#BridgeofSong helps to heal, to create bonds through music

"Even though I just got home from a long trip this morning, there was no way I was going to miss it," says Catherine Fischer. "This just is something our community needs." Fischer, a member at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, was one of the more than 1,000 attendees at Bridge of Song, an evening of song and reflection after recent violence in the Twin Cities, Dallas, Baton Rouge and other communities.

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Classical MPR manager of choral initiatives, and G. Phillip Shoultz III, associate conductor of VocalEssence, led local choirs in a program that featured spiritual and secular songs of peace and community. The choirs were joined by special guests Fred Steele, JD Steele and Dessa, and a surprise visit by men's vocal ensemble Cantus.

After beginning the evening with the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner," the nucleus choir and the gathered participants proceeded through a vibrant program of music that included such pieces as Johannes Brahms' hymn, "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place," the traditional "Freedom is Coming," Abbie Betinis's hauntingly beautiful "Be Like the Bird," and Jake Runestad's "We Can Mend the Sky."

For Autumn Gurgel, an alto with VocalEssence, "We Can Mend the Sky" was particularly resonant. "I think the highest moment was when as we were singing the Jake Runestad piece," she says. "Just walking around actually making contact with people and looking them in the eye and giving them a hug or a handshake, just being human together and sharing that emotion or even just touching each other and saying 'I'm here for you.' That was pretty amazing."

Emphasizing the titular "Bridge of Song" was the moment in the evening when, via a streamed connection to Texas, assembled choirs in Dallas and the gathering in Minneapolis joined in a synchronized sing of Greg Gilpin's "Why We Sing" across the distance. The connection was seamless. "It worked a lot better than I expected, actually," Gurgel says. "I think we were all pulling for that to work!"

Supplementing the music were reflections from various traditions. Imam Makram El-Amin, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman and Pastor David Allen Keaton read passages from the Koran, the Jewish Prayer Book and from the New Testament, respectively. Dessa, in addition to her song performances, read poems by Gary Snyder and Pablo Neruda. Classical MPR's Brian Newhouse read passages from Swiss philosopher Henri-Fréderic Amiel.

Beyond the gathered audience in Minneapolis, Bridge of Song was streamed live on Classical MPR's Facebook page, where it received thousands of views and enjoyed a broad reach, extending the participation far beyond the walls of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Comments left on Classical MPR's Facebook page came from cities such as Winona, Minn., Orlando, Fla., and Tokyo, Japan.

The evening concluded with a group performance of the hymn, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," passionately led by Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and G. Phillip Shoultz. "Watching Phillip and Tesfa work together and give all they have to give to all of us, I think opened our hearts and minds in ways that we benefitted from," Fischer says, "and hopefully will widen the circle and start closing the crack in the sky."

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A Bridge of Song: Credits - Music and Text

Why We Sing. Greg Gilpin, composer. © Shawnee Press.
All rights reserved and used with limited permission and generous donation of Shawnee Press.

How Lovely Is They Dwelling Place, Johannes Brahms, composer. Public Domain.

Draw The Circle Wide. © Mark. A. Miller, composer.
Permission requested.

Lily In The Valley. John P. Kee, composer. Fred Steel, arranger. © Capitol CMG Paragon OBO Bridge Building Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. (HFA)

Freedom Is Coming. Trad. (South African). Public Domain.

Total Praise. Richard Smallwood. © Universal Music-Z Songs.
All rights reserved. Used with permission. (HFA)

I Need You To Survive. © Hezekiah Walker, composer. Sanford Moore, arranger.
All rights reserved. Used with limited permission and generous donation of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle.

Let There Be Peace On Earth. Jill Jackson and Sy Miller, composers. © MCCG LLC OBO Jan-Lee Music. All rights reserved. Used with limited permission and generous donation of MCCG LLC OBO Jan-Lee Music.

Lift Every Voice and Sing. JW Johnson, JR Johnson and RM Carter, composers.
© Edward Marks Music Co. All rights reserved. Used with permission. (HFA)

Be Like A Bird composed by Abbie Betinis © Abbie Betinis Music Company LLC.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The Good Fight. Dessa composer © Margaret Wander.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.

We Can Mend The Sky. Jake Runestad composer © Jake Runestad.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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