The mission statement of Deo Cantamus (DC) is “to serve, educate, and promote worship, using quality instrumental and vocal music that glorifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We pursue excellence in an effort to worship our God and bring others closer to Him.” As a board of directors, our reason for existence is to help train active listeners of music. That is to say, since music is such a major part of our worship, we should worship with understanding. Christianity has a tremendous tradition of music which has been lost, forgotten, or set aside. Sometimes for good reason, such that it is too difficult for the average congregation to participate in such music, we set that tradition aside.
When Al Hawkins agreed to be the artistic Director for DC, he brought with him a personal desire to train others in the Christian tradition while making accessible to the common church member. Because these same questions interest me, I arranged an interview with Al to draw out and clarify some of his interests and desires when it comes to the music of DC. There were two primary areas which I spoke with Al, and those are summarized here. Let me add my appreciation for Al who allowed me to grill him, and even then, I think I could have listened more. It was a very joyful experience.
#1: Performance and Learning:
Eric White: "Why sing for DC? What does the individual performer gain?"
Al Hawkins: "In a piece of choral music, the music should have a relationship to the text of a song--that is to strengthen and reinforce the message, but it also has a relationship to the singer. The singer, too, has a relationship to both the words, diction, and to the music, expression. I desire not so much to teach singers the notes on a page. If we only sing the notes, that is merely vocalization. Music becomes music when it is expressed. Rehearsals are about teaching the singers to let the music draw out of them the emotions and expressions which it is communicating. Each singer becomes an instrument in the orchestration, lending his or her voice to the effect of the whole."
#2: Listening and Learning
Eric White: "Why attend a DC concert? What does the individual listener gain?"
Al Hawkins: "In most concerts, the listener does not participate, but instead takes a passive role. At a DC concert, we do not expect any listener to remain passive in these two respects. First, we perform music that is 'stretching to the ears'--music with which many people are not very familiar. Thus, we can give some tips so that the listener can perhaps listen more intelligently and actively. Secondly, we usually add hymns which are more familiar. This allows the listener the experience of a high-quality performance of more familiar music. At times, we have the congregation participate so that they also have opportunity to express themselves in a worshipful setting."
