I just sat through almost 2hrs. of Jesus music...

[deepthought42]

I think I need a hug... and a drink...


No, make that two. :beer: :beer:


:scared:

[goddess40]

1. So sorry

I can't remember the last time I had to sit through anything that bad.

[deepthought42]

2. Thank you...

Musically speaking, the Fisk Jubilee Singers sound great, but... if I didn't have to go for class... I damn well wouldn't have gone...

:beer:

[enlightenment]

5. I hope this was for fulfillment of a general course

requirement - "attend X hours of live performances" sort of thing - and not a requirement to attend a religiously themed musical performance.

I love music and I'm not generally bothered by spiritual music, particularly the traditional stuff, because the music itself usually salvages the lyrics (which is not to say I could stomach two hours of it). Hymns give me a rash.

As a teacher, though, I'm not entirely certain that attending a concert like that is an appropriate course requirement.

[deepthought42]

8. We were specifically required

to attend the Fisk Jubilee Singers concert. From a musical and historical perspective, as a music history student, I get it. They have an almost 200-year tradition of passing down negro sprituals. And they sound amazing. Had that been the extent of it I could've been more excited. But then their musical director started talking about jesus, and some members of the audience really got into it. So, needless to say, I felt a little uncomfortable. Not to mention that after the first few songs it got old...

Then there's the fact that my roommate and her friends got a "shout out" at the beginning for promoting the concert in the area. And given their love of jesus I can guess why they were involved in the concert....

I felt bad that I didn't want to be there but the other students in my class were really enjoying it. Like I said, musically and historically, it should have been exciting. Unfortunately, the religious aspect overshadowed that for me...

[enlightenment]

11. I understand your professor's desire for you

to experience the group from the perspective of history.

I do believe that you should go see your prof, however, and respectfully suggest that being subjected to what I would imagine seemed a lot like a revival meeting made you uncomfortable and unhappy.

Tell him or her that you certainly understand and appreciate it on a scholarly level, but don't feel that you should have had to sit through it. This isn't just about being an atheist, either - if you were Jewish, would you have been comfortable sitting there and listening to music and speech extolling a saviour that you don't accept?

I wouldn't make a big deal about it, but it's possible that your prof simply didn't consider this. If he/she starts to give you a hard time about it, simply thank them for their time and leave.

[deepthought42]

12. I get the feeling I wouldn't be understood...

given the content of the music we're performing (I should've said earlier it was for my choir class). Not unusual for a choir to perform spiritual music, but it's been nothing but this semester, and I already know alot of the other students love it a little too much for my tastes... :scared:

Still...I love music, and I love performing in Choir, so it doesn't bother me too much. Just when they started talking about jesus do I feel uncomfortable...

[enlightenment]

13. You have to do what you think best, but please remember

that you do have a right to politely express your feelings to the prof. (I teach college history - so I'm speaking from the other side of the aisle here!)

If you think it would cause more trouble than it's worth, that's entirely all right! I just don't want to think that you feel silenced because you have no options, okay?

I loved choir when I was in school, too - and yes, we sang a lot of "sacred" music (learning Ave Maria was my first introduction to Latin, as a matter of fact). But it was the music that I loved and I was fortunate not to have a bunch of godtalkers around me.

[deepthought42]

14. Yeah...

I feel a little left out, but part of my grade is, unfortunately maybe ;), having a positive attitude. As long as they don't start discussing it with me...I do not need to out myself while we're on our spring trip in N.C.!

So I smile and bear it, because I love music and performing in a choir, even if I don't feel passionate about the songs we're singing.

Maybe I should take my copy of His Dark Materials with me... :evilgrin:

[enlightenment]

15. Well, I think you have a great attitude, especially

considering the extra crap you're putting up with to succeed in class!

Hang tough - I suspect you're going to do just fine!:thumbsup:

[deepthought42]

17. I hope so!

This is supposed to be my easy class this semester... :rofl:

I'm so taking my copy of His Dark Materials... :evilgrin:

[shrike]

18. It's possible your prof didn't know about the content of the performance

Beyond the music.

