Last night Lauren had parent-teacher conferences, so I went alone to hear the choir from my old high school. The Singing Saints go on a choir tour each spring and this year they headed north. Nebraska is north of Missouri and so they ended up in Seward. Mr. Gasau was the choir director when I was in high school and he is still the choir director today.
The choir sounded good, and about a third of the songs that they sang were songs that we sang when I was in high school. Toward the end of the concert I remembered that I could record things, so I recorded a couple of the pieces that I sang twenty some years ago. The first one, Hallelujah, Amen and Choral is a song that I really liked back in the day, and it turns out that I still really like it. Unfortunately, it was the next song after I decided to record a few and I missed the first couple of measures.
- Hallelujah Amen and Choral -Buszin
- Let Me Ride -Emerson
- Angels Rolled De Stone Away -Hairston
- Abide With Me -Monk
Mr. & Mrs. Gasau spent the night at Beth and Harold’s house, and so Curt and I went over to visit. There is something especially satisfying about throwing a couple back with an old teacher and reminiscing. We talked for a couple of hours about old teachers, old students and old songs. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it.
Aww… well done, Lloyd! Well done, choir! Well done, all! I’m so glad that you all got to get together and talk about old times. 🙂
I just hit me that it was 11 years ago they were here. We didn’t have a drink, but were certainly up very late talking. That was fun.
What a remarkable experience all around! The Singing Saints sound great…..as I’m sure they have for many decades!
And it must be so cool to reconnect with a teacher from the past. I don’t believe I’ve done that passed my 20’s.
…past my 20’s.
They sound great!!! Their royal blue robes remind me of A Cappella days. I’m especially pleased to see the crosses.
When I first started teaching and I was a high school choir director, I was able to get the sheet music for some of the old standbys. I taught a couple of them to my choir. It’s kind of hard music though, so it took some work.
Last night Mr. Gasau asked us what our favorite song we sang. I think I said Corinthians 2 but I have to change that to “I am the bread of life”.
Lloyd-thank you so much for this treat. My grndson is a member of the choir. He is Isaiah Roepe, Dad was Brad Roepe. Mom Judith Fritsche Roepe. Both alumni of the choir. We love this choir so much, follow them as much as we can here locallty and are in awe of their talent year after year. So enjoyed listening to these songs that they did last night. Our son Brad went to school with Sam and Steve. Are you younger than them. Can’t place you. Are they your brothers or cousins?
I sort of figured that Isaiah was related to Brad and Judy. Sam and Steve are cousins. I was in the same class as Sam, but entirely less memorable. Well, Sam did a lot more stuff with Brad anyway.
Very cool. Amazing that Mr. Gasau is still directing, although I guess I still seen him from time to time when I’m back in Concordia. Thanks for posting those songs, Lloyd. The recordings really did turn out great, didn’t they? The songs all sound familiar, so I’d guess that we sang them all in Singing Saints (more likely than in A Capella, right?). Abide With Me sure brings back memories…
That’s a game that I find I’m playing more and more: “Which choir did I sing that in?”
Hehe, me too. Although fortunately (or unfortunately?), I’ve not sang in many choirs – only Singing Saints, A Capella, and a few short stints in church choirs. I can pretty much narrow it down once I dust out a few cobwebs.
Strangely, the toughest thing I have to deal with anymore is remembering which key a song is in, seemingly regardless of how often I’ve played it. I play bass in a few bands (and occasionally fill in with others for the odd gig), and I’ve resorted to making spreadsheets with info such as song title, key, and chord progressions (if they’re tricky). Many thanks to Google Docs, since a brain upgrade seems to be out of the question for now…
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have 2 nephews and a niece in the choir this year, and my younger brother and sister were both Singing Saints as well. I was a public school kid so I never had the pleasure. My nephew Quentin is apparently the one singing the solo on Angels Rolled De Stone Away.
I don’t get much opportunity to hear them, or see them, so this was indeed a fantastic treat for me.
Thank you so much.
I just hope Mr. Gasau isn’t mad at me for posting the songs.