Returning to Richard Smallwood

I remember reading a review of the 2012 film adaptation of Les Miserables. The reviewer told the story of moviegoers entering the theater in tears, even before the movie had started. At our first rehearsal for GPPC’s second Richard Smallwood collaborative project, I couldn’t help but think back to those Les Mis fans. At the very start, we knew we were in for something extraordinary. As Dale Heiskill agreed to lead us in prayer after one of the first rehearsals, I heard a whispered “yes!” from somewhere in the choir room. 

Richard Smallwood’s Christmas album “Rejoice!” is the source of two-thirds of our Love Feast program. “O What a Night” starts out with maximum shimmer, with mark tree glissandi and sparkly piano chords. Our guest soloist Morgan Gafford sets the bar high, painting a musical picture of Christ’s nativity with her angelic soprano voice. Smallwood doesn’t leave us in cinematic sparklehood forever; a surprise key change brings his signature Black Gospel heat to the story. My favorite detail of the song is a measure where Smallwood calls for the sopranos to sing “beau-ti-ful” and the rest of the of the singers to sing “beau-tee-ful”, essentially stomping on Madeline Marshall’s The Singer’s Manual of English Diction in the process. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is the simplest of the arrangements; the suspension he adds at the “-el” of Emmanuel is absolutely divine, and Stacie Brown’s impressive solo work is spot on.  “Rejoice” is the title track from the album, and it is the perfect fast-tempo song for the program. Madeline Marshall would never have stood for the choir elongating the “L” of Lord and actually using it to slide into the correct pitch, but Black Gospel has never been afraid to shatter established rules; at the end of the same song the sopranos

belt out “everybody!” (or, really, “a-vry-bah-deh!”) in a way that is impossible to ignore. Dale Heiskill brings a lion’s share of the Holy Spirit to “Glory and Honor”, and the choir is ready to climb the crescendo ladder with him not once, but twice.

Just like every Advent worship season needs a couple hymns from outside of the Advent section of the hymnal, a Smallwood Christmas service needs a couple tunes from albums other than the Christmas one. “Your Love Divine” took the GPPC choir on an incredible journey this past February, and it’s the perfect response to the traditional Moravian reading of 1 John 4; hearing The Reverend Carla Jackson sing the solo in her favorite Smallwood song is a pretty amazing privilege too. “Angels” might be the most unusual choice in the

program, but I can’t wait to hear what that song will do in the context of this service. The incomparable Desirée Roots starts the song with Smallwood's gentle verses of inspiration.

Smallwood doesn’t leave the song there, though, and he includes a Black Spiritual as a musical Easter egg, somehow carrying the faith of every single person throughout history who has lifted up “all night, all day, angels watchin’ over me” as a prayer. 

You all should come!

Doug Brown is directing the music for our Love Feast service Sunday, Dec. 21 at 6:30pm. The chorus will feature ten guest gospel singers and soloists along with the GPPC choir, a rhythm section and a string ensemble.