Also, since this was a public performance it may be expected of them to turn it into a semi-revival meeting. Most of their fans are probably Christian, and expect it of them.

I think you should nicely bring it up to your prof. It might be a teaching moment for him/her. I see nothing wrong with making accommodations for individual students; it's done all the time, especially for those with strong religious beliefs.

Hell, I remember in high school biology, when we were dissecting fetal pigs, some students just couldn't bring themselves to do it. So they were given other assignments.

Maybe you could have listened to a CD of their music -- a different experience -- and been prepared to discuss it in class. Negro spirituals are a uniquely American art form. Maybe you could approach it from an anthropological point of view; you are investigating another culture.

Btw, at least it wasn't Christian rock. I'm a practicing Catholic myself, but boy is that godawful stuff.

[YankeyMCC]

3. A drink?

didn't they have wine there ? ;)

[deepthought42]

4. You'd think, but no!

it was at the college's chapel. big ol' huge cross (a bit gaudy for my tastes)... :evilgrin:

I prefer wine that hasn't been in someone's body, thank you very much! ;) :rofl:

[Warpy]

6. Getting drunk before the event is better

For me, it depends on the Jesus music. The local college station has a foot stomping Gospel program on Sunday mornings. I used to listen to it on my way home from work because it was great music that kept me awake after a 12 hour night shift.

[immoderate]

7. Yeah, there's a big difference between say....

Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, and the Estes Park Gospel Singers.

--IMM

[deepthought42]

10. Oh big difference...

Last time they had a concert in the chapel we had to attend, there was a steel drum band performing, and that was exciting. People were really getting into it, moving around, having fun. Sitting still and being serious for two hours listening to a group sing spiritual music is not my idea of a good time. I like to get into concerts, you know?

Not that I would've been able to get into this particular one... I need a rock concert...lol

[deepthought42]

9. I knew I should've done that...

but I'm too broke to get drunk... lol

[and-justice-for-all]

16. torture. nt

[shrike]

19. Deepthought, you might be interested in this website

Historically, Negro spirituals involved a little bit more than just praising Jesus. I thought some of them had to do with the underground railroad. I wasn't sure, so I just googled the topic, and here's what I found:

http://www.negrospirituals.com/

The codes of the first negro spirituals are often related with an escape to a free country. For example, a “home” is a safe place where everyone can live free. So, a “home” can mean Heaven, but it covertly means a sweet and free country, a haven for slaves.

snip

The negro spirituals “The Gospel Train” and “Swing low, sweet chariot” which directly refer to the Underground Railroad, an informal organization who helped many slaves to flee.

The words of “The Gospel train” are “She is coming… Get onboard… There’s room for many more”. This is a direct call to go way, by riding a “train” which stops at “stations”.

Then, “Swing low, sweet chariot” refers to Ripley, a “station” of the Underground Railroad, where fugitive slaves were welcome. This town is atop a hill, by Ohio River, which is not easy to cross. So, to reach this place, fugitives had to wait for help coming from the hill. The words of this spirituals say,“I looked over Jordan and what did I see/ Coming for to carry me home/ A band of angels coming after me”

[dropkickpa]

20. I'm not a huge fan of gospel music

I can appreciate the effort and skill needed to organize that many singers and the history, but I can't deal with the preaching. I think you do have a right to express your concern about the preaching portion of the performance, as it really has nothing to do with music.

But I DO like blue-grass spiritual music (because I like bluegrass).

[onager]

21. Me too, DKPA.

I grew up right down the road--well, down the Eastern Seaboard--from you in South Carolina. In fact, our corner of the state was settled by Germans from Pennsylvania. (A town named "Walhalla" is pretty much a dead giveaway.) Cranky religious dissenters who banned slavery in their settlements. Which must have put them in an interesting situation around 1860.

One of my neighbors claimed he was related to Bill Monroe, which I'm not sure of. He did play a pretty mean banjo, and a lot of local musicians would sit out on his porch and play that music you're talking about. I heard it many a night.

But I also have to agree with you on the preaching. The other day I was watching the movie August Rush, which quickly turned into an exercise in Count-The-Cliches.

