped a little because of verb resonance; perhaps a comma after resonance would give impact to resounding. The use of emdash would give extra pause for image of pipes and lead into the activity of last line here. Or perhaps the use of “resonant”, a suggestion. One hundred voices, behind and above. Five hundred pipes – resolute resonance, resounding. The punctuation needs addressing a tad for comma placements. “venial veil of silence”, works well here, imbuing forgiveness. The “nod” is good; it introduces the character – choirmaster. 3rd & 4th stanzas move away from the format of the other 2 stanzas, and imo I think weaken this piece. 3rd “hearing & listening mean same thing, suggest to drop one of them; perhaps “imparting” also, in order to structure the alliteration the same as first, brings consistency. It might work, just a suggestion. “The Choirmaster, 40 years listening, leading, lectored legacies.” 4th stanza, this is sense imagery to sound again consistent. I like what’s the narrator is trying to bring about here. This could be the strongest stanza. coelesce = coalesce (Canadian sp?) I think one too many “and”s in this verse; it needs a rephrasing a little. The possessive of “Cassavant’s” stumbles me in the meaning here. Is this a person or plural? Some confusion for me, sorry. Last stanza, the first line is tune with the rest heading for a summation. However, the last statement / quote is a telling one. I feel no adventure and I wish to climb into the meaning of an image here of what aria of music climaxes too, and yes it could be all of spiritual experience. Show me, invite me in to the Credo. The quote does not add much for me – rephrase or/and end at “Credo”. Trust the reader to touch their god sense. An unique poem, enjoyed. . . . . regards PS. Sorry, I never read the footnotes until after I critique the poem. This could have made a slight difference in my critique. I figure the poem must stand in its own right without footnotes. Interesting to read them now. Cassavant is explained. thanks.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Kelly Denise LaBeff On Date: 2005-02-14 14:01:26
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Paul, Hi and what a great verse! In your verse, you have created a beautiful scene, one that's nearly audible as well as I can almost hear those one hundred voices, the organ and ceiling high pipes - all 500 of them! 500 - Really? WOW! Oh my goodness that must sound absolutely beautiful when actually having the priviledge of sitting in its presence! From your words of apparent praise, I can even see your choir master - he seems majestic - as being a legacy himself! I love the resounding alliteration you used within your verse and it fits - finely tuned - perfectly with the theme intention of your verse as well...a choir and its music! Yes, your words are indeed musical, too, offering visions of great detail about your church, your choir, and the life of it! I extrememly enjoyed this verse - a lot! Thanks for letting me hear, and adore the music, your music praising Harry Stephens and the {his} Visitation Church's choir who in turn praises God as your summation was so right, "God hears us when we pray, but always loves us when we sing."! Loved it, Kelly
This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2005-02-14 13:45:14
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
As a (former) singer I can "tune in" to this. I was always a soloist, show tunes, opera), I never got the hang of choir singing. I listened to those around me singing their parts and I just couldn't connect. I do read music. I think Cassavant was a Canadian from Quebec, FYI. Just a a little bit of trivia here. I loved to sing but unfortunately due to circumstances, am silent today. Thank you for this. Resolute, resounding, resonance...remarkable!
This Poem was Critiqued By: Elaine Marie Phalen On Date: 2005-02-14 09:59:07
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Paul, You're playing with resonant language; the poem's style reminds me, in many ways, of Bach's music. It's rather ornate - Baroque even - and contains many rich sounds. I especially note the repeated "r" consonance, rolling tunderously; then in S2 you mute to fricatives like "v", as the organ's music softens. The "l" in S3 lends lyricism - not only the articulate syllables of the Choirmaster's speech, but perhaps the treble keys of the organ. "Whispering wisdoms" is very understated. This is a man who undoubtedly has been well respected and has not needed to shout or hector his choir members to gain their full co-operation. His motivational words make a fitting close to the tribute. I, too, believe that music may well be our closest approach to God - music and, perhaps, higher mathematics, which I see as related. The divine order is conveyed through notes and numbers ... This reminds me of a dear organist and choirmaster whom I knew years ago. His name was Friedel Gmeiner and he served as church organist in Wolfville, then taught and played at Acadia University. He died far too young. I have such vivid memories of him, playing Bach on the magnificent Casavant in the chapel at Acadia. He even won a North American organists' competition over a hundred competitors. My eyes are feeling prickly now. This has been a lovely read. Thanks so much. Brenda
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