Some people have been raised with gospel music as a significant part of their lives. Others were not introduced to the style until “Sister Act” took the screen in the ’90s – their experience with the soulful genre continuing to develop in the new millennium with 2005’s so-so film “The Gospel” (Rob Hardy), or even Christina Aguilera’s track “Makes Me Wanna Pray” on Back to Basics. Regardless of background, the University Gospel Choir in Madison is one fun, safe space for anyone on campus who possesses the singular, internal spark of musical joy.
Gospel has its origins in traditionally African songs of praise, characterized by the deep emotion used and the way it is passed down.
“The roots of [gospel] come…from spirituals, various forms of jazz and blues,” University Gospel Choir Director Deonte Harris explained. Harris is a music composition student at UW, and chooses every song the group sings. “You can hear certain rhythms, certain harmonies that are reminiscent of African American music. It’s truly based off of feelings and emotions more so, and we do not use sheet music whatsoever; everything is learned orally. It’s similar to African traditions.”
It’s hard to get around the steely notion that Gospel is a primarily religious institution. In fact, UW Madison does not fund or affiliate itself with the group of student singers, due to religious implications. But, somehow, University Gospel Choir performs alchemy on the idea that their style of music can only be about one faith. Its members emphasize that anyone who wants to sing will feel fully welcomed.
“We have people from all different types of religions, and we also have people that aren’t even big on religion. So even though our songs are religious, I think a lot of people do it because they like to sing; the religious aspect is important but it’s not the defining aspect of the choir. It just kind of adds to it,” Choir President Cierra Brielle said.
The gospel choir currently has about 30 members, which makes for a more cohesive, focused sound. However, in its history since 1979, the group has seen upwards of 80 members at a time. Brielle said one of her biggest aspirations is to increase their numbers, hoping to share their warm group dynamic with as many other students as possible.
“One of my biggest goals that I wanted to accomplish was to expand… It’s a really fun group and comfortable space, and it’s very diverse. I want everyone to feel the way we feel and get the same kind of environment that we’re in,” she said. “I think the biggest satisfaction I get out of this is I consider the choir like a little family of mine. We get really close throughout the years; it’s a good support system… I can be having the worst day, but I know when I come to gospel choir I’ll be around people that make me laugh. I can always depend on them to make me feel good.”
Harris, who has been a member of the choir since 2006, also highlighted the beneficial feeling of comfort and community evoked within group rehearsals. Such a sense of unity no doubt improves members’ abilities to perform well together.
“Wednesday is the day everyone looks forward to, when you come into this space. One thing we do at the end of our rehearsals is we always circle up, and we do a ‘praise report’ and ‘prayer request,'” he said. “You get an opportunity to say how your week went, anything that’s happened to you so we know the news and if anyone’s been down, depressed or having certain issues to let the choir know so we can comfort them.”
The ensemble rehearses every Wednesday 7-9 p.m. at the Pres House – they are always looking for new members that share their passion for lively, emotive music – and they do not hold auditions. Harris explained the steps he uses to guide singers, some of whom lack a musical background, to effectively perform gospel.
“As director, my primary focus is the music. One thing I try to do is challenge the choir; I want to find pieces that they can do, but also I don’t want pieces that are particularly easy for them. I want them to come to a sense of understanding so that they can continue to grow as far as music is concerned,” he said. “Some things I have tried to have them think about is the words to the song and the relationship of the words to the music and understand the different things we can do musically that can have a certain effect on the audience.”
University Gospel Choir typically has two concerts per year; one was last Sunday, and next semester’s will fall on the first Sunday in May. They also perform at schools, churches and other Madison events per request. One visible struggle for the group has been finances, which has prevented them from attending invitational performance opportunities.
“I think it would be fun and a good experience to get outside our comfort zone, go to other places,” said Brielle. But despite fiscal support from outside groups, she says this hasn’t been a reality. “I guess stability was [also] an issue at one time, trying to find churches that would house us to rehearse there. But we’re good. The Pres House has been good to us, very welcoming and warm, so I think we’ll be there for a long time.”
With so much stormy discussion over whether or not Madison is truly “diverse,” it may give students peace of mind to hear that there is at least one confirmed safe, diverse and enjoyable place on campus.
“Rehearsal is the place on campus where I feel most comfortable. I came from a high school in Milwaukee and my high school friends were very diverse; there was a little bit of every type of style every type of ethnicity, and that’s very hard to find on campus in groups and spaces. Gospel choir I can honestly say is one of very few places that actually is diverse in the true definition of the term,” said Clintel Hasan, a member of University Gospel Choir. “I really like it; I’m a musical person and I don’t really have a chance to perform or have that creativity elsewhere on campus. Coming every week to gospel choir is a stress reliever.”
Gospel music is uninhibited. It’s lively, devotional and unified. It is a dominantly vocal, syncopated medium for heavenly rejoice. It’s multifaceted, and maybe it’s something that needs to be done in practice to be fully understood. One thing is for sure, members of University Gospel Choir believe that it brings an element of love that might not otherwise be visible on this campus and even in this city.
“You would think we’ve known each other for years. We get along very well, and the choir here is a very diverse group. I think we have some of every nationality, every belief system – it’s crazy. I think that’s part of what makes gospel choir fun because we have this melting pot where everybody gets along and nothing matters but us; we just enjoy each other,” Harris said. “No matter what you’ve been going through, what your day been like, we’re all here for each other; we’re all on the same chord.”