Yep, sho' nuff, there's the black Baptist choir in a Harlem church! (Which they didn't really get right, IMO. This place was about the size of St. Pat's Cathedral, because the idiotic plot demanded a huge, Phantom-of-the-Opera style pipe organ.)

IMDB reviewers gave this movie a lot of points for originality. As I watched the same soulful black choir I've seen in about 10,000 bad movies, I had a sudden thought:

If you REALLY want to be original, how about a movie with some black American atheists? I know they exist, I personally know some of 'em.

End of rant...sigh...

[dropkickpa]

22. There's just something about the banjo

That I LOVE! Pretty funny for a smart-ass punk who tastes generally run to metal and hardcore! Growing up and getting to hear those jam sessions must have been cool. I learned a while back that a lot of the old traditional bluegrass music has the elements of early american settlers cultures. The reel in particular influences a lot of the song structure. Whatever, it's always fun!

[onager]

23. One last banjo note...

...and I stop hijacking the thread!

I hope the other inmates here will forgive me. But this board lets me "talk" to other Americans while I'm here in Egypt, so I know I overdo it sometimes. Well, all the time.

I often make CDs to entertain my Egyptian driver and me on our daily commute. I generally put on a weird mix of everything from hard rock to American Top 40 stuff to Amy Crackhou...er, Winehouse etc. With occasional forays into jazz and truly demented music.

It's either that or the local music, some of which I like. Long as it's not some asshat braying about Allah, or one of the 14,000 Lebanese Britney wanna-be's that are hugely popular here. I do like a singer named Dana, mostly because she outrages the Islamic fundamentalists by singing in leather cat-suits and such.

One day I had some Flatt & Scruggs playing and the driver said: "People in Tunisia play that kind of music."

WTF? Tunisia? I'll have to look into that.

BTW, Alexandria is home to Egypt's only all-female metal band. Their name is Mascara and I keep missing their shows. Dammit.

[dropkickpa]

24. Tiny bit more of a hijack

There are also some african influences in bluegrass!

[deepthought42]

25. Hmmm...this thread's been busy...

while I was gone. :rofl:


To add to the fun (for me, especially :eyes: ), we went on our spring trip to Asheville, NC. We saw the Biltmore (which was fine), got to walk around the gardens outside the huge-ass mansion (which were pretty), do some shopping (which I didn't have money for, except the school money for food)...and participate in a Catholic mass...


Yeah.... :puke:

It took all my will power not to snicker, make comments, etc...had to be on my best behavior. The sermon was about meals, the importance of meals in catholicism, whatever. All I could think was shut up about food already, this heathen is HUNGRY! The chamber chorale sang a couple of their songs during the service, and the entire choir was supposed to participate by singing the hymns during the service... Yeah, no. Darn, I didn't know the music....so I just stood there, mouth closed. Good thing we were up in the choir loft...lol

Don't know how I survived it with my sanity intact....*twitch* ;) And yeah....the big-ass cross with jesus hanging from it was just...disturbing... :scared:


But there is a happy ending. I got my beer afterwards...lol :toast:

[Rhiannon12866]

26. The Biltmore Estate is pretty cool and Asheville's beautiful.

I've been there numerous times, since my grandmother retired to the area. It's so huge that it's hard to imagine anyone actually living there, and they obviously had way too much money. But it is nice to visit and there's a lot to see. Didn't you visit the winery? LOL. When I was there, they had wine tasting and I brought some home for my Dad. That would have taken care of your need for alcohol...:D

Sorry about the mass. I hope that they at least had incense... And didn't they have communion? That would have tided you over until lunch... ;)

[deepthought42]

27. I wish!

Damn undergrads were underage...lol I needed the winery at the point too! :beer:

It is huge...but my fav parts were the garden and the pastry shop... ;)

I wouldn't take communion even if I could...lol :P And it was dinner we missed. We missed going downtown for dinner because of the stupid mass. Talk about a waste of time. :eyes: Besides, I don't eat human flesh... ;)

[Rhiannon12866]

28. Oh, that's too bad, since they do have quite a winery...

And I tend to forget that college students are underage, these days, since when I was in college the drinking age was 18... I rarely drank, believe it or not, but a lot of others sure did. I've wondered how the change in age has affected college life. My guess is not much.;)

Both alcohol and religion are big issues in the South. Parts of NC are "dry," including where my grandmother lived, but I was astounded to find wine in the grocery stores, since all that they can sell here in NY is beer...:shrug:

And lots of folks in that part of the country are extremely religious, mostly Baptist, though. When my grandmother was ill, my uncle hired a nice young woman to stay with her at night, in case she woke up and was scared. I was there during the day. She was in the nursing home part of her retirement home, at that point, where they had 24-hour care, but she needed more than a drive-by. At that point in her life, she was reading the Bible, the first time that I was aware of... I was going to mention this to the sitter, but it turns out that she'd already brought her own...:wow:

The thing that impressed me the most about Biltmore was the huge scale of things. I took some architecture courses when I was in school and I did appreciate the building and the paintings. I don't recall visiting the pastry shop, my loss (though I did hit the winery, LOL), and I agree that the gardens were magnificent.:D

It's really too bad that you missed dinner there. They have an excellent vegetarian restaurant in Asheville... ;) I was kidding about the communion, but, you're right. I never thought of it that way, LOL, but then I started taking communion at the age of 10, which is certainly way underage!:crazy:

[deepthought42]

29. Damn...lol

it would've been even more fun if we'd visited the winery... I mean, if my poor excuse for alma mater can visit a brothel... :banghead:

Only beer huh? I'm still amused by finding beer and wine in the grocery stores in VA. You just don't see that in Maryland (where I'm from). I'm also getting to know the ABC stores. Again, we don't have those in MD. Ah, states and alcohol....lol :toast:


Ha, yeah, I can understand your shock about the sitter... a girl in choir said to me one day, back in February, something along the lines of "I can't wait til we're done performing, because I want to break in my new bible!" :o

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Why would your school visit a brothel?

I'd imagine that more people would object to that than visiting a winery...:crazy:

In NC, they have wine in the grocery stores, while it's sold in liquor stores here in NY. The first time I saw it, I was a little startled, since I was there looking for shampoo...:D

And I'm familiar with those ABC stores, very strange. There was one on my route when I was shopping for my grandmother. But it didn't have regular hours, never knew if it was open, so I'd stop if it was, since she enjoyed an evening cocktail.;)

Different states have totally different rules, very confusing. When I was in California, one of my friends was under the weather, so we went to an all-night grocery store looking for something to settle his stomach. I happened to notice that they sold wine there, so I picked up a bottle to bring back with me, but the lines were long and by the time I got to the register it was just after midnight, so the cashier wouldn't let me buy it...:crazy:

My childhood friend is now living in SC and says everyone there is very nice to her, but going to church is expected, an important part of their social life, a way of making friends. *sigh* And when Obama stopped in her small town last year, she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to hear him speak. But she said she didn't dare tell anyone else in her office where she was going, since they wouldn't have approved at all!:eyes:

[deepthought42]

31. Omg... how dare she!

:eyes:

What's next? Huh??? What's the world coming to!? :rofl:


It's not my school anymore! When I went there it was a woman's college. Last year they went co-ed and now.... Now they visit brothels. Things have gone a bit downhill. I found out about it reading the news online!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24063693/


Concert Choir is going to Italy in January. I was jealous I couldn't go until I found out they would be performing in alot of cathedrals, including possibly St. Peter's. Not interested...

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Um, I know I'm supposed to be enlightened, but I find that kinda creepy...

I was wondering if it was in a historic building, or something... "Don't just study America — live it." I think I would have preferred one of the other class trips...:hide:

Both my boarding school and college were all female when I went there, too. It's definitely helped my boarding school, which went co-ed the year after I graduated, LOL, since they were kind of stuck in the '40s, but I regret it for my college, since it was described as "progressive," but the men's college they merged with is definitely not, been there since the 1700s... *sigh* :-(

And I would welcome the chance to go to Italy under any circumstances, and you know that you'd see St. Peter's and a lot of cathedrals, anyway. There's a lot of history there. When I was in Ireland, it was a standing joke, ABC, "another bloody cathedral, another bloody castle!" LOL. :rofl: